Costs

The Black Birthright program fee is $6,800 USD. This amount covers both the Scholar’s participation in The Salon (year-long educational program preceding travel), and their travel expenses.

Please note that it costs approximately $16,000 to put one Scholar through the full Black Birthright program - The Salon and travel to Africa. This amount is heavily subsidized by The Tunstall Family and the generosity of Tunstall Foundation donors.

The Scholar’s and Tunstall Foundation’s combined contributions cover:

  • Scholar’s participation in The Salon: Awakening Your African Mind (year-long educational program preceding travel)

  • Transport to/from airport in US

  • Transport to/from airport in country

  • Flights

  • Hotel accommodations

  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily

  • Bottled water

  • Private transportation in country

  • Tour guides

  • Translators

  • Entry to all tour sites and activity fees

  • Travel insurance

IMPORTANT - Additionally, Scholars are expected to cover the following costs independently:

  • Passport application fees

  • Costs for travel immunizations (See the Health section of our website for additional information.)

  • Souvenirs

  • Supplemental meals/snacks

Raising Funds to Participate

Scholars will have an opportunity to participate in fundraising activities to assist them in raising the funds required for travel and travel-related expenses. The Tunstall Foundation provides fundraising infrastructure, guidance and ongoing support to ensure all Scholars, regardless of their financial circumstances, are empowered to gather the required funds.

Additionally, Scholars are notified of their acceptance to Black Birthright 9 months before fees are due. Meaning, Scholars begin participating in Black Birthright programming long before their fees are due.

Lastly, if a Scholar is accepted into Black Birthright, but does not believe they will be able to raise/gather the required funds within 9 months, the Scholar may defer their participation in Black Birthright to the following year to allow additional time for fundraising.

Example: Scholar A is accepted into Black Birthright 2025. Scholar A does not believe they will be able to gather all required funds before the February 2026 payment deadline. Scholar A chooses to defer their participation and joins the Black Birthright 2026 cohort. Scholar A will now participate in The Salon (i.e. year-long educational programming) during the 2026 - 2027 school year and will travel to Africa in July 2027. Scholar A’s program fee is due in February 2027. Scholar A has 19 months (almost 2 years) to gather all required funds.

(Note: This option is available only to applicants in 8th, 9th or 10th grades at the time of application. Applicants in 11th grade at the time of application cannot exercise the deferral option.)