How UNCF NPAC shapes student leaders, supports alumni giving, and empowers the next generation of HBCU advocates.

The UNCF National Pre-Alumni Council (NPAC) is more than a student organization—it’s a legacy-building engine that prepares HBCU students to become the next generation of alumni leaders, fundraisers, and advocates. But with nearly a third of campus chapters inactive, the time to reignite and reengage is now.

What is NPAC? And What Makes It Unique?

The UNCF National Pre-Alumni Council (NPAC) is an umbrella organization for student alumni councils across UNCF’s 37 member institutions. Each campus can have its own Pre-Alumni Council (PAC), a student organization dedicated to leadership development, fundraising, and alumni connections. NPAC’s executive board represents different schools and serves as the bridge to the National Alumni Council (NAC).

PACs at participating member institutions are councils of individuals who gain leadership and social mobility skills to become effective alumni who give back to their institutions after graduation. According to Aissatou Bah, NPAC’s National Business Manager, “The NPAC is just the e-board—we represent different schools out of the 37 institutions.”

The process of joining varies by campus—some require dues, others have application processes, or hold club recruitment fairs. Many discover PAC through UNCF conferences or scholarship requirements.

NPAC’s Role in Leadership Development and Alumni Engagement

PAC serves as a crucial leadership pipeline for HBCU students. Unlike more visible student organizations, such as SGA or royal court, PAC provides foundational leadership tools away from the front stage. Brittney Daniel, Miss National UNCF, explains that “PAC helps students get introduced into leadership. It’s a great first step.”

The personal and professional growth is significant. Students develop advocacy skills, that extend beyond maintaining professional networks and establishing connections that extend beyond the campus. Bah credits PAC with connecting her “with many people, in rooms I never been or thought I would be. I want to be a CPA and have those people in my corner.” Each PAC is charged with supporting student pipelines into their national alumni association, sowing the seeds for a lifetime of engagement with their institution.

This experience translates into real impact. Daniel became a UNCF student ambassador and hosted Sunday scholarships, helping three students at Paine College receive scholarships by providing essay writing tools and application preparation.

“PAC is a family at every institute—my one takeaway. However, your college experience goes, being a part of PAC pushes you to give back—the one thing we have in common: to give back and make an impact” said Daniel.

Why Some PACs Are Inactive—and How to Change That

Approximately one-third of campus PAC chapters are currently inactive. The primary reasons include a lack of administrative support showing what happens when PAC is activated, insufficient education about PAC’s value, and students not understanding the organization’s purpose.

Student-led activation is the most effective solution. Students can connect with alumni for support and guidance when they are committed to reactivating their chapter. Key strategies include making PAC visible on campus, connecting with alumni for mentorship, and leveraging NPAC’s national resources for guidance and training materials.

NPAC’s Fundraising & UNCF Support Role

NPAC cultivates a culture of giving through various programs that combine financial literacy with philanthropic engagement. The current leadership, elected in February, is working to implement new initiatives, including financial education programming across all 37 institutions, helping students secure funding while building understanding of institutional sustainability.

Campus chapters engage in hands-on fundraising through alum outreach during homecoming, raffles, and donor events. These efforts are crucial for private institutions that depend heavily on their board of trustees and alumni support. Daniel emphasizes the importance of this work: “Giving back and paying it forward to UNCF is important.”

NPAC at UNITE 2025

The annual UNITE Summit provides NPAC with a platform to showcase student leadership and strengthen intergenerational connections. The summit offers opportunities for students, administrators, faculty, staff, and more to hear diverse perspectives and understand different viewpoints among students, administrators, and alumni leaders.

This year, UNITE 2025 will feature NPAC leaders Kaitlyn Parrish, Spelman College; Brandon Walker, Clark Atlanta University; Brittney Daniel, Paine College; Aissatou Bah, Tuskegee University; Akayia Allen, Stillman College; and Zaynab Johnson, Philander Smith College, highlighting how UNCF NPAC shapes student leaders, supports alumni giving, and empowers the next generation of HBCU advocates.

Daniel, who will speak at UNITE 2025, views the conference as an advocacy opportunity and a chance to practice her public speaking skills. The conference allows NPAC to work directly with UNCF and NAC on strategic initiatives, including plans for regional mini-conferences to strengthen campus connections.

The Student-Alumni Pipeline Starts Here

NPAC represents a strategic investment in HBCU sustainability. The organization creates a pipeline alumni advocates and donors. The model works because it starts with authentic community building, which naturally extends into post-graduation engagement.

When we activate NPAC, we’re not just starting a chapter but securing the future of HBCU giving, leadership, and community. Investing in student leadership today creates alumni advocates of tomorrow.

Students interested in joining PAC should contact their campus student affairs office to learn about their institution’s specific chapter and enrollment process. Many campuses have simple processes—some require payment of dues, while others have brief applications. For campuses without an active chapter, the national team offers comprehensive toolkits, mentorship, and strategic support for reactivation efforts. As Bah notes, “It’s a village behind it. We can help—NPAC is small but mighty.”

Administrators and advisors play a crucial role by recognizing PAC as a core leadership incubator and providing institutional support to ensure chapters thrive. Alumni can contribute by mentoring current student leaders, serving in advisory capacities, and supporting ongoing initiatives that strengthen the student-to-alumni pipeline.

This unique opportunity to participate in NPAC is a distinctive privilege that sets these students apart in their leadership development journey. Not every HBCU student can access this specialized pipeline, which connects them to a national network of alum advocates and philanthropic leaders.

All of us can invest in students now to form the alum leaders of tomorrow, ensuring the HBCU legacy continues to thrive for generations to come. We look forward to seeing the next generation of UNCF NPAC at the UNCF UNITE 2025 Conference.

Written by Myron Boyd, Strategy Development Intern at UNCF ICB and student at Florida A&M University.