Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $50 million to California State University East Bay, a record donation for a university facing a steep decline in enrollment.
Principal Cathy Sandeen posted on LinkedIn that this is the largest single gift received in the school’s 68-year history. The grant ensures the university’s mission “will continue now and well into the distant future,” she said.
“I am deeply grateful for this recognition of our commitment to student success and the confidence in our leadership and Pioneer community,” Sandin said in a statement. “This is an extraordinary act of trust in our mission, our impact and our values.”
Scott, Jeff Bezos’ former spouse, has made significant donations to UC in recent years, including at other Cal State campuses such as Northridge, Fullerton and Pomona, as well as gifts to UC Merced, Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Scott’s gift would be a significant boost to Cal State, which has struggled for years with staggering enrollment losses, with the largest declines at Cal State East Bay and two other Bay Area campuses.
Enrollment at the nation’s largest public university’s 23 campuses fell by 27,881 students, or 6.5%, from 2019 to 2023, according to a Chronicle analysis, indicating that Colorado State University has yet to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
Cal State East Bay in Hayward lost 3,090 students, a quarter of its enrollment and the third-highest student turnover rate in the state.
This article was originally published on Beleaguered Bay Area university receives $50M donation from MacKenzie Scott.
