Clicking Forward

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Charitable Works Contribute $25 Million to Bowie State University’s Campaign for Excellence

Across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C., 384 organizations have been impacted by something other than COVID-19, through monetary donations from a guardian angel.

Many people know may know her as founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife but, she has a name and career of her own. Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott has constantly been working for the past four months with a team of advisors, to accelerate her 2020 giving, for organizations suffering economically, as a result of the pandemic.

Out of 6,490 organizations looked at, 822 were researched deeper, and as of right now 384 have received funds from Scott. To date, she’s given over $4 billion and counting.

Based on Scott’s blog “384 Ways to Help”, the recipients of funds were “organizations with strong leadership teams and results, with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital”.

Having met the criteria, Bowie State University (BSU) was one of the organizations and institutions in recipient of funds.

BSU received a gift of $25 million --- the largest reception from a single donor, in the university’s history.

The funding will go towards BSU’s largest-ever fundraising effort, The Campaign for Excellence.

The Campaign for Excellence is a fundraising capital campaign to raise funds for the university including scholarships for students and to grow the endowment.

“The campaign is really about raising the funds necessary to support students and sustain the university in perpetuity beyond this generation but, for generations to come” said Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta Breaux.

For those looking to donate in other ways besides monetarily, BSU also takes in-kind donations as well as donations to the food and nutrition lounge “to ensure none of our students ever go hungry.”

Though Ms. Scott gifted a generous donation to BSU, Dr. Breaux still invites and encourages willing donors to go on to Bowie State’s website and click “give” on the homepage to donate, no matter the dollar amount.

All donations are welcomed and appreciated.