By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
Bowie State University received notification of a $50 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott on Nov. 14. The unrestricted grant represents the largest philanthropic gift in Bowie State’s history and doubles the size of a $25 million gift Scott granted to Bowie in 2020.
“Her generosity arrives at a pivotal moment in our 160-year story,” said Dr. Aminta Breaux, Bowie State University’s president in a statement announcing the gift. “It empowers us to expand access, elevate our research and academic excellence, and uplift generations of students who will lead, serve and innovate.”
The gift represents Scott’s third major investment in Maryland HBCU’s in 2025, coming just weeks after announcing a $63 million gift to Morgan State University and a $38 million grant to University of Maryland Eastern Shore. All three grants represent Scott’s second investment in the three Maryland HBCU’s. In 2020 Scott made an initial gift of $25 million to Bowie State, $40 million to Morgan State and $20 million to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
University administrators have stated the newest gift from MacKenzie Scott will build on the momentum leveraged from Scott’s initial 2020 investment in Bowie State University.
Brent Swinton, vice president for philanthropic engagement said that the first gift from MacKenzie Scott inspired other philanthropists” to take notice of this storied institution.”
University officials have stated that the additional gift will allow Bowie State to expand scholarships reducing the financial barriers to higher education, support research as the institution seeks to move to an R-2 research designation and enrich the student experience allowing for expanded in-class learning experiences and extra-curricular activities and events.
Scott has allocated more than $1 billion in support to HBCUs since 2020. In addition to individual grants to HBCUs across the nation, Scott also donated $70 million to the United Negro College Fund in unrestricted funding in September to support affiliated institutions. The UNCF received an initial $10 million from Scott in 2020.
“This extraordinary gift is a powerful vote of confidence in HBCUs and in the work of UNCF, said Dr. Michael Lomax, UNCF president and CEO. “It provides a once-in-a generation opportunity for our member institutions to build permanent assets that will support students and campuses for decades to come.”