With a Renewed Vote of Confidence, MacKenzie Scott Awards Morgan State University a Transformative $63 Million Gift

Historic Donation Marks the Second Major Unrestricted Contribution from the Noted Philanthropist in Five Years, Reinforcing Morgan's position as One of the Nation's Fastest-Growing and Most Impactful Public Research Universities

BALTIMORE, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In an extraordinary reaffirmation of Morgan State University's mission and trajectory, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has awarded the University a $63 million unrestricted gift, her second transformative contribution to Morgan in less than five years. The latest donation brings Scott's total giving to the University to $103 million, a powerful endorsement of Morgan's demonstrated capacity for growth, stewardship, and societal impact.

Morgan—now the nation's third-largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU)—has emerged as a national model of strategic expansion, innovation, and academic excellence. Over the past five years, the University has achieved record enrollment growth, launched dozens of new degree and certificate programs, and established a suite of research centers addressing some of society's most urgent challenges, including urban health, climate change, artificial intelligence, and educational equity.

Unlike most large-scale philanthropy, Scott's gifts come without restrictions, granting the University the freedom to invest strategically in areas that align with its mission and long-term vision. The $63 million will be directed to further strengthen Morgan's endowment, enhance support for student success, and advance initiatives that enhance Morgan's role as an anchor institution in Baltimore and a Public Impact Very High Research University.

"MacKenzie Scott's renewed investment in Morgan is a resounding testament to the work we've done to drive transformation, not only within our campus but throughout the communities we serve," said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. "To receive one historic gift from Ms. Scott was an incredible honor; to receive two speaks volumes about the confidence she and her team have in our institution's stewardship, leadership, and trajectory. This is more than philanthropy—it's a partnership in progress."

Scott's first $40 million gift to Morgan in 2020 was a watershed moment, marking the largest individual donation in University history. Those funds seeded Morgan's "Leading the World Endowment Fund," the University's first-ever unrestricted endowment, and inspired additional philanthropic momentum—including a record $20 million gift from alumnus Calvin Tyler and his wife Tina, then the largest donation ever made by an HBCU alum.

The strategic deployment of that first gift catalyzed a range of initiatives that continue to yield long-term benefits for students, faculty, and communities. These include the creation of the Center for Urban Health Equity (CUHE) and National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED), endowed faculty chairs in Brain Science, Psychometrics and Predictive Analytics, and Cybersecurity Engineering, as well as sustained support for Morgan's Center for Religion and Cities and other interdisciplinary research hubs.

To read the full announcement release, click here.

SOURCE Morgan State University