Billionaire author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made history with two major donations, giving $63 million to Maryland’s Morgan State University, the largest gift the university has ever received from a single individual and $40 million to support the preservation of Black historical landmarks.
Scott’s latest contributions build on her earlier support for Morgan State, where she donated $40 million in 2020. That unrestricted gift to the Baltimore-based HBCU inspired additional philanthropy, including a record-breaking $20 million donation from alumnus Calvin Tyler, according to the university’s announcement this month.
Morgan State said Scott’s unrestricted donations give the university freedom to direct funds where they are most needed. The school also recently revealed plans to establish the nation’s first public, nonprofit M.D. program at an HBCU.
Scott also donated $40 million to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, an initiative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. The organization said in an Oct. 15 statement that the new gift follows a $20 million contribution she made four years earlier.
READ: President Donald Trump reaches a $500 million deal with Harvard (
The Action Fund works to protect and restore landmarks significant to Black history including churches, hotels, and other cultural sites and also supports fundraising initiatives for HBCUs.
In the Oct. 15 announcement, Brent Leggs, executive director of the Action Fund, said Scott’s $40 million contribution is one of several ways she has shown her commitment to preserving Black history and culture.
“As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, this transformative support demonstrates the power of philanthropy and the Action Fund’s work to protect and expand the American story for generations to come,” Leggs said.
Scott was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for more than 25 years before their divorce in 2019. As part of the settlement, she received a 4% share of Amazon, valued at about $38 billion at the time, according to Bloomberg.
READ: Amazon Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott donates $70 million to support UNCF (
In December 2022, Scott introduced her philanthropic platform, Yield Giving, designed to highlight nonprofit organizations, their missions, and the impact of donations that help them advance their goals.
Scott ranked No. 9 on Forbes’ 2024 Power Women list, which recognizes 100 influential women across finance, technology, media, and other sectors. The list also featured European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at No. 1, Banco do Brasil President Tarciana Paula Gomes Medeiros at No. 18, and Beyoncé at No. 35. With an estimated net worth of $33.9 billion, Scott also secured the No. 28 spot on Forbes’ 2025 list of the 400 wealthiest Americans.
Some of Scott’s most significant contributions include $436 million to Habitat for Humanity, $281 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and $275 million to Planned Parenthood were all made in 2022.
