What Is the Power of a Transformative Gift?

Endia DeCordova is vice president for institutional advancement at Morgan State University and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation, Inc. She is a graduate of Morgan State University and holds a master’s of business administration from the University of Hartford.

Credit:Courtesy of Morgan State University

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has given Morgan State University two landmark gifts that total more than $100 million—which includes the most recent gift of $63 million that was given in October 2025.

How did MacKenzie Scott’s first gift to Morgan State University help transform the institution?

MacKenzie Scott’s first landmark $40 million gift to Morgan State University arrived at a pivotal moment—coinciding with the launch of a bold 10-year strategic plan to elevate Morgan’s status as an ascending “very high” research institution. The unrestricted gift proved truly transformational, empowering the university to accelerate its core priorities in advancing academic excellence and research innovation, all while remaining true to its seminal mission: opening the doors of higher education to diverse students and serving traditionally underserved communities.

The gift’s impact was both catalytic and enduring. Approximately $38 million was invested, providing a substantial boost to the University’s endowment and helping it surpass the $100 million mark. This strategic investment amplified Morgan’s credibility and capacity to attract additional state and philanthropic support. The gift enabled the establishment of four endowed chairs in cutting-edge fields such as Brain Science, Psychometrics and Predictive Analytics, while also launching several interdisciplinary public impact research centers focused on community advancement—including the Urban Health Equity Center and the Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities.

These initiatives drove faculty recruitment, student research opportunities, and scholarship support—resulting in the hiring of more than 75 new faculty members and the expansion of student aid across multiple disciplines.

What are the current plans for her latest gift, and how will that impact the future of Morgan State University?

Building on the same philosophy that guided the use of the first gift, Morgan State University intends to direct approximately 95 percent of MacKenzie Scott’s most recent $63 million contribution—roughly $60 million—into the university’s endowment. This decision reflects a strategic commitment to long-term financial resilience and future readiness. Strengthening the endowment ensures that Morgan’s mission—to empower students, advance discovery, and uplift communities—will endure for generations to come.

The remaining $3 million will be allocated toward immediate, mission-critical priorities, including student financial aid, the establishment of additional endowed professorships, and the continued expansion of Morgan’s capacity as a national public impact research university.

With this investment, Morgan’s endowment now surpasses $200 million—placing the university among the leading public HBCUs in financial strength and stability. This milestone underscores to the philanthropic community that strategic, long-term investments in historically Black institutions generate enduring and transformative impact.

What are some best practices for institutions to consider if they unexpectedly receive a transformative gift?

Philanthropy at this scale challenges institutions to be visionary, disciplined, and ready. MacKenzie Scott’s gifts affirmed Morgan’s readiness—not just to receive generosity, but to maximize it. Our focus has always been on building systems that ensure every gift, large or small, becomes part of a legacy that advances access, excellence, and opportunity for generations to come. Here are some of our best practices:

Be strategically ready. Transformational gifts often find institutions already doing the hard work of defining their mission, clarifying priorities, and envisioning a bold future. A well-crafted strategic plan provides the framework for deploying such a gift with purpose and measurable impact.
Think expansively and leverage momentum. Institutions should maintain a “bold wish list”—a clear articulation of what could be possible with new resources. Transformative gifts should be springboards for innovation and leveraged to attract new partners and funders, not replace ongoing fundraising efforts.
Maintain transparency and accountability. Clear communication with stakeholders builds trust and ensures alignment between institutional goals and donor expectations.
Strengthen infrastructure and stewardship. Large, unrestricted gifts bring both opportunity and responsibility. The right systems, governance, and staff must be in place to manage, track, and report outcomes—sustaining credibility and long-term success.
Push forward. High-profile gifts like MacKenzie Scott’s can inadvertently create “donor fatigue,” particularly among smaller recurring donors who may feel their contributions are less needed. To counter this, we intensify engagement and emphasize personalized stewardship to sustain meaningful donor relationships.

–Interview by Elena Loveland, Trusteeship editor-in-chief