MacKenzie Scott's $38 Million Gift to University of Maryland Eastern Shore Sets Institutional Record

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $38 million to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, marking the largest single gift in the historically Black university's 135-year history and one of the most significant contributions ever made to a Maryland higher-education institution. The unrestricted donation will allow the school to exercise discretion in how the funds are used, with University President Heidi M. Anderson calling the gift "nothing short of transformational" for its potential to enable lasting investments in students, faculty, and community.

This donation represents a continuation of Scott's focused support for HBCUs, following a $20 million gift to UMES in 2020 that was also the largest in the school's history at that time. Her total giving to the institution now stands at $58 million, part of a broader pattern of substantial support for Maryland's historically Black universities that includes a recent $63 million donation to Morgan State University, bringing her total contributions to the state's HBCUs to more than $200 million.

University officials outlined specific plans for utilizing the record-breaking gift, including expanding student scholarships, modernizing classrooms, and enhancing mental health services. The university also plans to support programs that create jobs and internships while bolstering research in coastal innovation and agricultural development—key industries on Maryland's Eastern Shore that align with the institution's strategic priorities and regional economic needs.

Jay A. Perman, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, emphasized the broader regional impact of the donation, noting that "the university's impact on the Eastern Shore will grow significantly" and that "this support will deepen UMES's role in economic development and community partnerships across the region." The gift comes at a time when HBCUs nationwide are experiencing increased recognition of their vital role in expanding access to higher education and driving economic mobility for underrepresented communities.

Scott's philanthropic approach, characterized by unrestricted giving that allows recipients maximum flexibility, reflects her stated commitment in a 2019 essay to give away the majority of her wealth "back to the society that helped generate it." Her divorce from Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos left her with a roughly 4% stake in the online retail company, with Forbes estimating her current net worth at more than $33 billion. Since then, she has distributed billions to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and advocacy groups, often focusing on efforts to reduce inequities in education, health care, and economic opportunity.

The timing of this substantial investment in UMES coincides with growing national attention on the critical role of HBCUs in addressing educational disparities and fostering economic development in underserved communities. For a campus of approximately 3,000 students in Princess Anne, Maryland, this gift represents not only financial support but also validation of the institution's mission and potential. As Anderson summarized, "This is not just a gift to UMES—it's an investment in our future," highlighting how such philanthropic investments can create lasting positive change for both educational institutions and the communities they serve.