MacKenzie Scott's Transformative Giving Spree Continues
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has continued her extraordinary campaign of charitable giving, directing an astonishing $700 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and organisations promoting educational access for students of colour. The 55-year-old former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has dedicated the autumn months to funding more than a dozen HBCUs across the United States, with her generosity earning her the nickname 'Saint MacKenzie Scott' from United Negro College Fund President Michael Lomax.
Record-Breaking Donations to Educational Institutions
Scott's philanthropic blitz began in mid-October when she presented Morgan State University in Maryland with a $63 million unrestricted gift - the largest in the institution's history. This marked her second major contribution to the university within five years, following a $40 million donation in 2020. The scale of her giving has been consistently transformational, with her average donation to HBCUs spanning from Alabama to Virginia standing at approximately $47 million per institution.
Among the most significant beneficiaries include Howard University, which received Scott's single largest known donation of $80 million at the beginning of November. Prairie View A&M University in Texas was granted $63 million, while Bowie State University in Maryland and Norfolk State University each received $50 million contributions. Other substantial gifts included $42 million to Alcorn State University in Mississippi, $38 million to both Alabama State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and $19 million to Philander Smith University in Arkansas.
Redefining Philanthropy and Educational Impact
United Negro College Fund President and CEO Michael Lomax told ABC News that Scott is 'rewriting the book on philanthropy, not just in this country, but in the world'. The unrestricted nature of these gifts allows universities to allocate funds according to their most pressing needs, with many institutions planning to strengthen endowments, expand scholarship programmes, enhance academic research, and create new internship and apprenticeship opportunities.
Dr Aminta H. Breaux, President of Bowie State University, described Scott's generosity as arriving 'at a pivotal moment in our 160-year story'. She emphasised that 'higher education is the pathway to upward social mobility for our students and the communities we serve, and, with this gift, their futures are brighter than ever'.
Scott, who walked away with approximately $38 billion from her divorce from Jeff Bezos and currently holds an estimated net worth exceeding $33 billion, has signed the Giving Pledge committing to donate at least half her fortune during her lifetime. On her website, Yield Giving, she recently wrote: 'Votes are not the only way to show what we'd like to see more of in our societies. There are many ways to influence how we move through the world and where we land.'
Her philanthropic efforts extend beyond HBCUs, including a $10 million unrestricted donation to the George M. Pullman Educational Fund last month, a $42 million gift to California-based nonprofit 10,000 Degrees, and a landmark $50 million contribution to the Native Forward Scholars Fund - the largest private donation to date to a Native American organisation.
