MacKenzie Scott's $50 million gift to Native Forward splits between scholarships and endowment

Native Forward Scholars Fund disclosed that it will use the full $50 million unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott by dedicating $10 million to expand scholarship awards, distributing roughly $2 million annually for five years. The other $40 million will be invested in a permanent endowment to guarantee long-term support for Native students. This is the biggest gift the 57-year-old organization has ever received, building on a $20 million gift from Scott in 2020 that helped create an earlier endowment and fund new programs.

CEO Angelique Albert said the allocation mirrors a Native value of planning for seven generations ahead. The announcement coincided with a 35 % jump in scholarship applications, while the average unmet need per scholar remains about $26,000. Board chair Lillian Sparks Robinson highlighted the responsibility to grow the endowment to $100 million to further secure educational opportunities.