Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has launched another sweeping round of higher education philanthropy — donating more than $300 million in just one month to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and organizations that expand college access for underrepresented students. Her latest contributions arrive at a critical moment, as many diversity and inclusion programs face political and financial pressures.
Among the most recent recipients is Alabama State University, which announced a record-breaking $38 million gift this week. “Today marks a defining moment in the history of Alabama State University,” said President Quinton Ross, calling the donation the largest in the school’s 158-year history and “a pivotal moment” for its future.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore received an identical amount last week, following an earlier $20 million gift from Scott in 2020. University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay A. Perman described the donation as “a resounding vote of confidence” that will strengthen the university’s ability to serve students and expand its impact as a leading HBCU.
Scott also contributed $63 million to Morgan State University — its second transformative gift from her since 2020. President David K. Wilson said the renewed investment “speaks volumes about the confidence she and her team have in our institution’s stewardship, leadership, and trajectory.”
Alcorn State University, a Lorman, MS-based HBCU, has received a record-setting $42 million unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking the largest single gift in the university’s 154-year history. The contribution reflects Scott’s second major investment in Alcorn, following a $25 million gift in 2020, bringing her total support for the institution to $67 million.
A Transformational Gift for a Historic HBCU
“This is a historic moment for Alcorn State University as we celebrate the largest single donation in our university’s history,” said Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president of Alcorn State University. “We are immensely grateful for Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s continued investment in Alcorn, our students, and our mission to create access.” Founded in 1871 as the nation’s oldest public historically Black land-grant university, Alcorn State has long been a pillar of educational opportunity in Mississippi and beyond. The unrestricted nature of MacKenzie Scott’s latest $42 million gift gives the university flexibility to address its most pressing needs-ranging from scholarships and faculty development to capital improvements and student success initiatives.
Scott also donated $25 million in 2020 to Maryland’s second-largest HBCU, Bowie State University, the largest single gift in the school’s history. In total, Scott has donated $186 million to Maryland HBCUs in a nearly five-year period.
Officials at Morgan State and UMES said the latest donations are a vote of confidence in the progress they have been making. That was echoed Monday by Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, who said the gifts highlight the importance of HBCUs in the state, especially when the country is “seeing a movement” by the federal government to not support Black communities.
“Seeing these kinds of private investments really show us the importance and contributions of our HBCUs. I just feel proud and excited,” Wilkins said.
Scott was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for 25 years before they divorced in 2019. She currently has an estimated net worth of nearly $34 billion, according to Forbes. Besides being a philanthropist, Scott’s also an author of two novels.
On the same day Morgan State announced the second gift from Scott this month, she posted an essay on her website, Yield Giving.
“The potential of peaceful, non-transactional contribution has long been underestimated, often on the basis that it is not financially self-sustaining, or that some of its benefits are hard to track,” Scott wrote. “Votes are not the only way to show what we’d like to see more of in our societies. There are many ways to influence how we move through the world, and where we land.”
Her support extends beyond individual campuses. In September, Scott gave $70 million to the United Negro College Fund to boost long-term financial stability for 37 member institutions. Additional donations included $50 million to the Native Forward Scholars Fund, $42 million to California-based 10,000 Degrees, and $10 million to the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation — each aimed at broadening access and success for students historically excluded from higher education.
Since pledging in 2019 to give away at least half her fortune, Scott has distributed over $19 billion to more than 2,000 organizations through her Yield Giving initiative. On her website, she reminded readers that while her major gifts attract attention, “any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into the world this year.”
