Philanthropist Gives Billions, Helps Millions

Mackenzie Scott has given billions in no-strings-attached gifts to more than 2,000 nonprofits.

“These organizations have managed large gifts in strategic ways that have impacted thousands of lives – whether doubling or tripling the number of individuals receiving food from food banks, or increasing the number of houses being built in towns across the country, or countless other examples,” says vice president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, Elisha Smith Arrillaga.

Scott, philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is estimated to be worth over $32 billion. Since 2019, she has given away $19 billion in unrestricted gifts to various non-profits, meaning the organization can spend the funds however they see fit. Many grantees report not only being more financially stable but also now having the ability to broaden the scope of their impact. One charity reports that they increased the number of people they serve meals to daily from 2.5 million to an incredible 10 million people. “We received the grant in December 2022, during which we served migrants from 29 countries, and were able to expand that to 71 countries in 2023,” says another grantee, whose organization helped over 12,000 refugees in 2023 alone. Scott uses a discreet vetting process to select organizations and does not accept any solicitations for donations.