MacKenzie Scott directs $461 million of unrestricted funds to California public colleges

Between 2021 and 2025, billionaire donor MacKenzie Scott allocated $461 million in unrestricted contributions to public colleges and universities across California, according to EdSource. The gifts spanned 16 institutions, with an average size of roughly $28.8 million. California State University, Northridge topped the list with $103 million, including a $63 million award in 2025, while UC Merced received $58 million across two gifts.

CSU East Bay also benefited from a $50 million donation earmarked for student outcomes and internship programs. The majority of the funding targeted schools with high percentages of first-generation and historically under-represented students, and the lack of donor conditions allowed campuses to allocate the money as they saw fit. A separate $20 million grant to Santa Barbara City College later sparked an internal probe after part of the money was spent without board approval.