'Silent Sam' deal cost UNC a $1.5M grant from major foundation donor

Posted Dec 15, 2019
A major foundation donor says it pulled a $1.5 million grant slated for UNC after news broke of the controversial deal between UNC system leaders and a neo-Confederate group over "Silent Sam." The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the world and a key funder of academic research, withdrew the grant at "at the final stage." (WRAL.com)

Related: Business & Administration

UNC AD: 'We dropped the ball' on future of Smith Center conversations
The future of the Smith Center is on everyone’s mind. Tar Heels young and not-so-young have an opinion on what to do with the 40-year-old...
Mon Feb 16, 2026

UNC Baseball's $9 Million Gift Highlights UNC's Financial Model for Supporting its 28 Sports
A $9 million gift to the UNC Baseball operating endowment was announced last month. The anonymous donor challenged fans and supporters to match the amount,...
Mon Feb 16, 2026

Carolina Insider Podcast: Remembering James Spurling, UNC vs. NC State Basketball Preview
A different show as our main focus is remembering our friend James Spurling by re-running his interview from 2019 (11:53). James' Celebration of Life was...
Mon Feb 16, 2026

UNC mourns 'selfless' James Spurling, who impacted Tar Heel football for decades
On Sunday afternoon, for the first time in more than half a century, Carolina Football will gather without James Spurling. A Celebration of Life will...
Fri Feb 13, 2026