MacKenzie Scott has poured large, unrestricted gifts into historically Black colleges and universities, and campus leaders report the money is changing hiring and program priorities. Scott donated more than $700 million to HBCUs in 2025, bringing her total support for Black higher education to over $1.2 billion, the profile shows. The gifts fund chairs, programs and operating flexibility, and administrators say the unrestricted nature lets campuses pursue workforce ties and employer-facing programming. A complementary HBCU CONNECT report maps where alumni are being hired in 2026 and identifies sectors and growth areas that are absorbing graduates. The report names key industries and hiring destinations, offering recruiters and university career centers actionable data about employer demand and areas to scale curricula or certificate programs. Together the philanthropy and hiring data signal a near-term strategic pivot at many HBCUs toward employer alignment and workforce outcomes.