MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has made headlines once again by donating $640 million to 361 nonprofit organizations. This latest round of donations was selected from over 6,000 applicants and spans a wide range of sectors including arts, education, affordable housing, public health, diversity, and immigration.
Key Takeaways
- MacKenzie Scott donated $640 million to 361 nonprofit organizations.
- The donations were selected from over 6,000 applicants.
- Sectors benefiting include arts, education, affordable housing, public health, diversity, and immigration.
Transformative Gifts
In her post on the Yield Giving website, Scott emphasized that these organizations were chosen for their exceptional work in advancing the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of modest means, as well as groups facing systemic obstacles. The donations, ranging from $1 million to $2 million, are expected to be transformative for many of the recipients.
Notable Recipients
Here are some of the notable organizations that received donations:
- 12 Plus: Focuses on increasing educational equity by building school cultures that inspire academic achievement in Philadelphia and Camden high schools.
- CAPI: Guides refugees and immigrants toward self-determination and social equality.
- InsideOut Literary Arts: Cultivates the literary and academic skills of Detroit students through creative writing programs.
- Interfaith Works: Promotes interfaith understanding and serves the community through charitable, social, and educational endeavors.
- Mending Hearts: Helps women recover from addiction through long-term treatment programs.
- Native Movement: Supports grassroots-led projects for social justice, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and environmental sustainability.
- Openhouse: Provides housing and community programs for LGBTQ+ seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- PUSH Buffalo: Mobilizes residents to create strong neighborhoods with affordable housing and local hiring opportunities in Buffalo, New York.
- Read Alliance: Accelerates the educational trajectory of early elementary students through one-to-one literacy tutoring.
- Voices of Hope: Founded by individuals affected by substance use disorder, offering firsthand experience to help others find and maintain recovery.
MacKenzie Scott’s Philanthropic Journey
Since pledging in 2019 to give away her entire fortune, MacKenzie Scott has donated over $12 billion to more than 1,200 nonprofit organizations. Some of her notable contributions include $84.5 million to Girl Scouts of the USA and $436 million to Habitat for Humanity. This recent round of donations marks the first time Scott has initiated an open call for organizations to apply directly for funding through her organization, Yield Giving.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Scott’s current fortune stands at $36.2 billion, making her the 40th richest person in the world.
For a complete list of all organizations that received donations, visit the Yield Giving website.
Be the first to comment