Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, becomes the largest individual donor to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). As of 2025 she has donated over $700 million to 15 different HBCUs, with total contributions, including the United Negro College Fund, exceeding $1 billion, transforming institutions with massive, unrestricted gifts. Unlike many philanthropists, Scott provides unrestricted funds, allowing schools to use the money for immediate needs, endowment building, or infrastructure rather than specific, often limiting, projects. In 2025 she donated $80 million to Howard University, $63 million to Prairie View A&M University, $63 million to Morgan State University, and $50 million to Bowie State University, among others. Her giving has reached over a dozen institutions, including Spelman College ($38 million in 2025), Norfolk State University ($50 million), and smaller institutions like Philander Smith University ($19 million), according to reports from ABC News and THE FEED. She also donated $70 million to the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) in 2025 to support scholarship efforts, reports The New York Times. In a world of greed, hoarding, and self-absorbed billionaires, be like MacKenzie. #Philanthropy #Goodness #Kindness #Humanity #Generosity #MacKenzieScott #WomensHistoryMonth
Today's NY Times article suggests that billionaire philanthropy is now out-of-style. Naked greed and lust for power are in. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/business/the-billionaire-backlash-against-a-philanthropic-dream.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
What makes this stand out is the approach, Theo. Most large-scale philanthropy comes with heavy strings attached - naming rights, board seats, reporting requirements that drain institutional resources. MacKenzie Scott's model of trust-based giving lets these institutions actually allocate funds where they see the biggest impact. For HBCUs specifically, that kind of flexibility could be transformative for infrastructure, faculty retention, and scholarship programs that have been underfunded for decades. Do you think this approach to giving will push other major donors to rethink how they structure philanthropic partnerships?
Sure - it is easy to give away money that someone else made.....why just HBCUs - she is no hero
Awesome please make sure McKenzie it does not get swallowed up in administration and salaries only. But in student housing and facilities business and tech incubators image earmarking 3 schools to focus on health 3 on finance 3 technology 3 climate 3 international outreach and collaboration 3 mental health and wellness now transformation can happen
Meanwhile, no philanthropy from her billionaire ex ….
Wow, Thank You Ms. Scott! Having attended an HBCU I know just how much this philanthropy impacts lives. I've enjoyed a fantastic career, assisted many younger minorities in achieving their career goals and delivered $Billions to my employers' bottom line consistently. None of that would have been possible without my HBCU educational foundation! I applaud you for providing the seeds for success. It's worth noting that even in the 18th and 19th centuries the noble leaders of industry were conscious of the potential of Black Talent and invested substantially to starting up many HBCU's; the Peabody and Rockefeller come to mind immediately... even then they knew "a mind was a terrible thing to waste". I salute you and pray for your continued success!
Wouldn’t the largest be the Barnes Donation to Lincoln University?
She is awesome; we need more wealthy people like her. Or more correctly stated, more of our wealthy people need to be like her, follow her lead. Sadly, some wealthy and powerful people and families seem obsessed with acquiring more and more wealth no matter how much it hurts others, actually denying previous funding support for food, healthcare, housing, and other basic necessities. Add to that cruelty of late has been cutting biomedical research and education funding that has focused on improving the human condition, in order to further concentrate wealth and to align with their political ambitions or some warped, irrational, selfish, often conspiracy theory based agendas.
It is shocking that many billionaires are not directing their wealth to philanthropic causes. They could be helping others, like exemplary philanthropists (think of folks like MacKenzie Scott or Bill & Joyce Cummings). Instead, many billionaires use their wealth only in self-serving ways.
If any HBCU is authentically committed to educating the leaders of tomorrow & would like to add $17.9+ Million in new Corp. Donations... reach out to me. Imagine 30-40 HBCUs, adding $10 to $20 Million a year ($300 to $800 Million)! It doesn't cost the university or donor Corp. a net penny ($0.00); so, the real question comes down to, do you really care? BTW - St. Jude's, Cal. State System, Big 10 Univ.'s, Mayo Clinic, 100+ F500's have already worked with our teams over the years to add $ Billions. Take actions, wait for the MacKenzies of the world... or do both! Excellent share, as usual Ariaa Jaeger! - JR