Alumni, parents and friends can contribute to the general support of the Department of the African American Studies by directing gifts to the African American Studies gift account. Funds from this highly flexible account are used in support of a wide range of teaching and research objectives as well as the following specific needs of the department:

Student Award Fund

Njeri Mugo Global Children and Ovarian Cancer Awareness award: Established by former department chair Micere Githae Mugo, the fund provides a $500 annual prize to an AAS graduate student/fellow and an AAS major/minor for the best essay on ovarian cancer, or a topic that expounds on the notion: "In every child there is a kernel of genius that is crushed by impoverishment."

Research Funds

African American Studies Speaker Series fund: Created in 2006, this fund supports the department's annual lecture series of visiting speakers and research in the field of African American studies.

John L. Johnson fund: Established in 2014 in honor of the first director of African American studies, the John L. Johnson fund stands side-by-side with the African American Studies Speaker Series Fund fhat supports an annual lecture series.

The Pan African Graduate Studies fund: This fund supports graduate student research, particularly travel to conferences and to summer externships to meet research and educational needs.

Interrelated Units Funds

The Community Folk Art Center, Inc. (CFAC) fund: Founded in 1971, the funding of CFAC is used to support its public programming, which includes African Diaspora exhibitions, film screenings, gallery talks, workshops and courses in the studio, performing and expressive arts.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library fund: Established in 1970 by African American studies students and faculty, this fund is used to support the department's library.

The Africa Initiative fund: Created in 2005 by scholars from various disciplines, this fund supports programs which focus on Africa as an important site of knowledge and highlight teaching, research and publication in the arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences.

The African American Studies Abroad fund: This fund is used to assist students participating in Syracuse Abroad Programs led by department faculty.

Giving Online

Visit A&S' secure online giving site, then select the fund you are interested in.

If you wish to direct your gift to a specific fund listed above, but which may not be listed on Syracuse University's online giving form, please call the Arts and Sciences advancement office at 315.443.1995. They can help you securely donate by credit card.