MacKenzie Scott tops $1B in unrestricted donations to HBCUs fueling scholarships and endowments

With MacKenzie Scott’s latest $42M unrestricted gift to Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, the philanthropist’s record-shattering awards to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have surpassed $1B. Scott’s approach—trust-based philanthropy with no strings attached—empowers schools to deploy funds as needed, from scholarships to endowments and facilities. The donation adds to her $26B in philanthropic commitments since 2020, including major gifts to Howard, Morgan State, and Spelman, reinforcing Scott’s DEI-focused, sector transforming investments in Black higher education.