MacKenzie Scott has donated millions of dollars to HBCUs and organizations supporting students of color. Winston-Salem State University is the latest institution to receive a gift this year, with a $50 million donation, the institution announced on Wednesday. It is the second donation Scott has given to the school since 2020.
MacKenzie Scott made an unrestricted $50 million donation to Winston-Salem State University
The donation is unrestricted, which means that the HBCU may use the funds however it sees fit.
“This gift is truly life-changing for our students and our community,” Chancellor Bonita J. Brown said in a press release. “MacKenzie Scott’s confidence in Winston-Salem State University enables us to transform lives, not just today, but for generations. Her investment empowers us to make a high-quality education accessible, affordable, and within reach for students who never believed college was possible, and for that, I want to say thank you. We are all profoundly grateful for her choosing to invest in the future of our students and this institution.”
The university is reportedly developing a plan to use the funds in order to prioritize student success and allocate the funds where they would make the most impact. Winston-Salem State also referred to its refreshed institutional strategic plan and campus master plan, which are currently underway and will be shared in the upcoming months.
MacKenzie Scott’s donation marks a total of $80 million given to Winston-Salem State University
In 2020, Scott donated $30 million to the HBCU. At the time, the contribution was the largest in the university’s 133-year history. Winston-Salem State mainly invested the funds into its endowment. The remaining amount was used to expand real estate at the university.
“This newest contribution builds on that momentum, reinforcing Scott’s continued confidence in WSSU’s mission, vision, and impact on students and communities,” the HBCU said via a press release.