Spelman College today announced a transformative, unrestricted $38 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking her second significant investment in the College in five years. This monumental contribution will accelerate Spelman’s strategic vision, strengthening student access and affordability, and allowing for critical investment in modernizing technology infrastructure.

Scott’s gift enables Spelman to address two of its most pressing strategic priorities: Expanding financial aid and scholarship support to ensure that talented scholars, regardless of their financial background, can complete their education and thrive, and investing in a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure to enhance the academic experience, improve administrative efficiency, and prepare students for a digitally driven world.

“We are profoundly grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this incredibly generous and unrestricted $38 million gift to Spelman College,” said Spelman Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, C’84. “This investment is a powerful affirmation of our mission and our commitment to educational excellence and equity. The flexibility of this gift allows us to move more swiftly to strengthen the entire student experience, modernize our technology infrastructure, and expand financial opportunity for scholars who call Spelman home. It is an investment in both our present and our future as we continue to advance our legacy of producing change-making global leaders.”

This latest contribution builds on Scott’s earlier $20 million gift to Spelman in 2020, which helped to support student scholarships and increase Spelman’s endowment to provide a lasting source of funding for scholarships and academic programs. Together, these two historic investments underscore Scott’s sustained commitment to advancing educational equity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and demonstrate her profound confidence in Spelman’s leadership, exceptional student outcomes, and strategic vision for the future.

For nearly 145 years, Spelman has been recognized as a global leader in the education of women of African descent, consistently ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. This $38 million gift ensures that Spelman will continue to provide a transformative, world class education that is both excellent and accessible, preparing graduates to lead, innovate, and create positive change in their communities and beyond.