39 | Friday, September 19, 2025MacKenzie Scott gives $70 million to UNCF to financially strengthen HBCUs Print | Front Page | Email this story To:From:Message:From (email):Message:NEW YORK (AP) — Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $70 million to the UNCF, as the nation's largest private provider of scholarships to minority students works to raise $1 billion to strengthen all 37 of its historically Black colleges and universities. Famously private, Scott only discusses her donations through her website and does not confirm them until after the recipients do. Lomax said Scott's donation would be used for UNCF's pooled endowment, which aims to establish a $370 million fund — $10 million for each UNCF member HBCU. Increasing HBCU endowments is a priority since they trail endowments at non-HBCUs by 70%, according to the UNCF. "We didn't see the fears people predicted come to pass," said Buchanan, who disclosed that The Center for Effective Philanthropy received a one-time $10 million grant from Scott.