Coco Gauff Serves Significant Donation To HBCU’s

The tennis calendar usually starts with a bang, and the 2026 Australian Open requires everyone to be at their best right from the get-go. The major January tournament didn’t stop Coco Gauff from continuing to put her money behind her words when it comes to supporting HBCU’s.

Right before Gauff’s 6-2, 6-2 victory against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, it was announced that the tennis star made a notable contribution to American HBCU’s.

Gauff donated $150,000 towards scholarships for college tennis players playing for HBCU’s.

“Yeah, I think, for me, it was just important to support that cause, especially in tennis,” Gauff explained. I feel like HBCU tennis a lot of times doesn’t get the funding that they need. So for me, I would just always try to uplift, like I said in the previous question, marginalized communities and, you know, put things, support where I can.”

It continues what has seemingly become an annual trend for Gauff, who donated $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund in February 2025. The contributions are part of the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program which kicked off in 2025.

“As a young black athlete, I understand how impactful it is to see people who look like me thriving in both sports and education,” Gauff said after her first donation. “I want to help the next generation of student-athletes continue pursuing their passion for tennis while reaching their academic goals.”

Tennis sensation Coco Gauff has graciously donated $100,000 to UNCF in support of scholarships for HBCU students involved in competitive tennis. The Coco Gauff Scholarship Program will be administered by UNCF and scholarships will be awarded to eligible students who play… pic.twitter.com/aU0kc4dUmZ

— HBCUGO.TV (@HBCUGoTV) February 5, 2025

Gauff never actually attended college, instead completing coursework commensurate with a high school degree in conjunction with her up and coming tennis pursuits. With that said, she has a deep connection with HBCU institutions and their historical importance.

“I think if I didn’t play tennis, I would have loved to attend an HBCU,” Gauff professed. “I have family members on both sides, both my grandmothers went to HBCU’s, uncle and aunt went to HBCU, and growing up just attending, going to HBCU Classic games and things like that.”

The initiative awarded scholarships to 10 students in 2025, who attended Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Livingstone College and Tuskegee University.

Gauff was also instrumental in the USTA’s project which earmarked $3 million to renovate public tennis courts in the United States. HBCU North Carolina Central received $21,000 from that project.

The 21-year-old takes her responsibility and platform seriously, as she knows many younger people of all different backgrounds are looking up to her.

“For me, I just feel like it’s not so much of responsibility, I feel like that’s just me, and that’s like my identity,” Gauff said in 2022. “And I’m lucky enough that some people in the world care about what I have to say. So I try to make sure that I say it and say it in a correct way, or in a way that people understand.”

gave it my all today… thank you for the support. Always an honor to compete in this event and for a team❤️ we’ll do better next time ! #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/Qi64VHkEtJ

— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) January 10, 2026

Gauff has won two Grand Slam titles in her young career; the 2023 U.S. Open and the 2025 French Open. The farthest she’s gone in an Australian Open was the semifinals, which happened in 2024.