Yes. Gifts made to the Foundation continue to be received, acknowledged, and stewarded by the Foundation. Those funds remain under the Foundation’s existing governance and fiduciary oversight, and donor intent continues to be honored.

Class gifts made to the University are received by the Foundation and credited to the class campaign as usual. Nothing about the current Homecoming giving process has changed. To ensure your gift reaches the Foundation, give through our official channels and make checks payable to the South Carolina State University Foundation. If you are unsure, contact a Foundation staff member or a staff member of the Office of Institutional Advancement before giving.

We are aware that another organization has been formed. However, we have not been apprised of its purpose or how it is intended to fit alongside the work of the Foundation. It does not change how this Foundation operates; our mission, processes, and commitment to donors remain the same. We respect every donor’s choice and are not asking anyone to take sides. We will keep our donors, alumni, and class leaders informed as we receive additional information.

The audit is following its normal sequence. One step remains open: reconciling the pledge records maintained by University Advancement. Progress has been made on that work. Once it is complete, the auditors will finish their standard testing and follow-up.

The lawsuit is ongoing. There have been initial discussions about a possible settlement, but no settlement has been reached. We continue to hope for a resolution.

Scholarship support remains one of the most important ways we can open doors for South Carolina State University students. The need is real, and every year our alumni, friends, corporate partners, and foundations step forward to meet it. This year’s gala raised $365,000, a powerful sign of how deeply this community believes in our students. The Foundation’s 36th annual gala will take place in 2027, celebrating 56 years of investing in Bulldog success. We hope you’ll join us in making it our most meaningful year yet.

The mailing address has not changed. The physical address has changed. We are located at 152 Market Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115.

Yes. Our operating costs will increase as we take on additional overhead for our location.

Only the operating staff receive compensation. The Board is 100% volunteer.

No. The Foundation has not broken any laws or failed to fulfill its mission of supporting South Carolina State University, its students, and alumni. For more than 50 years, the Foundation has supported the University by responsibly managing charitable contributions and honoring donors’ wishes. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that funds entrusted to the Foundation are properly managed and used for their intended purposes. That stewardship helps meet the needs of students, academic programs, and the broader University community. We have not been informed of how another foundation would operate or how it would provide additional support to the University.

That question is best answered by University leadership, which would be responsible for explaining the purpose, structure, and anticipated benefits of another foundation. We encourage you to direct this question to the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees during its fourth-quarter meeting on December 3, 2026. Questions and comments may be submitted to botpcomments@scsu.edu.

The Foundation will continue to receive, manage, and steward charitable contributions that support South Carolina State University and its students. Continued and increased donor support strengthens the University’s philanthropic resources in several ways:

1. More financial support for students: Additional contributions can provide scholarships and other resources to help students close financial gaps and remain enrolled through graduation.
2. Greater funding capacity: Philanthropy provides resources for scholarships, academic programs, and other University priorities, consistent with donor-designated purposes.
3. Stronger long-term sustainability: Contributions to existing endowments increase the Foundation’s capacity to support future generations of students. These funds are invested and managed to provide lasting benefits.
4. Continuity for donors and beneficiaries: Existing Foundation accounts and endowments remain in place, allowing established charitable support to continue without interruption.

Simply stated, the more support entrusted to the Foundation, the greater our ability to support South Carolina State University and its students today and in the future.

The decision to pursue another foundation rests with University leadership. We cannot speak to the President’s reasons or decisions. We encourage you to raise this question directly with the University Board of Trustees at its December 3 meeting.

Graduation rates and academic performance are responsibilities of University leadership and its Board of Trustees. The Foundation supports student success by providing scholarships and other philanthropic assistance that help reduce financial barriers to completing a degree. We share your concern for student achievement and encourage you to raise questions about the University’s academic priorities directly with the Board of Trustees. Thank you for your engagement. The Foundation remains focused on its mission, responsible stewardship, and providing lasting support for South Carolina State University.

The Foundation continues to work with the University at the operational level to fulfill our mission of supporting students and University programs. Although litigation between the Foundation and the University remains ongoing, the Foundation continues to perform its core functions as an important part of the University’s philanthropic support system. Our responsibilities to donors, scholarship recipients, and other beneficiaries remain unchanged.

The Foundation continues to provide substantial financial support to South Carolina State University and its students. Through September 30, 2026, the Foundation provided:

• $1 million in scholarship support to help students meet their educational expenses.
• $4.4 million in program support to advance University-related programs and priorities.

Together, that represents $5.4 million in scholarship and program support through September 30. These resources demonstrate the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to student success and the University’s educational mission.

The University directed the Foundation to vacate its campus offices. Leaving campus was not the Foundation’s choice.

The University issued this directive in January 2026, in conjunction with its decision to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding governing the relationship between the University and the Foundation.

The Foundation received the notice to vacate on January 20, 2026. The University’s Board of Trustees voted to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding on January 23, 2026, with formal notice provided that day.

Despite these actions, the Foundation has continued its operations and fulfilled its responsibilities to donors and beneficiaries.

Yes. The Foundation remains in regular operational communication and coordination with the University.

These interactions address the day-to-day responsibilities necessary to administer scholarships and other charitable funds, coordinate financial and administrative matters, and meet applicable regulatory and compliance requirements.

The Foundation’s independent governance also continues. The Board of Directors meets quarterly and holds an annual retreat. Board committees meet throughout the year to oversee finance, investments, governance, audit, compliance, and other responsibilities. Foundation staff also conduct an annual planning retreat.

Although the litigation continues, the Foundation remains operational, engaged, and committed to supporting the University and its students.