Coco Gauff’s latest gift to UNCF was announced in January: $150,000 for scholarships for HBCU tennis players. It followed a $100,000 contribution the year before. UNCF also reported that 10 students had received scholarships earlier in 2026, though it did not say which gift paid for those awards.
That distinction runs through this list. Some of the support is new money; some comes from funds established years ago; one example is a fundraiser whose student awards have yet to be announced. All seven have a documented connection to HBCU funding in 2026.
1. Coco Gauff
UNCF administers the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program for student-athletes who play tennis at HBCUs. Gauff’s January 2026 contribution was $150,000, following a $100,000 gift in 2025. UNCF said 10 students at Alabama A&M, Albany State, Clark Atlanta, Howard, Livingstone and Tuskegee received scholarships earlier this year.
The announcement does not connect those awards to Gauff’s latest donation. The $250,000 in contributions and the 10 recipients are separate figures. The program is also aimed at a particular group: HBCU tennis players, rather than students across every course of study.
“I am honored once again to give back and support the incredible work that UNCF does to help HBCU students get to and through college.”
— Coco Gauff
2. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s name remains attached to a scholarship with applications open for the 2026–27 academic year. UNCF lists awards of up to $4,000 for eligible students at member institutions, with an application deadline of November 6, 2026.
The fund dates to 1986, when Jackson gave $1.5 million to support students studying communications and performing arts at HBCUs. Two years later, he donated $600,000 in proceeds from his Madison Square Garden concerts to the scholarship, according to UNCF’s history. Jackson died in 2009; the current applications come through the continuing fund, not a new donation from him. UNCF says it has supported 492 students at 41 HBCUs.
3. Luther Vandross
The Luther Vandross Foundation has opened its 2026–27 scholarship application for full-time undergraduates in their third, fourth or fifth year at an HBCU. Awards range from $500 to $5,000. The foundation says recipients are chosen based on financial need, and payments go to their schools for tuition or tuition-based fees.
Vandross is not making new donations. The foundation carries on his commitment to students, and reports that it has awarded more than $1 million to over 216 students at 53 HBCUs since 2022.
4. Donnie Shell
Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer Donnie Shell founded the Shell Legacy Foundation to support HBCU students. The foundation lists a 2026 “Helping Hands” scholarship and separately describes a gap-funding initiative for HBCU students. They are distinct programs, so the gap-funding support should not be counted as part of the scholarship without further details.
The foundation’s program page directs applicants to current information and establishes that the scholarship is being offered
5. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey’s scholarship program at Morehouse College has operated since 1989. In May 2026, Winfrey wrote that she had recently visited the Atlanta college and surprised 12 graduating scholars. The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation says the program has received gifts totaling $25 million.
I started this program all the way back in 1989 as a way to empower the next generation of community leaders, and now, 37 years later, I can say without a doubt that it is my proudest investment. — Oprah Winfrey
The program is tied to Morehouse. It pairs financial aid with academic, service and leadership expectations.
6. Denzel Washington’s family
Denzel Washington’s $1 million gift in 2007 helped revive the debate program at Wiley University, the team depicted in The Great Debaters. Washington family continues to contribute each year toward scholarships, membership costs and student opportunities.
The support is connected to debate, not a general scholarship open to all Wiley students. One former team member told People he received $80,000 in scholarships over five years; that is his experience, not a standard award amount. Wiley says its team placed third at the 2025 HBCU Nationals.
7. Bryan-Michael Cox and Tank
At producer Bryan-Michael Cox’s Grammy-week brunch in February 2026, guests raised $50,000 to establish the Jerrell Allen Memorial Scholarship with HBCU Week. Event coverage says Tank helped lead the effort.
The reports confirm that the money was raised, but they do not name recipients or say that awards have been paid. The fund is a new source of scholarship money; students will need application and disbursement details from its administrators before they can count on it for tuition.
What students should check before applying
These examples cover different kinds of support: a fresh donation, scholarships paid from older endowments, a college partnership, annual backing for an academic team and a newly raised fund. The names in the headlines do not always tell students who handles applications or when money reaches a school.
Eligibility can turn on the campus, course of study, year in school, financial need or participation in a sport or team. Applicants should check the administrator’s current rules and ask their school’s financial-aid office whether an award can be combined with other aid and how it will be paid.
Private scholarships can help individual students, but they do not cover the wider costs of operating a college.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which programs have a 2026–27 application open?
UNCF lists a Michael Jackson Endowed Scholarship cycle through November 6, 2026. The Luther Vandross Foundation also lists a 2026–27 application, while Shell Legacy features its 2026 Helping Hands Scholarship. Check each administrator’s page for eligibility and deadlines.
Did Coco Gauff’s $150,000 gift fund the 10 reported awards?
UNCF has not said that it did. The donation and the 10 recipients were reported separately.
Are Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross making new awards themselves?
No. Their names are attached to active legacy programs administered by UNCF and the Luther Vandross Foundation.
Have students received money from the Jerrell Allen Memorial Scholarship?
The reports reviewed say $50,000 was raised to establish the fund. They do not identify recipients or confirm that awards have been paid.
Can students at any HBCU apply?
No. Each program sets its own rules. Some are limited by school, class year, major, financial need, sport or team membership.
