Giving

U of L is committed to creating a challenging intellectual climate enhanced by our many human differences, and this serves as the foundational objective of the programs and services provided by the Cultural Center. More specifically, the Cultural Center creates educational opportunities for members of the university community to critically think about their beliefs, values, and assumptions as it relates to culture, race, diversity, and inclusion.  Your gift can help support scholarships, programs, and persistence to graduation for our diverse student body. Areas that your support include:

Al Dia Endowed Scholarship
Established by Jose Neil Donis, publisher of Al Dia en America, the Al Dia en America Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to subsidize the cost of higher education at the University of Louisville for students with strong financial need, with preference given to students who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Al Dia Endowed Scholarship under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Black Diamond Choir
The Black Diamond Choir is a one-hour credit course offered at the University of Louisville each semester listed as Music 109 (optional). Organized in 1969, the student gospel group has been singing and sharing the "Good News" locally and in various locations within Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and Georgia. Students not enrolled in the course can also participate through its recognized student organization status. Your gift will support programming including the choir's annual concert and student leadership development. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Black Diamond Choir Gift Fund under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Black Male Initiative
The Black Male Initiative at the University of Louisville seeks to increase the retention, graduation, engagement, and overall success of Black males by addressing various scholastic and social challenges, through academic engagement, mentoring, peer connection, and student involvement. BMI's core areas include academic excellence, mentoring support, social engagement, and leadership development. Your gift will support students with educational expenses, emergency needs, and personal and professional development opportunities. Funds will also be used for programming that supports the recruitment, retention, and outreach of Black male students.  To make a gift to this scholarship select the Cultural Center Success Initiative under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Cultural Center
The Cultural Center creates educational opportunities for members of the university community to critically think about their beliefs, values, and assumptions as it relates to culture. To fulfill our mission, we support and offer co-curricular and extracurricular programs that acknowledge and reflect the experiences of underrepresented populations. We also provide educational opportunities for all members of the campus community to examine their individual and group experiences within a culturally diverse society. The underlying goals of these two endeavors are:  Advocacy for our students while maintaining a level of expertise regarding the needs of under-represented students, Celebrate the diverse cultures of the campus community, Engage students in social justice issues, and Scholarship & Retention support of U of L students. Your support will allow us to ensure equity and opportunity, increase awareness of diversity issues throughout the campus and local community, and strengthen relationships across diverse groups. Your gift will support programming that will promote dialogue and understanding of topics related to diversity and support campus efforts to increase the retention, success, and participation of students, faculty, and staff from historically underrepresented groups. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Cultural Center Fund on our giving page. 

Darla Frazier Scholarship
Darla Frazier worked at the University of Louisville in various capacities for more than 30 years. As the Administrative Associate in the Cultural Center, Darla's passion for working with and supporting students was evident each day she was in the office. Before the end of her battle with breast cancer in 2017, Darla visited the Cultural Center with inspiring and motivating words for staff and students. “Never stop smiling and always do good.” This scholarship will cover the book expenses for a student in need.  This need-based scholarship is intended to support students who demonstrate a commitment towards their desired career path and are involved on campus and in the local community. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Darla Frazier Scholarship under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Hispanic, Latinx, and Indigenous Initiatives
The Latino Success Fund assists our peer mentoring services specifically aimed at the Latino student population at UofL.  This program allows Compas Peer Mentor/Ambassadors to serve incoming first-year, first-time degree-seeking freshmen and transfer students from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Compas represents the Cultural Center’s Hispanic, Latinx, and Indigenous with recruitment, retention, and community outreach. This peer mentor program is essential to the student success initiatives in the Cultural Center. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Latino Success Fund under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Louisville Tango Festival Scholarship
The Louisville Tango Festival Scholarship is available to full-time and part-time Latino/a/x and Hispanic students pursuing a degree in any major at the University of Louisville. Preference for this scholarship is given to students who have been active in Latino & Hispanic arts or community groups.  The Louisville Tango Festival awards this scholarship one time per year. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Louisville Tango Festival Gift or Louisville Tango Festival Gift Endowment under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Melanin 5 Endowed Scholarship
The Melanin 5 Endowed Scholarship was established in 2021 by five UofL doctoral students: Sherry Durham, Leondra Gully, Sarah Nuñez, Nakia Strickland, and Marian Vasser, is designed to increase the amount of BIPOC students who are admitted to and graduate from a doctoral program. By contributing to this fund, your gift will ensure more BIPOC doctoral students receive financial support to reduce barriers faced along their journey to graduating and thriving in a world that has historically oppressed and limited their ability to thrive and succeed. The Melanin 5 is the first all-women of color doctoral cohort at UofL. Each member of the Melanin 5 has contributed to this fund to ensure more BIPOC students can realize their full potential. To make a gift to this scholarship, follow the link here. 

Sagar Patagundi Scholarship
Established by alumnus Brian Buford (College of Education and Human Development, 1990), the Sagar Patagundi Scholarship will be awarded to subsidize the cost of higher education at the University of Louisville for undergraduate DACA and undocumented students. About the namesake: Sagar Patagundi came to the United States when he was 11 years old with his family. They all entered the country legally, but his father was eventually denied a green card after his application was pending for 11 years and was forced to return to their native country, India. Later his mother returned as well, leaving Sagar and his two brothers alone in the United States to pursue their dream of a college education. Sagar enrolled at U of L and became a key figure in the immigrant rights movement, founding a student organization called FIRE (Fighting for Immigrants Rights and Equality) and speaking nationally about the issues that undocumented students face. He graduated from the University of Louisville in 2014 with BA in Communication and continues to work as an advocate for social change with the ACLU of Kentucky and other local organizations. To make a gift to this scholarship select the Sagar Patagundi Scholarship under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

Xi Chapter Eleanor Foreman Scholarship
The Xi Chapter Eleanor Foreman Scholarship is a new academic scholarship at the University of Louisville, which was started by the Xi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Xi Chapter chose to name this scholarship after one of their own, Soror Eleanor Foreman. Mrs. Eleanor Foreman, the epitome of a true trailblazer, was known for leading by example. She paved the way for many by being the first Black woman to serve in the following positions: Negotiator for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Chairman of the Federal Credit Union, sales associate for the Louisville Board of Realtors. Additionally, she served as the president of the following organizations: the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Louisville section, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Louisville Alumnae Chapter, and Bourgard College of Music and Art. Mrs. Foreman’s actions indicate that she was community service-oriented and an agent of change. Learn more about Soror Foreman by listening to her interview with UofL's Oral History Center. This scholarship aims to honor the legacy and life of Eleanor Foreman. To make a gift to this scholarship visit our giving page. 

Woodford R. Porter Scholarship Program
The Porter Scholarship program is the largest scholarship organization at the University of Louisville. Named after a former university trustee, the late Woodford R. Porter Sr., the scholarship program was created in 1984. The mission and purpose are to provide academic, personal, and professional support and to all recipients of this scholarship.  Your gift t will help the program support students with expenses not covered by the scholarship including books, study abroad opportunities, personal/professional development, emergency resources, and other needs that will help students persist and graduate.  To make a gift to this scholarship select the Porter Scholarship under the Additional Funds section on our giving page. 

You can also give via email. You can make checks payable to the University of Louisville Foundation. In the memo, including the gift allocation (e.g. A specific school/college, scholarship, etc.).

University of Louisville Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 772050
Chicago, IL 60677-2050

To talk to someone about other giving opportunities, including multi-year pledges, planned gifts, and endowments, contact the Office of University Advancement 502-852-1886.