Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a significant donation to non-profit organizations, giving away $640 million in funding to 361 small groups out of the more than 6,000 that applied. This generous contribution is more than double what she had originally planned for the year.
Ms. Scott’s philanthropic efforts have been ongoing since her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019, and she has given away over $16.5 billion since then. With a net worth of $37.5 billion, she is currently ranked as the fourth richest woman in the world according to Forbes. Ms. Scott has committed to giving away half of her wealth during her lifetime, with much of it coming from a 4% stake in Amazon included in her divorce settlement from Mr. Bezos.
This year, Ms. Scott changed her approach to donations by allowing organizations to apply for funding instead of selecting recipients privately. After a rigorous review process, she gave $2 million to 279 non-profits and $1 million to 82 groups. According to Ms. Scott’s social media post, the money was given to groups that have advanced the voices and opportunities of individuals and families facing systemic obstacles and discrimination.
Some of the recipients of Ms. Scott’s recent donations include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama, Justice for Migrant Women, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, and Mental Health Advocacy Services. The quality of the applicants’ work led to an increase in the number and amount of awards given through Lever for Change, the organization managing the applications.
Overall, MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic efforts are making a significant impact on non-profit organizations across various sectors by providing them with resources and support to advance their causes and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Since her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019, Ms
