Frederick D. Patterson and others establish the United Negro College Fund to pool fundraising for Black colleges.
At a Glance
- Date
- 25 April 1944
- Location
- United States
- Key people
- Frederick D. Patterson, Mary McLeod Bethune
- Category
- Education & HBCUs
- Source
- UNCF founding records (1944) · UNCF
What It Meant Then
It created a durable financial lifeline for HBCUs and their students.
What It Means Now
The UNCF and its motto, 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste,' remain central to Black education.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The United Negro College Fund Is Founded.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-united-negro-college-fund-is-founded/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The United Negro College Fund Is Founded. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-united-negro-college-fund-is-founded/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The United Negro College Fund Is Founded.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-united-negro-college-fund-is-founded/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.