Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who was previously married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, donated $42 million to Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina—one of the largest per-student gifts made to a historically black college or university.
Founded in 1891 and with a current student population of 2,500, the university celebrated its 135th anniversary at its March 13 Founders Day Convocation, when the Scott’s “no-strings-attached” donation was announced.
“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,” S. Keith Hargrove Sr., chancellor of ECSU, shared in a statement.
According to the university, the funds will support its strategic plan, ASCEND 2030, which includes expanding endowed scholarships, strengthening academic programming and investing in campus infrastructure across academic, residential and athletic spaces.
Scott received a 4% stake in Amazon following her 2019 divorce and has committed to sharing at least half of her fortune through Giving Pledge. As of early 2026, she has given away over $26 billion to more than 400 organizations.