The gift that keeps on giving, MacKenzie Scott, has made another contribution to an HBCU.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the philanthropist, who acquired the vast majority of her $35 billion net worth following a divorce from Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, has donated millions to various Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She was inspired to give to others by the late author Toni Morrison, who was her teacher and mentor. After Scott became a billionaire, she pledged to give half her wealth away and signed The Giving Pledge.
Some of her investments in higher education this year alone include:
- Voorhees University ($19 million)
- Howard University ($80 million)
- Spelman College ($38 million)
- Morgan State University ($63 million)
- Norfolk State University ($50 million)
- Winston-Salem State University ($50 million)
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University ($63 million)
- Prairie View A&M University ($63 million)
- Dillard University ($19 million)
“This gift is more than generous — it is defining and affirming,” said Prairie View A&M University President Tomikia P. LeGrande in a news release. “MacKenzie Scott’s investment amplifies the power and promise of a Prairie View A&M University education as we advance our vision of becoming a premier public, research-intensive HBCU that serves as a national model for student success. We are deeply grateful for her profound endorsement of our mission, our momentum, and our impact on the world.”
Scott’s most recent investment now includes Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, according to a news release. Scott previously donated $20 million to the HBCU in 2020. In December 2025, she gifted Lincoln University a $25 million unrestricted gift, the largest single gift in its history, notes the release.
The commitment will support scholarships, curricular and co-curricular experiences, and initiatives for current and future students, faculty, and staff.
“Lincoln University was founded to break barriers and create pathways for African Americans to thrive,” Lincoln University President Brenda Allen explained in the news release. “This investment honors that legacy and propels us forward, enabling us to build on 171 years of excellence and innovation. It is a powerful affirmation of the enduring value of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”

