MacKenzie Scott's $38 Million Gift to University of Maryland Eastern Shore Marks Historic Investment in HBCU Education

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, providing unprecedented flexibility in addressing institutional priorities.

University President Heidi M. Anderson called the gift "nothing short of transformational," saying it would enable the campus to make lasting investments in its students, faculty, and community. "This is a moment that will change the trajectory of our university," Anderson said in a statement. "It will allow us to reimagine what is possible for our students and the region we serve." The university's impact extends beyond its campus of about 3,000 students in Princess Anne, Md., serving as a vital educational institution for the Eastern Shore region.

School officials outlined specific plans for the funds, including expanding student scholarships, modernizing classrooms, and enhancing mental health services. The university also plans to support programs that create jobs and internships and to bolster research in coastal innovation and agricultural development—key industries on Maryland's Eastern Shore. These strategic investments align with the university's mission to serve both its student body and the broader community through educational excellence and economic partnership.

Jay A. Perman, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, emphasized the regional significance of the donation, noting that "the university's impact on the Eastern Shore will grow significantly. This support will deepen UMES's role in economic development and community partnerships across the region." The gift represents a substantial investment in the university's capacity to drive positive change throughout Maryland's Eastern Shore communities.

The $38 million gift follows a $20 million donation Scott made to UMES in 2020, which at the time was also the largest in the school's history. Her total giving to the institution now stands at $58 million. Combined with her recent $63 million donation to Morgan State University—another historically Black university in Maryland—Scott has given more than $200 million to the state's HBCUs, demonstrating a sustained commitment to supporting historically Black institutions of higher education.

Scott's philanthropic approach, characterized by unrestricted giving that allows recipients to determine how best to use the funds, has become a hallmark of her strategy. In a 2019 essay announcing her commitment to philanthropy, Scott pledged to give away the majority of her wealth "back to the society that helped generate it." She wrote that she intended "to do it thoughtfully, to get started soon, and to keep at it until the safe is empty." This philosophy has guided her distribution of billions of dollars to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and advocacy groups, often focusing on efforts to reduce inequities in education, health care, and economic opportunity.

For UMES and other historically Black colleges and universities, Scott's substantial investments underscore growing recognition of the critical role these institutions play in expanding access to higher education and promoting regional economic growth. As Anderson noted, "This is not just a gift to UMES—it's an investment in our future." The donation follows Scott's recent $70 million gift to the United Negro College Fund, the nation's largest private scholarship provider for students at historically Black colleges and universities, further solidifying her commitment to educational equity and opportunity.