The National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund gave Central United Methodist Church a $200,000 grant for repairs to the roof and beams that extend outside the building in Jackson, Miss., seen on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

Author and activist MacKenzie Scott has set a philanthropic record, donating $63 million to Maryland's Morgan State University – the school's largest individual donation ever – as well as $40 million to an organization dedicated to preserving Black historical sites.

The most recent donations come after Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, made an unrestricted donation of $40 million to Morgan State, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore. The 2020 contribution triggered a series of donations from others, including a record $20 million gift from alumnus Calvin Tyler, Morgan State said in this month's announcement.

Because Scott’s donations are unrestricted, the university can invest strategically in areas administrators see fit, the school explained. The university recently announced plans for the country's first public, nonprofit M.D. medical school at an HBCU.

A busy month for Scott and Black history organizations

Another one of Scott's recent donations include $40 million to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, part of the Washington-based National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Action Fund said in a press release on Oct. 15 that Scott's $40 million donation comes after another $20 million investment made just four years ago.

The Action Fund's efforts include the preservation of historically Black sites such as churches and hotels, as well as raising money for HBCUs.

The fund's executive director, Brent Leggs, said in the release on Oct. 15 that Scott’s $40 million gift is just one way in which she has invested in historic preservation.

“As we approach America's 250th anniversary, this transformative support demonstrates the power of philanthropy and the Action Fund's work to protect and expand the American story for generations to come,” Leggs said.

More on MacKenzie Scott

Scott was married to Bezos for over 25 years, and the pair announced they were divorcing in early 2019. When the couple reached a divorce settlement, Scott received a 4% stake in Amazon, worth more than $38 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Scott launched her website, Yield Giving, in December 2022 in hopes of sharing information about nonprofit organizations, their missions, and gifts that have or can help them fulfill their philanthropic goals.

She was named No. 9 on Forbes’ 2024 Power Women list, which included 100 women in finance, technology, media and other industries. Joining Scott on the list are figures like President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), President of Banco do Brasil Tarciana Paula Gomes Medeiros (No. 18), and Beyoncé (No. 35).

Scott, who has an estimated net worth of $33.9 billion, also made Forbes’ 2025 list of the 400 richest people in the United States, ranking No. 28.

Among some of her largest gifts are 2022 donations of $436 million to Habitat for Humanity, $281 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and $275 million to Planned Parenthood.

How will the $40M donation help the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund?

Scott most recently donated $40 million to a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which protects historic landscapes and buildings representing the country's diverse culture.

The division Scott donated to recently, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, was founded in 2017 to preserve significant sites of “Black activism, achievement, and resilience” the agency said in a press release.

Central United Methodist Church, a historic Black church in Jackson, Mississippi, announced last year that the Action Fund gave community members a $200,000 grant to help with roof and structural beam repairs, reported the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Another historic site the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is supporting is Hotel Casa Blanca in Idlewood, Michigan. The hotel was built in 1949, serving as a place to stay for Black travelers, entertainers, and more during segregation.

President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Carol Quillen said in the press release that Scott’s $40 million donation illustrates the importance of historic preservation.

"Thank you to MacKenzie Scott for her far-reaching vision and for recognizing the purpose and singular impact of the Action Fund," Quillen said.

Contributing: Greta Cross, Anna Kaufman, Melina Khan, Amanda Pérez Pintado, Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY; Pam Dankins, Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: HBCU gets its largest gift ever in MacKenzie Scott's latest wave of donations

Reporting by Saleen Martin, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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