Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced another round of major unrestricted gifts to historically Black colleges and universities, bringing recent HBCU donations to roughly $700 million. The grants included seven‑figure to eight‑figure awards to institutions such as Xavier University of Louisiana, Prairie View A&M and Howard University — the latter reported as the largest single gift in the round. Scott’s giving continues a multiyear focus on minority‑serving institutions and arrives as donors and policymakers increasingly target equity and capacity at public HBCUs. University leaders say unrestricted funds allow flexibility for strategic priorities including student support, faculty hiring and capital projects.