Funding Will Help Strengthen Affordability and Expand Educational Opportunity at PSU
Philander Smith University has received a $3.9 million grant from the Windgate Foundation to expand student access and strengthen long-term scholarship support through the creation of a new endowed scholarship fund.
The award includes a $3.75 million endowed gift designated for the Philander Smith University Need-Based Scholarship Endowment, along with a $150,000 bridge grant to provide immediate scholarship assistance while the endowment is established and activated.
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 150th 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.”
