Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott this week announced that in the last four months, she has given $4.2 billion to 384 organizations, including a number of colleges, universities, and scholarship funds dedicated to serving large numbers of Black, Latinx, Native American, and low-income students.
Topics: Philanthropy
California community colleges receive historic $100M gift for scholarships, emergency aid
In the largest-ever philanthropic gift to U.S. community colleges, the Jay Pritzker Foundation will donate $100 million to the California Community Colleges system for scholarships and emergency aid grants.
Big philanthropic investments a bright spot for HBCUs amid financial uncertainty worsened by pandemic
Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott’s announcement on Tuesday to donate a total of almost $160 million to Howard University and five other historically Black colleges and universities adds to a growing wave of high-profile investments in the traditionally underrepresented higher ed institutions.
Philanthropy in higher education focuses on student access, success
More than 90 percent of private foundations interested in funding higher education are prioritizing college access and success for low-income and first generation students.
$10M gift strengthens Georgetown’s commitment to access and affordability
The gift from The Penner Family Foundation will help promising students from low-income households attend Georgetown and enable undergraduates to travel abroad, work at unpaid internships, engage in meaningful research, and participate in extracurricular service projects.
‘What about everyone else?’ and other questions raised by the Smith gift to the Morehouse Class of 2019
When Robert F. Smith surprised members of Morehouse College’s Class of 2019 with news that he would be paying off their student debt, it spurred celebration—and questions about the larger student debt crisis.
Microgrants: How ‘affordable philanthropy’ can support college completion
When financial stressors put a student’s academic performance at risk, a microgrant to fund a jacket, bus tickets, groceries, or a legal bill can make all the difference.
Gaffigan, Birbiglia, and Mulaney raise $1 million for Georgetown Scholars Program
Proceeds from their sold-out show will support GSP’s efforts to connect undergraduates—many of them first-generation college students—with a vast alumni network, career and academic help, mentorship programs, and other campus resources.
‘All I can do is help somebody along the way’: Retired teachers give $200K to endow scholarships for 200 students at HBCU
Florine and James Camphor’s giving has been transformational for Coppin State University, where tuition is $6,600 per year and most students are low-income and first-generation.
Three questions Bloomberg’s $1.8B gift to Hopkins raises about college access and affordability
Michael Bloomberg’s gift, which brings his lifetime giving to Hopkins to $3.3 billion, will allow the school to establish need-blind admissions and eliminate loans from financial aid packages. But it also raises questions about the role of private philanthropy in addressing college access and affordability.