OKMULGEE – On Friday, Nov 28, the College of the Muscogee Nation announced it was the recipient of an $8 million gift from Yield Giving, a foundation founded by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
CMN President Dr. Monte Randall (Mvskoke) shared with Mvskoke Media that the college received news of the gift on Oct. 22 through a phone call with the organization. Randall was overwhelmed, and the news was very encouraging.
“They acknowledged the work that we’re doing with the Mvskoke Language Revitalization. They acknowledged our graduation rates, our retention rates and it was just uplifting, not only having them say that they were going to give us money but then tell us why they were giving that money because they know who we are,” Randall said.
“We do this for the Nation, for our people.”
Other Oklahoma institutions received gifts in 2025 from Yield Giving, including Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, East Central University in Ada, and Seminole State University in Seminole. Scott also gave to several other Tribal Colleges, including Bay Mills Community in Michigan, Blackfeet Community College in Montana, Little Priest Tribal College in Nebraska, and Menominee Nation in Wisconsin.
In 2019, Scott pledged to give away half of her wealth, estimated to be $40B, in her lifetime. Writing in her pledge on the Giving Pledge, “In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share. My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.” In 2022 she established Yield Giving, the organization that manages her philanthropic giving.
“I just want to highlight how much of an honor it is to be selected to be placed among all of those other institutions and organizations across the United States that have been selected by MacKenzie Scott.”
“They knew exactly who they were giving it to and they acknowledged all of this work.” Randall explained, “We’re actually going to invest this for the future.”
Before news of the grant came, CMN was already in the process of setting up an investment policy beginning in 2024, working on it throughout the summer and fall of 2025.
CMN will also be creating a long term planning opportunity for the college to help support Mvskoke Creek and Tribal citizens for years to come. “So that’s the main portion of the investment, but we’re also going to utilize some of the gift for some of our capital projects, the construction projects on campus and faculty development,” Randall said.
As the campus grows, they will be adding more courses and programs in addition to hiring quality faculty. CMN will also continue with their plans in establishing bachelor’s degree programs and growing the Mvskoke Language Revitalization program.
For students specifically, CMN will continue to assist students on campus with support services and other opportunities for curricular activities. “I could see the increase in those opportunities for the students and student life campus,” Randall said.
Randall would like to thank his faculty and staff, and for Yield Giving for the donation.
“This is just a great accolade to the College of the Muscogee Nation, again faculty, staff, students, alumni, we can’t do this without all of them.”
For information on CMN and their programs/courses contact 918-549-2800 and online at CMN.edu. For updates on campus happenings, you can follow their facebook page at The College of the Muscogee Nation.
