MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given away over $19 billion in unrestricted gifts to more than 2,000 organizations since 2020. A new report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) analyzes the impact of these donations on nonprofits and finds that they have been “transformational” for the recipients.
The study looks at data from over 1,000 organizations that received a gift from Scott between 2020 and early 2024. It reveals that social justice, human services, and education are the most common focus areas for the donations. The median grant is $5 million, significantly higher than the median donation to large organizations typically studied by CEP.
Notably, the report finds that organizations have managed the funds well, investing in endowments, increasing operating budgets responsibly, and hiring fundraising consultants. The results contradict concerns that nonprofits would struggle to absorb such large sums or experience a decrease in donations from other patrons.
The study’s findings are inspiring for anyone considering philanthropic giving, regardless of their ability to give large sums. According to Elisha Smith Arrillaga, CEP’s vice president of research and co-author of the report, “every single person has the ability to do what MacKenzie Scott has done.”
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/02/18/study-cep-mackenzie-scott-philanthropy