UPDATE: Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has just announced an extraordinary $7.1 billion in donations to nonprofits for 2025, a record-breaking increase that underscores her commitment to philanthropy. This news comes as nonprofit organizations worldwide scramble for support, making her contributions more significant than ever.
Scott’s donation, revealed in an essay published on her website, marks a dramatic rise from her previous giving of $2.6 billion in 2024 and $2.1 billion in 2023. With this announcement, her total charitable contributions since 2019 have reached $26.3 billion, a staggering figure that solidifies her status as a leading figure in modern philanthropy.
What makes Scott’s donations particularly noteworthy is her approach: she offers funds with no strings attached, allowing organizations to decide how best to utilize the money. This has drawn considerable interest from nonprofits, especially given that her gifts often dwarf their annual budgets. Forbes estimates Scott’s net worth at $33 billion, primarily from Amazon shares acquired during her divorce from founder Jeff Bezos.
“This dollar total will likely be reported in the news, but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year,” Scott stated in her essay.
Among her significant contributions this year is $783 million allocated to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), a move hailed as essential amid ongoing discussions about equity in education. Professor Marybeth Gasman from Rutgers University noted, “Scott is like an equity machine,” especially crucial as HBCUs face funding challenges.
In addition to HBCUs, Scott provided $70 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), intended to build a collective endowment for participating institutions, and $50 million to the Native Forward Scholars Fund, which supports Native American students.
Unlike traditional foundations that require applications and progress reports, Scott’s generosity is often communicated through intermediaries, creating an air of surprise for recipients. For example, Kim Mazzuca, CEO of the nonprofit 10,000 Degrees, expressed her astonishment upon receiving a $42 million donation earlier this year, which is nearly double their annual budget. “I was speechless,” Mazzuca said, highlighting the transformative potential of such funding.
Scott’s strategy has been to invest in proven solutions, aiming to empower organizations rather than dictate how the money should be spent. “She’s providing these financial means as a tool for people to recognize they are who they’ve been waiting for,” Mazzuca added, referencing a prophecy from the Hopi Tribe.
In a broader context, Scott’s philanthropic efforts are increasingly relevant as many nonprofits struggle with funding. Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy indicates that recipients of Scott’s donations have generally managed the funds well and have not faced significant issues.
As Scott continues to reshape the philanthropic landscape, the impact of her latest donations will likely be felt across communities worldwide. Her essay emphasizes the importance of individual action in creating change, stating, “There are many ways to influence how we move through the world, and where we land.”
This latest announcement from Scott not only sets a new benchmark for charitable giving but also reignites the conversation around philanthropy’s role in addressing social inequities. Stay tuned for further updates on how these funds will transform the lives of countless individuals and organizations.
