Philanthropist and writer, MacKenzie Scott, just concluded her second major charitable donation in 2020 and donated $4.2 billlion to 384 organizations including many HBCUs. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Scott is the 18th richest person averaging a net worth of $60.7 billion after owning 4% of shares in ex-husband’s company, Amazon. Nearly four months ago Scott donated around $1.7 billion to organizations which consisted of several HBCUs like Morehouse College, Howard University, and Tuskegee University. “I gave each a contribution and encouraged them to spend it on whatever they believe best serves their efforts,” she commented in a Medium post. Additionally, she has donated to organizations such as LGBTQ, women’s rights, and those that fight against racial inequities and climate change.
This time around Morgan State University received $40 million making this the largest single private donation it has ever received. However, this is not the only HBCU to receive its largest donation in the university’s history. Prairie View A&M University also received a large donation of $50 million, nearly doubling the school’s endowment. Virginia State and Winston-Salem State both received $30 million. Spelman College and University of Maryland Eastshore received $20 million. Even smaller HBCUs such as Elizabeth City State University and Tougaloo College received donations as well. Scott has made it known that she is not interested in buildings being named after her or conducting a research agenda but rather to “pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached. HBCUs are overjoyed by Scott’s philanthropic acts and are calling her gifts ‘transformational’ to say the least.