Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott revealed on Tuesday that she plans to donate $7.1 billion (€6.1 billion) to nonprofits in 2025.
His donation this year marked a significant increase in annual donations compared to previous years – $2.6 billion in 2024 and $2.1 billion in 2023, he said.
Scott is one of the richest people in the world, and Forbes estimates his net worth at around $33 billion, which largely stems from his stake in Amazon.
She was married to Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos until 2019.
Here are the main points:
- Scott reveals $7.17 billion in donations this year
- This brings his total charitable contributions since 2019 to $26.3 billion
- Scott donates to groups that work to address climate change, fight for equality
- More than a dozen historically Black colleges say they received a total of $783 million from Scott this year
Historically black colleges and universities report major new funding
Before Scott’s public announcement, more than a dozen historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) said they had received a combined $783 million (€673 million) from him this year, according to research by Rutgers University professor Marybeth Gasman.
Some institutions were first-time recipients, while others that had previously received support did not receive funding in this round. Gasman tracked $1.35 billion (€1.16 billion) given by Scott to HBCUs since 2020.
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) confirmed it has received $70 million (€60 million), which it plans to invest in a collective endowment for participating HBCUs. The Native Forward Scholars Fund, which provides scholarships to Native American students, also received $50 million (€43 million).
Scott is notable for his charity as he has no strings attached.
Scott’s donation model remains notable because his donations come without applications, restrictions, or reporting requirements. It has no public-facing foundation or office, and organizations are generally notified of gifts through intermediaries.
A 2023 study from the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that recipients generally did not struggle to manage the flow of unrestricted funds and did not see other donors step back as a result.
California nonprofit 10,000 Degrees said it received a $42 million gift earlier this year. Its CEO, Kim Mazzuca, said he confirmed the amount after being informed by phone. The gift is almost double the organization’s annual budget.
Scott places her donation within the broader landscape of public generosity
In his essay, Scott compared his billion-dollar net worth to the scale of everyday charitable work. He cited 2020 US data that showed “$471 billion” in charitable donations, as well as billions in remittances, crowdfunding, volunteer labor and service-sector wages.
Scott also described early experiences in which he received help, including free dental care and a loan from a college roommate.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar