Philanthropist and early contributor to Amazon, MacKenzie Scott, continues to champion historically Black colleges and universities.
On March 13, Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) received a $42 million donation from the philanthropist, according to ECSU News. The gift is historic as it is the largest dollar per student enrolled gift of any HBCU that Scott has donated to so far.
Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. announced the donation during his keynote speech at ECSU’s Founders Day Convocation.
“I want to express our deepest gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for this remarkable act of generosity and for her recognition of the critical role that HBCUs play in expanding opportunity and strengthening communities,” Hargrove said. “Her investment affirms what we already know: that institutions like ECSU are powerful catalysts for change.”
Hargrove shared the gift will be used to create endowed scholarship programs to support student learning and success; establish endowments to support innovative academic programs and growth; and support academic, athletic and residential infrastructure that aligns with making ECSU a great place to live, work, and learn.
“The university enrolls roughly 2,500 students, making the contribution particularly significant relative to its student population. The gift also follows Scott’s earlier $15 million donation to the university in 2020,” Complex reports.
Scott’s history of funding colleges
Scott’s donations to institutions of higher education derive from her love of books and creativity. This love instantly made her a supporter of ex-husband Jeff Bezos’s dreams to launch an online bookstore — an idea that would eventually become Amazon.
After their 25-year marriage ended, Scott received a 25% stake of the pair’s original stock holdings of the company, which was estimated to be $35.6 billion at the time (Women.com).
She then pledged to donate at least half of her fortune.
“In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share,” she wrote in May 2019 as she signed the Giving Pledge. “My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.”
As of December 2025, it was reported that Scott had donated more than $26 billion to various organizations. In 2025 alone, she distributed more than $740 million to HBCUs.
“Major recipients included Howard University ($80 million), Prairie View A&M University ($63 million), North Carolina A&T State University ($63 million), Bowie State University ($50 million), Norfolk State University ($50 million), Winston-Salem State University ($50 million), Xavier University of Louisiana ($38 million), Spelman College ($38 million), Dillard University ($19 million), and Lincoln University ($25 million),” Complex notes.
The outlet added that Scott’s donations extend beyond HBCUs. The author has given to a number of tribal colleges and nonprofit organizations focused on college access and affordability for underserved students.