FAQs - 2026 UNITE: Together We Lead

WHO ATTENDS THESE SUMMITS?

We are excited to welcome 1,300+ participants and our largest gathering of institutions ever. Previous summits have included hundreds of institutional administrators, faculty, and staff, as well as others committed to delivering on the promise of higher education.

The 2025 program attracted more than 1,300 participants from a record-breaking 85+ higher education institutions, demonstrating broad engagement across the higher education community.

A breakdown of 2025 participants:

45% HBCUs/PBIs
28% Non-Profit Organization
17% Philanthropic Organizations
7% UNCF Staff
3% Other

Previous summit presenters have included:

Pearl Cleage, author, poet, and human rights advocate
The Honorable Alma Adams, US Representative 12th Congressional District of North Carolina
Steven Bandrowczak, CEO of Xerox
Dr. Ruha Benjamin, Sociologist and Professor at Princeton University
Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, President Emerita, Spelman College and Bennett College
Dr. Eddie Cole, Professor of Education and History, University of California Los Angeles
Courtland Cox, Board Chair, SNCC Legacy Projec
Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta
Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Executive Vice President/COO, Howard University
Byna Elliot, Managing Director, Advancing Black Pathways, JPMorgan Chase

Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pilitzer Prize-winning Journalist, The New York Times Magazine & Professor, Howard University
Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President, Council of Higher Education Accreditation
Stephanie Khurana, CEO Axim Collaboration
Dr. Henry McKoy, Office of State and Community Energy Program
Kwasi Mitchell, Chief Purpose Officer, Deloitte
Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer, Google
Mayor Randall Woodfin, City of Birmingham
The Honorable Michael S. Regan, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Jim Shelton, President & Chief Investment Officer, Blue Meridian Partners
Dr. Harry Williams, President and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund

How do I register a group from my institution?

At the end of your registration, you will have the option on the summary page to add additional registrants from your institution. You may add as many individuals as needed to the same registration order.

When adding additional registrants, it is important to use each registrant’s institutional email address (UNCF or HBCU/PBI). This ensures the correct registration type and fees are applied. If a non-institutional email address is used, you may receive a warning indicating that the attendee cannot be registered.

Note: This may be an issue for board members affiliated with an institution but who do not have an institutional email address. In these cases, they should register independently as a non-profit attendee and apply the appropriate discount code at checkout (if applicable).

Once you complete your last registration, you will receive an email confirmation showing all the details for everyone you registered. There will be a link in this confirmation email to print your invoice. If you need additional help, please reach out to the 2026 UNITE Planning Team.

How do I go back to submit payment if I have already completed the registration form?

All registrants have the option to pay with a credit card.

CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS: If you have already completed registration form and you are returning to complete your payment via credit card, please visit the UNITE registration site. Select "Already Registered", enter your email address and your confirmation number then select "Submit Payment" to add payment details to complete your registration.

CHECK PAYMENTS: If you are paying via check, please email the 2026 UNITE Planning Team to notify them that you are sending a check. Include the check number and the registrant(s) name of who the check will pay for.

Checks for registration fees can be submitted to the following address: Attention:

UNCF-ICB

245 Peachtree Center Ave NE, Suite 2800

Atlanta, GA 30303

All checks must be postmarked and received by June 19, 2026.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL | SIGNIA BY HILTON OF ATLANTA

159 Northside Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 404-223-4414

We are expecting 2000 participants for UNITE 2026. There are 950 rooms available at our host hotel. We strongly encourage you to book your hotel accommodations for UNITE 2026 as soon as possible! The host hotel for UNITE 2026 is at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta. *Sleeping rooms are limited especially outside of the core dates.

To receive the discounted rates you first must register, then a link to our hotel room block will be available on the confirmation page and email.

The hotel room block closes on June 19, 2026 and you must have your room booked before this date to receive the discounted rate, based on availability. When booking through this link it is required that you book a minimum of 3 nights to stay.

Hotel confirmations will come directly from the hotel. If you have not received confirmation, please check your junk/focus folders for an email from Signia. If you still are unable to locate the confirmation email, contact the hotel immediately to confirm they have your reservation at 404-223-4414.

Questions or concerns, please contact the Signia by Hilton Atlanta hotel directly at 404-223-4414.