MacKenzie Scott Donates $63 Million to Morgan State University in Transformative Gift

Baltimore, Md. — Morgan State University has received another sweeping vote of confidence from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who has donated 63 million dollars to the historically Black institution. This marks her second major unrestricted gift to Morgan in less than five years, bringing her total support to 103 million dollars.

Unlike many large donations, Scott’s gift places no restrictions on how the funds may be used. Morgan State leaders say this flexibility empowers the university to direct the money where it is most needed, strengthening its endowment, supporting student success, expanding research, and reinforcing its role as a public impact university.

In announcing the gift, university president David K. Wilson praised Scott’s renewed trust in Morgan’s vision and trajectory. He framed the gift not merely as philanthropy but as a partnership in progress. Scott first made headlines in 2020 when she gave Morgan 40 million dollars, then the largest single donation in its history. That initial gift helped seed Morgan’s first unrestricted endowment fund titled “Leading the World” and acted as a catalyst for further generosity from other donors.

In recent years, Morgan State has undergone rapid expansion. The university has added new degree and certificate programs, grown its enrollment, and launched interdisciplinary research centers focused on urban health, educational equity, artificial intelligence, climate resilience, and other pressing social challenges. Morgan also recently announced plans to establish the first public, nonprofit medical school at an HBCU, an ambitious initiative aimed at addressing medical access and equity.

Observers say that Scott’s decision to give such a substantial and unrestricted gift underscores her confidence in Morgan’s fiscal management and growth trajectory. Under its current credit ratings from S and P and Moody’s, Morgan has shown financial resilience that may help it attract further major donors.

For many at the university, the donation is an affirmation of Morgan’s potential. As one institutional leader put it, the gift enables the university to accelerate momentum, break barriers, advance equity, and fulfill its vision of becoming a top tier public research institution while staying true to its mission and character.