BALTIMORE — Morgan State University is once again in the national spotlight. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made another monumental contribution to the university—an unrestricted $63 million gift, marking her second transformative donation to Morgan in under five years.
This latest gift brings Scott’s total investment to $103 million, an affirmation of Morgan’s remarkable progress and its powerful role as a catalyst for educational excellence, innovation, and community uplift.
As the third-largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation, Morgan State has become a beacon of strategic growth and academic leadership. Over the past half-decade, the university has shattered records in enrollment, launched a wave of new programs, and established cutting-edge research centers tackling critical challenges—from climate change and artificial intelligence to health equity and urban renewal.
Freedom to Innovate: Unrestricted Support with Boundless Potential
What makes Scott’s philanthropy especially transformative is its trust-based approach. Her unrestricted donations give institutions the freedom to invest where it matters most.
Morgan plans to channel the $63 million into strengthening its endowment, elevating student success initiatives, and advancing its role as an anchor institution for Baltimore.
“MacKenzie Scott’s renewed investment in Morgan is a resounding testament to the transformation we’ve achieved both on campus and throughout our communities,” said David K. Wilson, President of Morgan State University. “Receiving one historic gift was an honor—receiving two is an extraordinary validation of our stewardship, leadership, and vision.”
"Receiving one historic gift was an honor—receiving two is an extraordinary validation of our stewardship, leadership, and vision.“
The Power of Strategic Giving
Scott’s first $40 million gift in 2020 was a landmark moment—the largest individual donation in Morgan’s history. It helped launch the university’s Leading the World Endowment Fund, its first-ever unrestricted endowment.
That initial gift inspired additional waves of generosity, including a record-setting $20 million donation from alumnus Calvin Tyler and his wife, Tina—then the largest contribution ever made by an HBCU graduate.
These investments have borne lasting fruit: the establishment of the Center for Urban Health Equity (CUHE), the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED), and several endowed faculty chairs in fields such as Brain Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, and Predictive Analytics.
"MacKenzie Scott’s trust empowers us to continue creating meaningful opportunities and expanding Morgan’s reach.“
Sustaining Excellence Through Vision and Stewardship
“Morgan’s success is proof of what thoughtful stewardship can achieve,” said Endia DeCordova, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Morgan State University Foundation. “MacKenzie Scott’s trust empowers us to continue creating meaningful opportunities and expanding Morgan’s reach.”
The university’s financial prudence is evident in its A+ rating from S&P Global and A1 rating from Moody’s, underscoring fiscal resilience and donor confidence.
Morgan’s upward trajectory has also sparked bold initiatives—most notably, plans to open the nation’s first public, nonprofit medical school at an HBCU, supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This step will further Morgan’s mission to improve healthcare access and reduce disparities in Baltimore and beyond.
Fueling Generational Change
This latest $63 million infusion will empower Morgan to attract top-tier talent, expand research capacity, and deepen its engagement across city, state, and national lines.
“Morgan is on an extraordinary journey,” President Wilson said. “This investment accelerates our momentum—advancing equity, innovation, and impact as we move toward becoming one of the nation’s top public research universities.”
About Morgan State
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
About MacKenzie Scott’s Foundation, Yield Giving
MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic mission centers on advancing equity, inclusion, and opportunity across the globe. Through her organization, Yield Giving, Scott has committed billions to nonprofits and educational institutions that demonstrate measurable impact and a strong sense of community stewardship.
Her approach is distinctive: she provides unrestricted, trust-based funding that allows recipients to allocate resources where they’re needed most. Rather than dictating terms, Scott’s philosophy empowers institutions—especially those serving marginalized communities—to chart their own path toward transformative, sustainable change.
