- The United Negro College Fund provides funds and training to minority colleges, and scholarships and educational opportunities to minorities. UNCF works with and through dozens of private member colleges. All of the colleges are "historically colleges for people of color." The motto of UNCF is: "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." UNCF offers various programs to benefit the community. Programs include university faculty development, college grants, student scholarships, student internships and student research fellowships. UNCF is able to provide educational assistance by using money it receives from donations.
- The UNCF faculty development program assists professors in the UNCF member schools in furthering their education and research experience.
- UNCF offers grants to universities for the purpose of aiding and enhancing programs and facilities. Because of assistance provided by UNCF, the colleges are able to keep their tuition rates at almost half of what comparable colleges charge.
- UNCF offers many student scholarships. Students can apply for UNCF scholarships that can be used to attend a UNCF member school. Certain criteria must be met in order to qualify for a scholarship. Students must have at least a 2.5 grade-point average and must fall in the income category set by the financial aid office. An application and income guidelines can be obtained from UNCF directly or through one of its member colleges.
- UNCF works with many Fortune 500 companies to provide student internship opportunities. Internships provide students with job skills and allow them to gain valuable experience. Student internships through UNCF are usually accompanied with a scholarship. Students can apply for an internship opportunity directly with UNCF or through one of its member colleges.
- UNCF partnered with Merck to offer research fellowship opportunities to UNCF students at one of the Merck facilities. Research fellowship opportunities are available in the biological sciences field and the chemical sciences field. UNCF undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students can apply for a research fellowship opportunity directly through UNCF. Students who are awarded a research fellowship also receive money to be used toward their educational advancement.
