MacKenzie Scott’s expanding footprint across higher education now includes Dillard University, which has received a $19 million unrestricted gift—the largest private donation in the private HBCU’s 156-year history.
According to NOLA.com, the contribution marks Scott’s second significant investment in the New Orleans-based liberal arts institution. It continues her extensive pattern of support for historically Black colleges and universities nationwide.
Dillard confirmed the gift on Wednesday, November 26, noting that Scott previously donated $5 million to the university in 2020. At the time, that earlier funding was directed toward strategic initiatives designed to strengthen the school’s long-term position. With the new $19 million award, Scott’s total giving to Dillard now reaches $24 million.
University officials said the latest funding will be used to enhance student success initiatives, expand scholarship support, and advance institutional priorities. Because the donation is unrestricted, Dillard leadership retains flexibility to deploy the funds where they are most needed across academic programs and campus operations.
“If anyone ever doubts the difference one person can make, look no further than MacKenzie Scott and how her generosity will resonate across generations,” said Dillard President Monique Guillory in a statement. She added that the gift arrives at a time when the university’s mission is especially critical.
Like many private colleges, Dillard has been navigating mounting challenges, including rising operational costs, enrollment pressures, and changes in the federal funding landscape.
Earlier this year, the university also lost a nearly $20 million Environmental Protection Agency grant earmarked for campus infrastructure upgrades, further underscoring the importance of flexible private support.
Dillard Board of Trustees Chair Michael D. Jones highlighted the institution’s legacy in acknowledging the donation, pointing to alumna Ruth Simmons, who became the first Black president of an Ivy League university when she was appointed president of Brown University.
Jones said Scott’s gift will allow Dillard to continue its long-standing role in preparing students, many from Pell Grant–eligible families, to become leaders across sectors.
The investment in Dillard is part of a much broader wave of giving from Scott to HBCUs in 2025. This year alone, she has distributed more than $740 million to historically Black institutions.
Those gifts include $38 million to Xavier University of Louisiana, $63 million to Prairie View A&M University, $63 million to North Carolina A&T State University, $50 million each to Norfolk State University, Bowie State University, and Winston-Salem State University, $80 million to Howard University, and $38 million to Spelman College.
She has also directed $70 million to the United Negro College Fund to strengthen shared endowment resources for dozens of HBCUs.
Since pledging in 2019 to give away half of her wealth during her lifetime, Scott has donated more than $19 billion to nonprofits, universities, and community organizations across the country. In Louisiana alone, her giving totals roughly $220 million.