MacKenzie Scott has made another significant commitment to historically Black institutions, this time directing $38 million toward Spelman College.
The Atlanta-based HBCU confirmed the donation this week, per Atlanta News First. The HBCU describes the contribution as “transformative” and, notably, unrestricted—meaning Spelman can determine how to use it without conditions attached.
This is not Scott’s first gift to the institution. In 2020, she donated approximately $20 million, which the college used to strengthen scholarship funding and build its endowment. That earlier gift helped students remain enrolled during periods of financial strain and gave the school more stability in planning future academic initiatives.
The new $38 million contribution expands that momentum. Spelman officials say the funds will support financial aid, scholarship availability, and significant upgrades to the college’s technology infrastructure. These improvements are expected to shape day-to-day academic life—enhancing digital learning systems, research capacity, and student access to modern educational tools.
Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer emphasized the broader meaning of the donation in a statement released Monday. “We are grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this incredibly generous and unrestricted $38 million gift to Spelman College,” she said. “This investment is a powerful affirmation of our mission and our commitment to educational excellence and equity.”
The unrestricted nature of the gift is particularly significant. Many large-scale donations to universities arrive with precise instructions on how and where the funds must be used. That structure can limit an institution’s ability to respond to shifting needs or unexpected challenges.
Unrestricted gifts, on the other hand, allow universities to apply funding strategically—reinforcing programs that are working and addressing gaps that emerge over time.
Scott’s philanthropic approach has centered around that philosophy. Since finalizing her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, she has distributed more than $19 billion to over 2,000 organizations.
Many of her most significant educational donations have been made to historically Black colleges and universities, where funding gaps tied to long-standing inequities continue to impact student and institutional outcomes.
In a recent public essay titled “We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For,” Scott reflected on the impact of collective generosity. She wrote that large donations tend to draw headlines, but everyday acts of care—such as emotional support, unpaid labor, and mutual aid—are just as meaningful to the health of communities.
Her comments suggested that the purpose of philanthropy is not only to transfer wealth, but to participate in shared responsibility.
For Spelman, the timing aligns with rising interest in enrollment, increased national visibility, and continued efforts to expand research and leadership development opportunities for students.
The college has emphasized that maintaining accessible education is a core priority, and the flexibility of this gift strengthens its ability to do precisely that.