MacKenzie Scott Donates $40 Million to FIU in Effort to Create Pathways to Opportunity

Elena Key / Staff Writer

FIU received a $40 million donation today from MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Founder and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who recently donated millions to colleges and universities all over the United States.

“286 high-impact organizations in categories and communities that have been historically underfunded and overlooked,” wrote Scott in her blog titled Seeding by Ceding.

Scott and her team have donated $2.73 billion in total so far in their efforts to help those in need. The University of Central Florida also received a $40 million donation.

“This gift is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform our university, create greater opportunity for our diverse student body and in the process make an important contribution toward the betterment of our community,” said FIU Board of Trustees Chair Dean C. Colsen in a statement.

FIU News released a statement stating that the gift will fund programs that have a history of student success.

Screenshot of Part of FIU News Press Release

“… This gift allows us to augment programs that we know work, develop models that can be replicated elsewhere, lift communities and combat poverty,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.

Some FIU programs that will receive funding include the Connect4Success partnership, Stem Transformation Institute, and others. 

“This generous gift is a game-changer for FIU and our students’ success for generations to come,” said Rosenberg.