A bicyclist is blurred in the background with pink and white flowers in the foreground.

Scenes from the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on April 13, 2022. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Written by Brad Marley, Annual Fund Manager for the Morehead-Cain Foundation

This academic year has been a notable one for the Morehead-Cain Foundation. From welcoming a new Foundation president in August, to breaking records on our Day of Giving in November, to hosting the first-ever Discovery Weekend in March, there have been many things to celebrate in our community.

As we look toward the end of the fiscal year in June, I wanted to take the chance to clarify and shed some light on the Morehead-Cain Annual Fund, and what its purpose is in supporting Uncle Mot’s vision and the future of the Program.

Below, I’ve included the answers to frequent questions I receive from alumni as Annual Fund Manager. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear from you!

What is the annual fund?

The annual fund, or Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund, was established as a way for alumni and friends to support the scholars in the Program directly. Every cent donated goes toward funding scholarships and scholar experiences, allowing the Foundation endowment to pick up the tab on overhead costs, and other aspects of the Foundation that require attention.

How does giving to the annual fund support the Program as a whole?

Currently, the annual fund accounts for around a quarter of the actual dollars spent on scholars’ experiences, with the rest coming from the Morehead-Cain Foundation endowment. Simply put, growing the annual fund means that we will be able to offer more scholarships and experiences to more scholars, for even longer.

I thought the Foundation was financially successful, so why do we still need to fundraise?

The simple answer is that we want to ensure that John Motley Morehead III’s vision for this Program can continue as long as possible. The generous donations of thousands of alumni and friends have helped to bolster the Program during difficult financial seasons and to usher the Program to new horizons when finances are strong. Continued support will ensure that generations to come will be able to benefit from the unique experiences that Morehead-Cain alone provides.

Why does alumni participation matter?

Alumni participation matters for several reasons. Primarily, it is a clear message to current and future scholars of the support and investment of the alumni community in their futures. Participation also strengthens the scholar, alumni, and friend communities that make this Program what it is, and brings us all closer together and united under a common cause and passion.

I hope that this is helpful information, or a good refresher if you already knew all the answers. As always, whether or not you support the Program financially, please know how appreciated you are as a member of our community. Your impact on those around you is truly what makes Morehead-Cain all that it is, and shows us the bright future ahead.

Become a Morehead-Cain Champion by setting up a recurring gift.