MacKenzie Scott surpasses $19 billion in donations

MacKenzie Scott’s $19.2 billion donations since 2019 highlight her transformative impact on philanthropy.

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated over $19.2 billion since 2019, including $2 billion announced in a blog post on Wednesday. Known for her transformative contributions to nonprofits, Scott revealed new efforts to align her wealth with mission-driven investments, focusing on for-profit solutions to challenges like economic insecurity.

In her blog, Scott emphasized a shift from traditional wealth management strategies, directing funds toward ventures that promote equitable growth. Most of her wealth stems from Amazon shares received during her divorce from Jeff Bezos, with Forbes estimating her current net worth at $31.7 billion, despite years of substantial giving.

Building on her strategy of trust-based philanthropy, Gabrielle Fitzgerald, CEO of The Panorama Group, praised Scott’s focus on issues like poverty and her approach of providing unrestricted, large-scale grants. This model has allowed over 2,450 nonprofits to allocate funds as needed, setting a high bar for other philanthropists, though few have adopted it.

In 2024, Scott introduced an application-based process for grants, marking a new milestone in her giving. Through the nonprofit Lever for Change, 6,353 organizations applied, resulting in $640 million distributed among 361 recipients. Notably, CAMFED and Undue Medical Debt received third donations, reflecting a trend of repeat gifts.

Shaun Donovan, CEO of Enterprise Community Partners, shared his experience of receiving an unexpected second grant of $65 million. He noted the transformative impact of Scott’s donations, particularly on affordable housing, advising nonprofits to treat her grants as one-time opportunities.

Through her Yield Giving platform, Scott’s philanthropy has reshaped approaches to funding and advanced causes like affordable housing and girls’ education. By focusing on mission-aligned investments and trust-based philanthropy, she has not only supported nonprofits but redefined the philanthropic model, inspiring a more equitable and impactful approach to giving.