Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott made a fresh round of large unrestricted gifts to multiple small colleges, including a $24 million donation to Robeson Community College and major gifts to Carl Albert State College and Connors State College. Recipients described the funds as transformational, offering breathing room for strategic planning, scholarships and community programs. Tribal and rural institutions welcomed the flexibility to invest in student success and sustainability. The donations arrive as many community and regional colleges face enrollment declines and state funding volatility; unrestricted capital from private donors can catalyze program innovation, student supports and infrastructure upgrades without the constraints often attached to traditional grants.