Seattle, Washington – Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott recently announced a significant increase in her charitable donations, surpassing her initial pledge of $1 million to organizations. Instead, Scott revealed plans to give $640 million to 361 organizations, more than double the amount she had originally promised.
Since 2019, Scott has been actively giving away billions of dollars, selecting organizations without an application process and providing large, unrestricted gifts. Lever for Change, the organization that managed the “open call” for applications, played a key role in facilitating this process, along with external evaluators.
A total of 6,353 nonprofits applied for the $1 million grants, demonstrating the incredible response to Scott’s call for support. The donor team, in recognition of the exceptional work being done by these organizations, decided to expand the pool of awardees and increase the award amount, benefiting 361 organizations in various sectors.
The grant recipients represent a diverse range of focuses, from supporting individuals returning from incarceration to promoting arts and culture among young people in Los Angeles. These organizations serve specific communities, such as Asian Americans in central Texas or South Asian youth in New York, with a mission to uplift individuals and families facing economic challenges.
Through a multilayered selection process, the awardees were chosen based on peer evaluations and reviews by external experts. This approach ensured a thorough assessment of the organizations’ impact and commitment to their communities. Scott’s philanthropic efforts have totaled $16.5 billion, stemming from her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
In an effort to promote transparency and inspire others in the philanthropic sector, Scott launched a database of her giving under the name Yield Giving. By sharing information about her donations and the organizations supported, Scott aims to provide insights and inspiration for those looking to make a difference through charitable giving.