$50M Donation Awarded To Bowie State University

BOWIE, MD — A $50 million donation has been given to Bowie State University from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking the largest single contribution in the university’s 160-year history.

Combined with her earlier $25 million gift in 2020, Scott’s total investment in Bowie State now reaches $75 million. Scott is an American novelist, philanthropist and early Amazon contributor who was previously married to Jeff Bezos.

“We are profoundly grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her visionary commitment to education and equity,” said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. “Her generosity arrives at a pivotal moment in our 160-year story. It empowers us to expand access, elevate our research and academic excellence, and uplift generations of students who will lead, serve and innovate. Higher education is the pathway to upward social mobility for our students and the communities we serve, and, with this gift, their futures are brighter than ever.”

The $50 million gift will help strengthen Bowie State University’s endowment and advance key priorities in the university’s new strategic plan, Boldly Forward, leaders said. It will expand scholarships to help reduce financial barriers, support research and innovation across disciplines, and enrich the student experience.

“The first gift from MacKenzie Scott elevated the visibility of BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence and inspired other philanthropists to take notice of this storied institution,” said Brent Swinton, vice president for philanthropic engagement at Bowie State. “As we work toward the close of our campaign on December 31, 2025, we will continue building on this momentum, leveraging this latest transformational gift to inspire even greater support for our brilliant, yet often under-resourced students and faculty. When Bowie State thrives, our tight-knit community of alumni, families and partners — across the region and beyond — thrives with us.”