It’s no secret that our historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are severely underfunded compared to white institutions. Because of this, HBCUs rely heavily on outside donations to ensure Black students have a safe place to flourish. Recently, Black colleges have been receiving historic contributions that absolutely no one could have predicted.
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From tennis star Coco Gauff’s recent donations to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) all the way to Bloomberg Philanthropies’ unbelievable gift to expand medical programs at multiple HBCUs, here are the largest financial donations to some of our favorite HBCUs in recent times.
$250,000 From Tennis Star Coco Gauff
Over the past two years, tennis star Coco Gauff has been an advocate for Black youth’s access to tennis, and she’s putting her money where her mouth is! Gauff just pledged another $100,000 to UNCF. This brings her total contribution to UNCF to $250,000, according to reports. Gauff’s donations help provide scholarships for Black students, who are also pursuing their tennis dreams.
$10 Million to Morris College by MacKenzie Scott
As part of Scott’s UNCF donation, Morris College in South Carolina received $5 million from her and an additional $5 million from other donors to match Scott’s contribution, the school said.
$20 Million to Xavier University by MacKenzie Scott
Scott dropped $20 million off to Xavier University back in 2020. “This is a remarkable demonstration of support and encouragement for Xavier and its mission, and a reminder that what we do is important-not only at the University, but also within our global community,” President Reynold Verre said in a statement obtained by Biz New Orleans.
$20 Million to Tuskegee University by MacKenzie Scott
In 2020, Scott made another large donation to an HBCU. Tuskegee University received $20 million from the billionaire which was completely unrestricted, WSFA reported. “This gift comes at an opportune time for us,” President Dr. Lily D. McNair said. “We are about to launch a five-year strategic planning effort and, with this investment from Ms. Scott, we will be able to unfold the next phase of our mission in ways we simply could not have considered before.”
$20 Million to University of Maryland Eastern Shore by MacKenzie Scott
Scott broke the record for the biggest donation to University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2020 when she donated $20 million to the school. She also gave $25 million to Bowie State University.
$25 Million to Bowie State University by MacKenzie Scott
Also in 2020, Scott pledged $25 million to Maryland’s first HBCU, Bowie State University. “We are so grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her vision that will help transform Bowie State University,” President Aminta H. Breaux said. “The timing is meaningful as we embark on BSU’s largest-ever fundraising effort: The Campaign for Excellence. This gift underscores the urgent need for support of higher education for marginalized communities, as well as BSU’s strong and distinctive position to make a dramatic difference.”
$38 Million to Alabama State University by MacKenzie Scott
Scott has made several multi-million dollar donations to HBCUs over the years. Her most recent contribution to Alabama State University (ASU) marked the largest in the school’s history. “Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated an extraordinary $38 million gift to our great University,” university president Quinton T. Ross Jr. wrote in a statement. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms Alabama State University’s reputation as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in higher education. This is truly a pivotal moment in ASU’s history.”
$40 Million to Morgan State University by MacKenzie Scott
In December 2020, Scott made history when she donated $40 million to Morgan State University (MSU). The donation marked the largest in the HBCU’s history, MSU reported. After divorcing her husband, Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, Scott pledged “to give the majority of my wealth back to the society that helped generate it” and “to do it thoughtfully.”
$63 Million to Morgan State University by MacKenzie Scott
Billionaire Scott made yet another donation to Morgan State four years after her first major one. This time around, she donated $63 million to the Maryland school, setting the record for the largest in the university’s history, the Baltimore Banner reported. In total, Scott has awarded MSU $103 million.
$70 Million to UNCF by MacKenzie Scott
In September, Scott donated $70 million to UNCF, contributing to the organization’s $1 billion capital campaign, according to the website. Scott’s donation was dispersed among 37 different HBCUs. “It provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our member institutions to build permanent assets that will support students and campuses for decades to come,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF.
$100 Million to Spelman College by Ronda Stryker
In 2024, Spelman College in Atlanta announced they received their biggest single donation from Ronda Stryker and her husband, according to the Saporta Report. Stryker, the billionaire heiress and director of medical equipment company Stryker Corp., has been on the Spelman Board of Trustees since 1997. The billionaire’s donation also marked the centennial anniversary of the school’s renaming. “I think it says that it’s worth investing in HBCUs more broadly, schools that have been far too underinvested in,” Spelman College President Helene Gayle told CBS News in 2024.
$150 Million to Huston-Tillotson University by the Moody Foundation
During Huston-Tillotson University’s 150th anniversary, the Moody Foundation made a sizable donation in the form of $150 million last month. “This gift is a testament to faith, prayer and the genuine belief in the goodness of others,” President of Huston-Tillotson University Dr. Melva K. Wallace said. “I am forever grateful to the Moody Foundation trustees Ross Moody, Elle Moody, and Francie Moody-Dahlberg. Their donation will completely transform Huston-Tillotson, as well as the city of Austin, and set us up for success for another 150 years.”
FAMU’s Fake $237 Million Donation
The HBCU world was shocked when Gregory Gerami, a Black hemp farmer in Texas, pledged $237 million to Florida A&M University in 2024. But soon, an investigation into the matter deemed Gerami’s contribution to be completely “fraudulent,” CBS News reported.
$600 Million to 4 HBCUs by Bloomberg Philanthropies
In Aug. 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced it would donate a whopping $600 million to four medical schools. The money was split between Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College and Morehouse School of Medicine, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) reported.
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