Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Invests Record $36 Million in Two North Carolina Community Colleges

Historic donations to Robeson and Bladen Community Colleges mark a transformative moment for rural education and workforce development. 

RALEIGH, N.C. — Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $36 million in combined gifts to two North Carolina community colleges, marking the largest philanthropic contribution in the history of the North Carolina Community College System. The historic investment surpasses the System’s previous largest gift of $35.7 million from Arnold Ventures earlier this year and affirms the critical role community colleges play in advancing economic mobility and opportunity across rural North Carolina. 

Robeson Community College received $24 million, the largest single gift in its 60-year history, while Bladen Community College received $12 million—together representing a transformative investment in two rural institutions central to their regions’ economic and workforce futures. 

Both colleges serve communities facing persistent economic challenges and are anchors for opportunity in southeastern North Carolina. Robeson County, home to the nation’s largest Lumbee Indian population, and Bladen County both report poverty rates exceeding 24 percent.  

The gifts will significantly expand each college’s capacity to remove financial barriers and support first-generation students, adult learners, and military-affiliated families in completing credentials that lead to meaningful employment. 

“These historic gifts are a powerful validation of the incredible work happening at Robeson and Bladen Community Colleges,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, System President. “When global philanthropists are looking for high-impact investments, they are finding them right here in rural North Carolina. This support confirms that our colleges are not just educational institutions, but vital engines of economic mobility.” 

The awards were made through Yield Giving, an organization established by Scott, to share a financial fortune created through the efforts of countless people. Named after a belief in adding value by giving up control, Yield Giving grants unrestricted funds to non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To date, the organization has yielded over $26 billion in more than 2,700 gifts, historically supporting institutions that serve minority and lower-income populations. 

While the gifts come with no restrictions, both colleges have committed to strategic stewardship focused on student success and workforce development. 

Dr. Amanda Lee, President of Bladen Community College in Dublin, N.C., noted the potential for the $12 million gift to transform the Bladen County community, which has a population of approximately 30,000. 

“The potential for us at Bladen Community College and in Bladen County is to take the work we are doing and do it even better.  This gift will enable us to be more effective, more efficient, and more impactful for generations to come,” Lee said. “To receive a gift that is unrestricted comes with a great deal of responsibility.  Our challenge is to ensure that MacKenzie Scott sees the return on her investment in us and is pleased. We, the Bladen Community College Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff are up to the challenge.” 

The donations are part of MacKenzie Scott’s ongoing philanthropy, which has historically supported institutions serving minority and lower-income populations. By selecting these two institutions, the gifts highlight the reach into Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties where community colleges are often the primary engine for economic growth. 

“To have two colleges in our system recognized by MacKenzie Scott and her team reaffirms the great work that we are all doing and elevates our work to a national level and audience that may not have been exposed to us before,” Lee said. “It is my hope that this gift will inspire additional support as we all work towards responding to the workforce development goals and needs of our state as we have continued to grow.  Specifically, an investment in our rural areas and in our rural community colleges has transformative power.” 

With annual operating budgets of approximately $40.6 million and $17 million respectively, Robeson Community College and Bladen Community College will engage students, faculty, and staff in guiding how the funds are invested to strengthen student success and support regional workforce needs. 

“This proves rural colleges can be transformative forces,” said Melissa Singler, President of Robeson Community College in Lumberton, N.C. “With strategic investment and community support, higher education in places like Robeson County can unlock talent, drive economic growth, and create opportunities for generations of students. Robeson Community College and Robeson County are worth investing in.” 

As both colleges embark on this new chapter, the impact of these gifts is expected to ripple across their regions for decades.