The Rivalry, Reimagined

Every fall, the Magic City Classic brings Alabama together for one of the biggest weekends in HBCU culture. This year, The Alabama Collective is starting the competition early, with a twist.

The Give Classic: The Battle for the Bag at Magic City is a month-long fundraising rivalry that puts all 14 of Alabama’s HBCUs on two sides, North and South Region, split by region. Every gift counts toward your side’s total and directly supports Alabama HBCU students, graduates and founders.

How It Works

  1. Pick your side. Every donation counts toward the North Region or the South Region .
  2. Share your link. Rally your classmates, alumni, chapter and family.
  3. Watch the leaderboard. Totals update in real time.
  4. Giving closes Wednesday, October 28 at 11:59 PM CT.
  5. The winner is announced live on October 29 at the Magic City Classic Business Pitch Competition in Birmingham.
 

What the Winning Team Gets

Bragging rights, a live on-stage announcement and something that matters on competition day. Every MCC-BP competitor from the winning side’s schools receives 5 bonus points on their Round 1 Pitch Booth score, giving founders from those campuses an edge on the path to the Pitch Finale.

 
Donate Now - North Region
Donate Now - South Region

Where Your Gift Goes

The Alabama Collective expands tech, innovation and entrepreneurship programs across Alabama with a focus on the state’s HBCUs. Your gift helps fund pitch competitions with real prize money, free tech training and certifications, Innovation Power Hours on campus, mentorship and the connections that turn ideas into businesses.

Official Rules

  • The winning side is the side with the highest total dollars raised through The Give Classic campaign page between October 1 and October 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT. Ties are broken by number of unique donors.
  • The 5-point bonus applies to the Round 1 Pitch Booth score only, for accepted MCC-BP competitors affiliated with a winning-side school. For teams, the team lead’s listed institution determines affiliation.
  • The bonus is applied by The Alabama Collective after judging and does not depend on whether a competitor personally donated.
  • The Alabama Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
 
Empowering Alabama’s HBCUs, Entrepreneurs, and Innovators.

impact at a glance

The Alabama Collective (TAC) is building a more inclusive, tech-driven economy across Alabama. Guided by the principles of Expose, Educate, Engage, and Empower, TAC connects talent, training, and opportunity—helping students, founders, and communities transform ideas into impact.

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