Black United Fund of Texas Promotes Self-Help

The National Black United Fund (NBUF) movement was organized officially and formally in 1972.  A group of nationally recognized African American leaders: Leon Sullivan, Dorothy Height, Lucius Walker, and Leroi Jones incorporated the organization in the State of Delaware. Since its inception, the National Black United Fund has continued to attract highly motivated African Americans to its governing board.

The Founder, Walter Bremond, later became the first Executive Director and then President of the National Black United Fund from 1972 until his death in 1982, Earland L. Jaggers and the late Dana Alston followed Bremond. In 1987, William T. Merritt became the fourth and current President/CEO.

The first chairman of the National Black United Fund was Dr. Jim Joseph, former Undersecretary of the Department of Interior. Prior to his appointment as Undersecretary (during the Carter Administration), Joseph was Vice President of Cummins Engine Company and President of its foundation. After Joseph, Dr. Carlton Goodlett became chairman.  Goodlett was an internationally known physician and newspaper publisher. The third NBUF chairman was Negail Riley, Associate General Secretary for the United Church of Christ. Other well-known members of the board included Hank Aaron, Lerone Bennett, Julian Bond, Maynard Jackson, Quincy Jones, Don King, Whitman Flayo, Ophelia Mitchell, Congressman Parren Mitchell, Charles Rangel, and Gloria Toote. The NBUF board consists of members drawn from such diverse fields as: education, religion, manufacturing, sales, law, medicine, insurance, music, arts, sports, theater, and the media.

The National Black United Fund's mission is to create, support and sustain Black American social, economic, cultural, and educational institutions through the enhancement of community philanthropy.

"It is a sense of honor and dignity, it is the development of community closure that interlocks our people, and with our institutions…it's investing in our people…it's lobbying on each other's behalf…. It's organizing in our communities as we have never organized before. It's demanding that we relate to and struggle with one another as a people. We have no choice." - Walter Bremond –Founder NBUF (1980)

Giving is a part of our cultural, giving to the least of us is biblical, and giving gives definition to living-Michael Yarbrough, Chairman BUFTX (2007)

“We need now what they had then; faith, the audacity to believe and tenacity to trust in God, in order to help ourselves.”

Cleo Glenn –Johnson-President BUFTX (2007)

Black United Fund “Makes” Texas Better