United Negro College Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNCF'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A ROBUST AND NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED PIPELINE OF UNDER-REPRESENTED STUDENTS WHO, BECAUSE OF UNCF SUPPORT, BECOME HIGHLY-QUALIFIED COLLEGE GRADUATES AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR NETWORK OF MEMBER INSTITUTIONS IS A RESPECTED MODEL OF BEST (SEE SCHEDULE O) PRACTICE IN MOVING STUDENTS TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE.
- Income
- $158.9 million
- Spending
- $183.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 360
- Volunteers
- 2,755
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 31 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $99.4 million spent. DIRECT PROGRAM EXPENDITURES RELATED TO DISBURSEMENTS OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND COSTS FOR EVALUATING ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBER SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.THE WORK OF UNCF'S GROWING PORTFOLIO OF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS IS UNRIVALED AND INCLUDES A VARIETY OF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS MANAGED BY UNCF, SUCH AS THE FUND II FOUNDATION UNCF STEM SCHOLARS PROGRAM, UNCF/KOCH SCHOLARS PROGRAM, K-12 EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP AND THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS BICENTENNIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE PANDA CARES SCHOLARS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO A THREE-YEAR RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, AND THE FUND II STEM SCHOLARS PROGRAM COMPLETED ITS THIRD (SEE SCHEDULE O)COHORT, CONTINUING TO BUILD ON AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF STUDENT OUTCOMES. THE WALTON FELLOWS PROGRAM, AN EDUCATIONAL REFORM PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING INFORM NEW EDUCATORS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM THE INSIDE OUT, CELEBRATED ITS 10TH YEAR. TOGETHER, THESE UNCF SCHOLARSHIP AND STUDENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (INTERNSHIP) PROGRAMS AS WELL AS DOZENS OF OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ADD UP TO SOME OF THE NEWEST, BEST, AND STRONGEST OFFERINGS UNCF HAS FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS, WITH MUCH MORE TO COME. HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN AND OTHER MINORITY STUDENTS, GET AN EDUCATION THAT STARTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL AND DOESN'T END UNTIL COLLEGE GRADUATION IS WHAT UNCF IS ALL ABOUT. A THREE-PILLAR STRATEGY GUIDES OUR MISSION: POSITIONING MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AS A VIABLE COLLEGE OPTION FOR STUDENTS AND INVESTING IN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES; CREATING TRANSFORMATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLING AND PERSISTING THROUGH COLLEGE COMPLETION; BUILDING AWARENESS OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND CULTIVATING COLLEGE-GOING BEHAVIORS WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THE ONGOING RAPID RISE IN THE COST OF COLLEGE ATTENDANCE, THE INABILITY TO EARN FUNDS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND DECREASING FINANCIAL AID HAVE CAUSED MORE AND MORE STUDENTS TO APPLY TO UNCF FOR ASSISTANCE EACH YEAR. HOWEVER, WE CAN SUPPORT ONLY ONE OUT OF EVERY 10 STUDENTS WHO APPLIES. THESE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, GOVERNMENT POLICY MAKERS, ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN - THEY ARE THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF OUR NATION. WE THANK ALL DONORS, PAST AND CURRENT FOR THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND VOLUNTEERISM AND HOPE NEW DONORS ARE INSPIRED TO SUPPORT UNCF'S WORTHY MISSION BY GIVING AS DEEPLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE "A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE, BUT A WONDERFUL THING TO INVEST IN."
- $16.2 million spent. THE GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM (GMSP) COVERS COST OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF COLOR WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL NEED, AND THE COSTS THROUGH DOCTORAL DEGREES IN SEVEN TARGET DISCIPLINES FOR STUDENTS SELECTED AS GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS. GMSP, THE MOST EXTENSIVE PROGRAM IN UNCF'S HISTORY, WAS AWARDED IN 1999 BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION FOR $1.6 BILLION. THS 20-YEAR PROGRAM SUNSETS IN 2029.
- $24.0 million spent. DISTRIBUTIONS TO MEMBER INSTITUTIONS OF UNCF.
- $4.8 million spent. INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO MEMBER INSTITUTIONS OF UNCF AND OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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