Voorhees receives $19 million from MacKenzie Scott, largest gift in university’s history

[Episcopal News Service] Voorhees University, one of two historically Black universities with ties to The Episcopal Church, announced over the weekend that it had received $19 million from the philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the second time in five years that Scott has made a multimillion donation to the school.

The latest gift, announced in a Nov. 8 news release, is the largest donation Voorhees has received in its 127-year history. The individual donation to the Denmark, South Carolina, school follows Scott’s $70 million gift in September to the UNCF, of which Voorhees is a member.

Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, another historically Black school founded by Episcopalians, also will benefit from the UNCF donation, which will be invested in a pooled endowment for the 37 historically Black universities and colleges, or HBCUs, that are members.

Voorhees University is an Episcopal-affiliated historically Black school in Denmark, South Carolina. Photo: Voorhees University

Scott initially gave $4 million to Voorhees in 2020. Since then, the school has changed its name from Voorhees College to Voorhees University while expanding its academic offerings to include master’s degree and doctoral programs. The new $19 million donation will be used to “support endowment growth, student recruitment and retention, scholarships and deferred maintenance,” the Voorhees release said.

“This generous gift from Ms. MacKenzie Scott is a resounding affirmation of the extraordinary work being done at Voorhees University,” Ronnie Hopkins, president and CEO of Voorhees University, said in the news release. “It strengthens our ability to fulfill our vision as a leading faith-based, career-focused institution that transforms lives and communities. These funds will allow us to build on our momentum — supporting our students, expanding our reach, and securing Voorhees’ future for generations to come.”

Historically Black colleges and universities like Voorhees and Saint Augustine’s were founded in the post-Civil War period to provide educational opportunities to Black men and women who were excluded from white institutions of higher learning because of segregation. Saint Augustine’s was established in 1867 by The Episcopal Church and opened its doors the following January. The school that later would become Voorhees College was founded in 1897 as the Denmark Industrial School, and The Episcopal Church has supported it since 1924.

Saint Augustine’s touted Scott’s donation to UNCF in September, saying it would allow the university to receive a $5 million stake in the UNCF member endowment. The university also  said it would work to raise a matching $5 million.

“This transformational investment affirms the critical role that SAU plays in higher education and will allow us to expand opportunities for our students, strengthen our academic programs, and build permanent resources for the future,” SAU Interim President Verjanis A. Peoples said in a news release at the time. “We are proud to work alongside UNCF to raise the matching funds that will double this impact on our institution.”

Unlike Voorhees, Saint Augustine’s has scrambled in recent years to shore up its financial position and governance standards in a battle to maintain its accreditation. Its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, has attempted to terminate its membership, though Saint Augustine’s remains an accredited school while it contests the matter in court.

Both schools have received several million dollars from The Episcopal Church in recent years while also accepting the church’s guidance on administrative and fundraising matters.

Voorhees, in announcing its latest donation from Scott, described it as an affirmation of the school’s mission and track record.

“This extraordinary contribution validates the collective efforts of our students, faculty, alumni, community, and leadership,” David Miller, chairman of Voorhees’ Board of Trustees, said in the news release. “It also recognizes Voorhees University as a model of innovation and resilience among HBCUs. We are deeply grateful to Ms. Scott for her confidence in our mission and her belief in the power of education to change lives.”

– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.