Record $38 Million Gift Boosts Alabama State University

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Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $38 million to Alabama State University, marking the largest single gift in the school’s history. The university announced the donation on Wednesday, noting that the funds come without restrictions, allowing administrators to decide how best to use the money to support institutional priorities. President Quinton T. Ross Jr. said in a statement that the contribution will be used to strengthen student support programs, expand academic initiatives, and enhance the university’s overall infrastructure. He described the donation as “transformational” and said it would help further the school’s mission to provide access to quality higher education.

Alabama State University, founded in 1867 in Montgomery, Alabama, is a historically Black university with an enrollment of about 4,000 students. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields including education, business, science, and health.

Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given billions of dollars to nonprofit and educational institutions across the United States in recent years. Her donations to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have included large gifts to Howard University, Prairie View A&M, and Morgan State University, among others.

In keeping with her philanthropic approach, Scott does not dictate how recipients use the funds. According to the university, the unrestricted nature of the $38 million donation provides flexibility to invest in areas that will have the greatest long-term impact on students and faculty. University officials said additional details about how the funds will be allocated will be announced after a review process.