MacKenzie Scott just cut a $70 million check to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), giving a major financial boost to 37 historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
UNCF President Dr. Michael L. Lomax called the donation a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to build lasting support for HBCUs. The funds will fuel a $370 million endowment initiative aiming to give each member school a $10 million boost. That money will be invested long-term and used to strengthen campus budgets and student support year after year.
Scott’s gift is part of a larger $1 billion campaign to close the funding gap between HBCUs and predominantly white institutions. In 2019 alone, Ivy League schools took in $5.5 billion in foundation support, while 99 HBCUs received only $45 million.
While political leadership flip-flops on HBCU funding, Scott is stepping up. She hasn’t commented publicly on the donation, but her track record speaks volumes. Since her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Scott has quietly given away billions, often without fanfare.
Her focus has always been on equity and uplifting underfunded communities. And with this move, she’s giving HBCUs the financial runway they’ve needed for decades.
