By Lauren Burke
BlackPressUSA
In the world of major philanthropy, where naming buildings gets all the headlines, MacKenzie Scott is operating differently. Over the past several years, Scott has made hundreds of unrestricted donations to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other Black-operated organizations. And, on Oct. 15, it was announced that she had gifted Morgan State University with $63 million in funds. It was the second such donation she had made to the Baltimore-based HBCU in the past five years, bringing her total contribution to $103 million.
MSU President David Wilson described the $63 million gift as not just a financial boost, but an affirmation of the university’s trajectory as a research institution. Wilson announced that Morgan State would be turning into a “fully smart campus,” with new faculty positions and AI research embedded in its future.
“MacKenzie Scott’s renewed investment in Morgan is a resounding testament to the work we’ve done to drive transformation, not only within our campus but throughout the communities we serve,” said Wilson in a statement. “To receive one historic gift from Ms. Scott was an incredible honor; to receive two speaks volumes about the confidence she and her team have in our institution’s stewardship, leadership, and trajectory. This is more than philanthropy—it’s a partnership in progress.”
Scott gave $70 million to UNCF in September 2025, which added to a previous $10 million donation she made in 2020. The 2025 gift was one of her largest known single donations. Scott’s donation was focused on financially strengthening historically Black colleges and universities.
Later in October, the philanthropist also awarded $38 million to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, building on a $20 million donation she made to the HBCU five years ago.
“This gift is a resounding vote of confidence in UMES and in the strategic direction President Anderson has set,” said University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A. Perman in a statement. “MacKenzie Scott’s generosity will deepen the university’s capacity to serve students, strengthen communities across the Eastern Shore, and expand UMES’s national impact as a high-value, high-quality HBCU.”
Calling the gift “nothing short of transformational,” UMES President Heidi M. Anderson added that: “MacKenzie Scott’s support affirms our mission and our progress. It recognizes the hard work of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni – and it validates the lofty goals we’ve set together: removing financial barriers to completion, elevating research that solves real problems, and ensuring UMES graduates launch into great careers and lives of purpose.”
The university plans to use Scott’s largesse to boost student access and affordability, research, student support services such as tutoring and mental health aid, community engagement and small-business partnerships that create internships, apprenticeships, and jobs across the Lower Eastern Shore.
The donations by Scott arrive at a moment when Black institutions are deeply underfunded, and the Trump administration is actively stifling efforts by corporations and academic institutions to fund anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The impact of Trump’s actions is being felt in the Black community, as so many entities are struggling with a lack of investment.
However, Scott seems to be bucking the administration’s influence and continues to take action by forging an independent course without fanfare and grand announcements.
Though many philanthropic organizations aim to support equity, few have embraced unrestricted giving at the scale Scott is investing in. Her approach reflects a belief in trust and a focus on marginalized communities and their institutions.
For many HBCUs, this trust may be just as important as the dollars, and the lasting impact is tangible. Study after study shows that HBCU endowments trail other institutions by more than 50-70 percent. The disparity in access to philanthropic capital has also meant that many Black colleges are more vulnerable to budget shortfalls, declines in enrollment, deferred maintenance and fewer research resources. Scott’s large donations have the potential to shift the baseline and ensure that Black educational institutions can plan over decades in advance.
Scott, 55, was a student of Toni Morrison’s at Princeton, and she first entered public view as a co-founder of Amazon alongside her then-husband, Jeff Bezos. The two divorced in 2019. Scott has now generously given tens of billions to hundreds of organizations, including HBCUs, women’s groups and community nonprofits. She is known for her anonymity and speed, and her team quietly looks for recipients for unrestricted gifts and keeps it moving. At a time when giving at this scale comes with strings attached, Scott has forged a unique and revolutionary style with her philanthropic efforts.
This article, including the headline, was updated to include reference to the donation made to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.