Over the past month, billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a huge investment in historically Black colleges and universities, including a $70 million donation to the United Negro College Fund and record-breaking gifts to Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Morgan State University.
This week, Scott continued her support of HBCUs by bestowing major unrestricted gifts to four additional institutions. Howard University has received $80 million, Virginia State University has received $50 million, and Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College have each received $38 million.
Combining her latest $80 million gift with her previous $40 million donation in 2020 and $12 million gift in 2023, Howard University has now received a total of $132 million in funding from Scott in just five years. Her new donation allocates $17 million for Howard’s College of Medicine, while the remaining $63 million will support university operations and need-based student scholarships.
“On behalf of the entire Howard University community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Ms. MacKenzie Scott for her extraordinary generosity and steadfast belief in Howard University’s mission, demonstrated global impact, and unparalleled legacy of educating, inspiring, and empowering generations of leaders,” said Interim President Wayne Frederick. “This historic investment will not only help maintain our current momentum, but will help support essential student aid, advance infrastructure improvements, and build a reserve fund to further sustain operational continuity, student success, academic excellence, and research innovation.”
Scott’s $50 million gift to Virginia State University is the HBCU’s largest single donor gift in its 143-year history. She previously donated $30 million to the university in 2020. Leaders at Virginia State plan to use the new funds to continue the university’s current strategic plan, which emphasizes academic excellence, innovation, and holistic student success.
“Ms. Scott’s generosity and trust in our mission will change the trajectory of Virginia State University for generations to come,” said President Makola M. Abdullah. “Her investment allows us to continue to build upon our legacy of excellence and expand our reach to more students who deserve access to a world-class education. For 143 years, VSU has stood as a beacon of opportunity, and with this transformational gift, our future shines even brighter.”
In 2020, Clark Atlanta University received a $15 million donation from Scott. Her new gift of $38 million brings her total investment in the HBCU to $53 million, the largest private investment in the HBCU’s history. The university will use its new funds to strengthen its academic offerings and support resources for students, ensuring financial barriers do not impede educational attainment.
“The magnitude of Ms. Scott’s generosity significantly enhances our capacity to expand the student success initiatives and support infrastructure already underway, preparing students to thrive on the global stage for generations to come,” said President George T. French Jr. “Her continued support underscores her commitment to historically Black colleges and universities and her trust in our mission to foster academic excellence and innovation.”
Located just down the road from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College is also celebrating its second major gift from Scott. Building on her previous gift of $20 million in 2020, the new $38 million donation will support two of Spelman’s most pressing strategic priorities – expanding financial aid and scholarships for students and investing in state-of-the-art technology infrastructure.
“We are profoundly grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this incredibly generous and unrestricted $38 million gift to Spelman College,” said Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer. “This investment is a powerful affirmation of our mission and our commitment to educational excellence and equity. The flexibility of this gift allows us to move more swiftly to strengthen the entire student experience, modernize our technology infrastructure, and expand financial opportunity for scholars who call Spelman home. It is an investment in both our present and our future as we continue to advance our legacy of producing change-making global leaders.”
