MacKenzie Scott's Generosity: $640 Million Donation to Nonprofits

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is generously donating $640 million to 361 nonprofits, as announced by her organization Yield Giving and Lever for Change on Tuesday, following an open call for applicants.

Over 6,000 nonprofit organizations applied for the funding. Scott exceeded the original plan of awarding 250 grants of $1 million each, as managed by Lever for Change, by more than double.

Lever for Change stated that the donor team chose to increase the number of recipients and the amount of the award based on the outstanding work of the organizations, as recognized by their peers and external judges.

Scott has a different approach to giving compared to her ex-husband Jeff Bezos, with whom she co-founded Amazon. While Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez made high-profile $50 million donations to actress Eva Longoria and retired Admiral Bull McRaven, Scott opts to distribute her philanthropic contributions among numerous smaller organizations.

Many recipients have found the gifts to be life-changing. Gender Justice, a organization dedicated to promoting gender equality, recently received a $2 million donation, the largest single donation in its history.

Megan Peterson, the executive director of Gender Justice, expressed gratitude for the generous donation in a statement. She mentioned that the Open Call award will enable them to further their efforts in fighting for justice and equity. Their goal is to break down the legal, structural, and cultural barriers that perpetuate gender inequality.

To progress in the competition, organizations needed to be evaluated by their peers. In the autumn of 2023, the highest-rated applicants moved on to a second-round interview with an external panel, followed by a final round, as stated by Lever for Change. A total of 279 organizations in the top tier received $2 million each, while 82 organizations in the next tier were awarded $1 million each.

Yield Giving, Scott's organization, keeps a record of the donation amounts it provides to various organizations and nonprofits in a database.

Last December, Scott announced that she had donated $2.15 billion through Yield Giving in the past year.

In 2022, she revealed that her team had given over $3.8 billion to 465 organizations within nine months. This included $436 million to Habitat for Humanity and $84.5 million to the Girl Scouts of the USA, marking the largest donation ever received from a single individual.

Scott holds a fortune of $36.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Editor's P/S:

MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic endeavors, detailed in this article, are commendable and inspiring. Her unwavering commitment to supporting numerous smaller organizations aligns with her belief that grassroots efforts often have a significant impact on communities. By distributing her wealth widely, Scott empowers a diverse range of causes, from gender equality to environmental protection, creating a ripple effect that benefits society as a whole.

Scott's approach to philanthropy differs significantly from that of her ex-husband, Jeff Bezos, who has made fewer but larger donations to high-profile individuals and organizations. While both approaches have their merits, Scott's focus on empowering smaller organizations ensures that their work reaches a wider audience and has a more tangible impact on the lives of individuals. Her generosity is a testament to her belief in the transformative power of philanthropy and her unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the world. Scott's innovative approach to giving and the transformative potential of her contributions. Her philanthropic efforts serve as an inspiration to others who seek to harness their resources for the betterment of society.