MacKenzie Scott gives record $50M to Virginia State University

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has gifted $50 million to Virginia State University — the largest gift from a single donor in the school’s 143-year history.

The record donation marks Scott’s second gift to VSU in five years. In 2020, she donated $30 million to the public historically Black land-grant university, which has about 5,000 students.

Located about 20 minutes south of Richmond in the village of Ettrick, VSU will use the money to “expand its efforts to transform lives through education and continue the mission outlined in the university’s strategic plan.”

“Ms. Scott’s generosity and trust in our mission will change the trajectory of Virginia State University for generations to come,” Makola M. Abdullah, VSU’s president, said in a news release. “Her investment allows us to continue to build upon our legacy of excellence and expand our reach to more students who deserve access to a world-class education. For 143 years, VSU has stood as a beacon of opportunity, and with this transformational gift, our future shines even brighter.”

Following her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Scott has given away about $19 billion of her fortune with quiet donations to more than 2,450 organizations. In addition to supporting HBCUs, Scott has given to a variety of organizations including nonprofits that improve access to health care and housing and fight climate change. Her donations are notable for being unrestricted gifts with no strings attached and not designated for specific usages.