Philander Smith University has received a $19 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking the school’s largest single contribution in its 147-year history.
The donation to the historically black university in Little Rock will help it advance its mission of educating academically accomplished students who are grounded as advocates for social justice, according to a media release. It will also allow university leadership and its Board of Trustees to invest in other priorities including scholarships, academic innovation, infrastructure and long-term financial sustainability, the release stated.
Philander Smith President and CEO Maurice D. Gipson said the university is “deeply grateful” for the donation.
“This historic investment affirms the strength, potential, and future of our institution and underscores the essential role HBCUs continue to play in expanding opportunity,” Gipson said in a statement Monday to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “This gift is truly transformative for an institution soon to celebrate its 150th anniversary, and we are committed to stewarding it thoughtfully so its impact is felt by our students, our campus, and the communities we serve for generations to come.”
Unrestricted gifts give recipients more flexibility around the use of the resources. Among the university’s priorities are financial aid, investments in faculty, technology upgrades, improving facilities and strengthening the school’s endowment and future growth, university officials said.
Scott is an author and the ex-wife of Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos. The couple was married from 1993-2019. She is worth an estimated $34.3 billion, according to Forbes.
Tionna Jenkins, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, said the contribution “underscores the institution’s enduring value and promise.”
“Ms. Scott’s generosity helps ensure that the university continues to thrive and expand its impact for generations to come,” Jenkins said.
The university was founded in 1877 and is one of the oldest private, historically Black colleges and universities in Arkansas and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. A United Methodist-affiliated liberal arts university, Philander Smith offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs and is the only UNCF-member school in the state, according to the university.
In August 2023, Philander Smith fully transitioned from college to university, becoming the only HBCU in central Arkansas with a university status, according to its website.
Among the university’s most famous alumni is Dr. Joycelyn Elders, who served as U.S. Surgeon General from 1993 to 1994.
