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MacKenzie Scott’s Latest Higher-Ed Gifts Top $300 Million, Including $101 Million to Two Maryland HBCUs

Her unrestricted, trust-based gifts reaffirm repeat support for HBCUs as recipients set priorities for endowments, scholarships, and community programs.

Overview

  • Maryland’s Morgan State University received $63 million on Oct. 15 and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore received $38 million on Friday, with both calling the gifts their largest single private donations.
  • UMES opened a public input process through Nov. 30 and says a significant share will bolster its endowment, with additional plans for scholarships, research, internships, apprenticeships, and regional workforce efforts.
  • Morgan State said the unrestricted funds will grow its endowment, expand student success support, advance research, and strengthen its role as an anchor in Baltimore.
  • Forbes reports Scott has surpassed $300 million in the past month across higher education and scholarship organizations, including $70 million to UNCF, $50 million to Native Forward, $42 million to 10,000 Degrees, $10 million to the Pullman Foundation, and $38 million to Alabama State University.
  • The Maryland awards extend Scott’s repeat-giving pattern, following her 2020 gifts of $40 million to Morgan State and $20 million to UMES, which leaders describe as a vote of confidence in stewardship and strategy.