Regardless of its size, your gifts have a real and meaningful effect on the work of the Stone Center. Whether you support deserving students through fellowship opportunities, research that leads to  innovative revisions to existing schools of thought, community outreach projects, international initiatives, or our visual and performing arts programs, your gift helps us to make a difference in the lives of real people.

Your gift, which can conveniently be made on the Giving to Carolina Web page, makes possible the many programs we provide to the campus and surrounding community. In supporting the Center, you play an important role in advancing the Stone Center’s mission and vision to “encourage and support the critical examination of all dimensions of African and African- American diaspora cultures through sustained and open discussion, dialogue and debate…”

Thank you in advance for your contribution!

Giving Opportunities

The Stone Center is a significant player on the national and global stages as an innovative model for centers of its kind. Never before have we been so well positioned as a resource for other centers to serve as counsel and to offer new and innovative ideas.

Much of our momentum is at risk if we do not find additional resources. Budget cuts during this time of increased demands for our services have multiplied our challenges. We must increasingly turn to private philanthropy in order to meet the needs of the campus and community constituencies as we continue to build on our mission. If we continue at our current trajectory, there is no doubt that very soon we will emerge as one of the world’s most inventive centers.

For details about giving and naming opportunities contact:

LeRhonda Manigault-Bryant
Director, Stone Center
919-843-2671

Auditorium Seat Naming Campaign

The Seat Naming Campaign offers donors the opportunity to inscribe their name, a loved one’s name, their business, or in memoriam, to create a lasting legacy. A permanent brass plate with your inscription will be installed on the seat you select in the Stone Center Auditorium. Your named seat serves as a reminder of your commitment to the Stone Center’s mission.

The Sean Douglas Fellowship

The Sean Douglas Fellowship supports professional development experiences for students through internships with the Stone Center. The Fellowship, named for UNC at Chapel Hill alum Sean Douglas, a U.S. Army veteran, aviator, and community leader, provides semester-long paid internships. Students work directly with Stone Center staff to develop meaningful service and engagement experiences on campus and in the surrounding communities.

Undergraduate International Studies Fellowship (UISF)

The Undergraduate International Studies Fellowship is awarded to students from under-represented groups who desire to travel abroad for a minimum of one semester. These students choose their own plans of study and report back to us upon completion of study. Fellowships awards range up to $2500, and are offered once per year.

Stone Center Gift Fund

The Gift Fund helps the Stone Center respond to pressing programmatic needs and pursue new opportunities. Through this important and increasingly popular form of giving, you can enable the Center to support in-house initiatives such as the Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film, as well as collaborate on innovative projects with faculty, students, and staff.

Communiversity Youth Programs

Communiversity Youth Programs (CYP) is the Stone Center’s longest running outreach program. CYP, founded by UNC students in 1992, serves as a literacy and cultural enrichment program for K-12 scholars. Communiversity Youth Programs is supported by volunteers from the campus community, and takes place after school, four days per week during the academic year.

Pamela Nicole Cummings Visiting Artist Fund

The Pamela Nicole Cummings fund supports visiting artists, scholars and cultural workers while they are in residence with the Stone Center. This fellowship offsets expenses for scholars during their time with us as they facilitate workshops, lectures and forums on relevant topics from their respective fields.

Weiss Endowment for Creativity in the Performing Arts

The Weiss Endowment for Creativity in the Performing Arts supports various performing arts initiatives of UNC faculty, students, and staff who work in collaboration with the Stone Center in fulfilling its mission.

Okun Family Fund

The Beth and Daniel Okun Collegium Fund is a recurring award endowed by a generous gift by Beth and husband Daniel Okun, Kenan professor emeritus in the Department of Environmental Sciences. The Collegium Fund supports a term-long study/research project by a diverse team made up of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and community members, if applicable.

Stone Center Art Fund

The Stone Center Art Fund supports visual arts programs and initiatives in the Brown Gallery and other spaces in the Stone Center building.

Cross-Cultural Communications Institute

The Cross-Cultural Communications Institute (CCCI) was founded in 1990 as a campus forum for the discussion of ideas, issues, and initiatives about ethnic, cultural, racial, and other self-defined communities. The CCCI explores ways to bridge differences, both real and perceived, through constructive dialogue and the proposal of active solutions.