MacKenzie Scott’s $19 Billion in Donations Has Had a ‘Transformative Effect,’ New Study Finds
Author MacKenzie Scott and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were engaged just three months after they began dating, marrying in 1993.
Following their wedding, the couple left their jobs to launch Amazon together. They later announced their divorce in 2019.
Scott, who shares four children with Bezos, reportedly received about 25% of their joint Amazon stock, valued at approximately $35.6 billion at the time of their divorce.
Since then, she has donated over $19 billion of that amount, fulfilling her pledge. But where has all that money gone?
The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) has revealed that Scott has donated over $19 billion in unrestricted funds to more than 2,000 organizations.
The CEP explains that Scott’s philanthropic goal was to “support the needs of underrepresented people from all kinds of groups.”
The report states, “Scott’s very large, unrestricted gifts—often with few or no time constraints—have transformed recipient organizations and positively impacted the communities they serve.”
Scott herself shared, “I needn’t ask those I care about what to say or do for them. I can share what I have to stand behind them as they speak and act for themselves.”
Additionally, data from nonprofit tax filings has highlighted the significant impact of Scott’s grants on these organizations.
MacKenzie Scott was married to Jeff Bezos
Two years after receiving the grant, it’s reported that these organizations had “twice as many months of expenses in reserves as comparable nonprofits.”
One member of an organization said, “Thanks to this grant, we were able to open a new clinic, expanding care to 12,000 individuals, many of whom are homeless, live at or below the federal poverty level, and have historically had limited access to the comprehensive, compassionate care we provide.”
“Receiving this grant made a huge difference in how our entire leadership team viewed ourselves. It gave us the confidence to not just ask for the funds available, but to request the full amount we truly needed.”
Scott has reportedly donated over $19 billion
“This gift continues to yield benefits, not just for the organization, but for the people we serve,” another individual shared.
Others have noted a significant reduction in stress levels, with noticeable positive effects on their staff, families, and overall health.
Another individual reflected on reaching a “breaking point” and nearly quitting their job, but the grant reminded them that the work they do is “great” and that there’s “so much more to be done.” The grant provided “the means to do it.”
