Written By Paul Garwood

From Prairie View A&M to Howard, a historic surge of philanthropy is changing what’s possible for Black colleges and their students.

In November 2025, several major announcements confirmed that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are experiencing an unprecedented wave of philanthropy. MacKenzie Scott alone has committed nearly $1 billion in a second round of gifts to HBCUs, including $80 million to Howard University, $63 million to Morgan State University, and tens of millions more to institutions like Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Virginia State University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Most recently, Prairie View A&M University announced a $63 million donation—the largest single gift in its 149-year history—bringing Scott’s total investment there to $113 million. University leaders say the funds will boost scholarships, research, and student support in fields ranging from AI and cybersecurity to education and public health.

For students, this isn’t abstract: it means more financial aid, better labs and dorms, stronger mental-health resources, and a louder signal to the world that educating Black students is worth serious investment. Positive Black Network can frame this as a story of long-overdue recognition—and a call for more donors, large and small, to follow suit.