UNCF advances college access and degree attainment through scholarships, internships, fellowships, and related student support. The organization has helped more than 550,000 students earn their college degrees since its founding, and it identifies itself as the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. Each year, UNCF awards more than $62 million in scholarships to students attending more than 600 schools across the country, including its network of 37 HBCUs.
Its scholarship work sits within a broader education mission that serves students and connects with parents, alumni, colleges, churches, workplaces, and major donors. UNCF operates named programs that illustrate the range of its academic and career-focused support, including the Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program, the UNCF/Koch Scholars Program, the K-12 Education Fellowship, and the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program. The organization also offers dozens of internships, fellowships, and faculty development opportunities, each with its own eligibility criteria, application requirements, and deadlines.