Philander Smith UniversityReceives $3.9 million Grant from Windgate Foundation

(From the Philander Smith University website)

(Photo from the Philander Smith College website)

Structured to create both immediate impact and enduring support,

the grant will provide scholarship assistance for current students while

establishing a permanent source of need-based aid for future generations

of Philander Smith students.

“This extraordinary investment from the Windgate Foundation will

strengthen affordability and help ensure that financial barriers do not

hinder educational opportunity for generations of Philander Smith

students,” said Dr. Maurice D. Gipson, President and CEO of Philander

Smith University. “As we approach our 150 th anniversary, we are deeply

grateful to the Windgate Foundation for investing in the mission of our

institution and the future of our scholars.”

According to the Foundation, the grant was approved by the

Windgate Foundation Board in April 2026. In its award letter, the

Foundation noted the desire of its trustees to establish an endowed fund

that will “perpetuate their giving to the needs of the organization long

beyond their lifetime.”

“For many students, scholarship support is the difference between

stopping out and staying the course,” Gipson added. “This

transformative award helps ensure that talented, determined scholars

have the opportunity to continue their education and fulfill their purpose

through Philander Smith University.”