With a Renewed Vote of Confidence, MacKenzie Scott Awards Morgan State University a Transformative $63 Million Gift

Historic Donation Marks the Second Major Unrestricted Contribution from the Noted Philanthropist in Five Years, Reinforcing Morgan’s position as One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing and Most Impactful Public Research Universities

BALTIMORE — In an extraordinary reaffirmation of Morgan State University’s mission and trajectory, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has awarded the University a $63 million unrestricted gift, her second transformative contribution to Morgan in less than five years. The latest donation brings Scott’s total giving to the University to $103 million, a powerful endorsement of Morgan’s demonstrated capacity for growth, stewardship, and societal impact.

Morgan—now the nation’s third-largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU)—has emerged as a national model of strategic expansion, innovation, and academic excellence. Over the past five years, the University has achieved record enrollment growth, launched dozens of new degree and certificate programs, and established a suite of research centers addressing some of society’s most urgent challenges, including urban health, climate change, artificial intelligence, and educational equity.

A Second Unrestricted Investment in Morgan’s Future

Unlike most large-scale philanthropy, Scott’s gifts come without restrictions, granting the University the freedom to invest strategically in areas that align with its mission and long-term vision. The $63 million will be directed to further strengthen Morgan’s endowment, enhance support for student success, and advance initiatives that enhance Morgan’s role as an anchor institution in Baltimore and a Public Impact Very High Research University.

“MacKenzie Scott’s renewed investment in Morgan is a resounding testament to the work we’ve done to drive transformation, not only within our campus but throughout the communities we serve,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “To receive one historic gift from Ms. Scott was an incredible honor; to receive two speaks volumes about the confidence she and her team have in our institution’s stewardship, leadership, and trajectory. This is more than philanthropy—it’s a partnership in progress.” 

Scott’s first $40 million gift to Morgan in 2020 was a watershed moment, marking the largest individual donation in University history. Those funds seeded Morgan’s “Leading the World Endowment Fund,” the University’s first-ever unrestricted endowment, and inspired additional philanthropic momentum—including a record $20 million gift from alumnus Calvin Tyler and his wife Tina, then the largest donation ever made by an HBCU alum.

The strategic deployment of that first gift catalyzed a range of initiatives that continue to yield long-term benefits for students, faculty, and communities. These include the creation of the Center for Urban Health Equity (CUHE) and National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED), endowed faculty chairs in Brain Science, Psychometrics and Predictive Analytics, and Cybersecurity Engineering, as well as sustained support for Morgan’s Center for Religion and Cities and other interdisciplinary research hubs.

“We are grateful for donors like MacKenzie Scott, whose groundbreaking vision through philanthropy has created sustained, generational impact at Morgan,” said Endia DeCordova, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation. “Our thoughtful stewardship of her initial gift has strengthened Morgan’s capacity to grow our endowment and create meaningful opportunities for our students while strategically investing in the University’s future. This new transformative contribution—and her continued trust in Morgan—affirm that we are not only rising but leading, charting a bold path forward for our students and our institution.” 

Strength and Stewardship

Morgan’s sound fiscal management and continued upward trajectory have earned it strong credit ratings from both S&P Global Ratings (A+) and Moody’s (A1)—a distinction that underscores the University’s financial resilience and appeal to major donors. Over the past several years, the University’s record-setting growth in enrollment and research productivity has positioned it at the forefront of higher education innovation among public HBCUs.

 The timing of this new philanthropic investment is especially significant. Morgan recently announced plans to launch the nation’s first public, nonprofit M.D. medical school at an HBCU, supported by a $1.75 million planning grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The initiative underscores Morgan’s expanding role as a driver of equitable access to healthcare education and a catalyst for addressing disparities in Baltimore and beyond.

A Vision for Generational Transformation

Scott’s latest gift will serve as an enduring foundation for Morgan’s continued ascent—empowering the University to recruit and retain talented students and faculty, expand research capacity, and strengthen its engagement with the city, state, and nation.

“Morgan is on an extraordinary journey,” said President Wilson. “This investment will allow us to accelerate that momentum, breaking barriers, advancing equity, and fulfilling our vision to become one of the top public research universities in the country—without losing our soul.”

About Morgan
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.

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Media Contacts:
Larry Jones, or Dell Jackson, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022