MacKenzie Scott has added two more institutions to her growing list of HBCU beneficiaries, delivering transformative multi-million-dollar gifts to Prairie View A&M University and Norfolk State University.
The donations—$63 million to Prairie View A&M and $50 million to Norfolk State—extend Scott’s pattern of unrestricted giving to historically Black colleges and universities, further solidifying her role as one of the most significant private supporters in HBCU history.
At Prairie View A&M University, the $63 million contribution is the largest single gift the Texas institution has ever received. It also brings Scott’s total support for PVAMU to $113 million, following her initial $50 million donation in 2020. University leaders said the renewed investment reflects both confidence in Prairie View’s long-term vision and recognition of the progress made since the first gift.
“This gift is more than generous — it is defining and affirming,” said President Tomikia P. LeGrande. The school recently crossed an enrollment milestone with more than 10,000 students and is in the midst of executing its long-range strategic plan, Journey to Eminence: 2035. The new funding will be used to expand scholarships, strengthen academic support systems, bolster faculty research, and grow the institution’s endowment.
Prairie View’s previous Scott donation helped launch several high-impact initiatives over the last five years. Emergency financial aid and need-based scholarships supported thousands of students during the pandemic.
Academic advising and first-year programming were expanded, contributing to stronger retention outcomes. The university also established the Toni Morrison Writing Program—funded with $3 million from Scott’s earlier gift—positioning PVAMU as a national center for literary excellence.
A portion of the 2020 funding was placed into the endowment, strengthening financial stability and long-term planning capacity.
Norfolk State University also received a historic contribution: a $50 million unrestricted gift, the largest in its 90-year history and the second significant investment Scott has made there.
Her first gift, a $40 million donation in 2020, followed the university's presentation of a comprehensive strategic plan outlining its goals for growth and student success.
The new funding will support student scholarships, faculty research and service, athletics, and additional strategic initiatives. NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston shared that Scott has been kept informed about the institution’s progress since 2020, and the latest gift signals that the university’s efforts delivered measurable results. The announcement also coincides with Norfolk State’s 90th anniversary and aligns with its Now Is Our Time comprehensive campaign.
Scott’s continued support for these institutions follows a series of major gifts to HBCUs nationwide, including Bowie State, Spelman College, Howard University, Morgan State, and North Carolina A&T.
Her philanthropic approach—large, unrestricted, trust-based donations—has enabled campuses to set long-term strategies, expand research, and invest in student success without limitations.
