Philanthropist Mackenzie Scott Donates Millions For Education

Photo of 10,000 Degrees students Stephanie Fayette and Hanan D.J. from 10,000 Degrees

Scott’s Promise

Mackenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, has made several large donations for a variety of causes, particularly education, following a pledge she made in 2019.

Pledge and Focus Areas

Mackenzie Scott pledged to give away her fortune to charity back in 2019, and she has followed through, to say the least. Since then, she has donated approximately $19.3 billion to more than 2,450 nonprofits. Her latest round of donations focus primarily on economic and financial well-being and totals $2 billion. 75% of the donations support affordable housing, job stability, child development, and financial counseling, business coaching, and low-interest rate loans. The other 25% supports natural resources conservation or human rights work. She has a net worth of around $40.7 billion. Scott has made several repeat donations, including three donations to Undue Medical Debt and CAMFED International.

Undue Medical Debt’s CEO and president, Allison Sesso, released a statement after recently receiving $50 million. From 2020 to 2022, she donated $80 million to the organization. Sesso said, “I’m frankly astounded by this most recent gift from Mackenzie Scott. Unrestricted giving, certainly of this magnitude, gives nonprofits room to take risks to tackle modern, complex problems and prove why we are subject matter experts when it comes to the causes we champion.”

For broader context on her multi-year giving, see reporting from Reuters. For related reflections on everyday generosity, explore The Science of Kindness on DivsFeed.

Some of the Donations

Last year, Scott gave away two $65 million donations to the Enterprise Community Partners and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Affordable Housing and Community Support

Last year, Scott gave away two $65 million donations to the Enterprise Community Partners and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which help with affordable housing and community support. She also donated $60 million to the Self-Help Ventures Fund, a nonprofit loan fund. According to her website, Yield Giving, “her investment team is looking to back companies focused on causes like affordable housing, women-focused health platforms and culturally-sensitive teletherapy. By drawing from these investments, instead of Scott’s bank account or stock portfolio, “the money can help address these issues twice, said Scott.””

10,000 Degrees

One of her recent donations was $42 million to the nonprofit, 10,000 Degrees. Its mission is “supporting students to, through, and beyond college.” The organization has worked with over 80,000 students and awarded over $113 million in scholarships, “trying to break the cycle of generational poverty in the U.S. and create a positive ripple effect in the lives of students and their communities for generations to come.” The CEO and President of 10,000 Degrees, Kim Mazzuca, said, “We are deeply grateful for Ms. Scott’s confidence and investment in our mission and proven college success model. This extraordinary gift is not only a bold affirmation of the power of education, but it is a vital investment in our communities at a time when it’s needed most.”

For more stories that highlight how kindness scales through communities, visit The DivsFeed Blog and our feature on everyday gratitude in action, Bills Mailroom Hero: Josh Allen Shoutout.

HBCU Morgan State University

Recently, Scott donated $63 million to HBCU Morgan State University, which is the school’s largest individual donation.

Largest Individual Gift

In 2020, she donated $40 million to the university. The school used these funds to create the “Leading the World Endowment Fund.” It also helped with initiatives like the Center for Urban Health Equity and the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities and supported the university’s Center for Religion and Cities.

The vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation, Endia DeCordova said in a press release, “We are grateful for donors like Mackenzie Scott, whose groundbreaking vision through philanthropy has created sustained, generational impact at Morgan. Our thoughtful stewardship of her initial gift has strengthened Morgan’s capacity to grow our endowment and create meaningful opportunities for our students while strategically investing in the University’s future. This new transformative contribution—and her continued trust in Morgan—affirm that we are not only rising but leading, charting a bold path forward for our students and our institution.”

The university’s president, David Wilson, also spoke out about Scott’s donation, “Mackenzie Scott’s renewed investment in Morgan is a resounding testament to the work we’ve done to drive transformation, not only within our campus but throughout the communities we serve. To receive one historic gift from Ms. Scott was an incredible honor; to receive two speaks volumes about the confidence she and her team have in our institution’s stewardship, leadership, and trajectory. This is more than philanthropy—it’s a partnership in progress.

For related inspiration, see how small acts add up in 10 Simple Ways to Practice Self-Kindness.

Continuing Donations

Back in 2020, Scott donated a total of $4.1 billion to charity, and has continued to make donations to help those in need.

Education and Opportunity

Her more recent donations have gone to universities and nonprofits focused on education. For low-income families, tuition is a heavy burden that most cannot afford. This directly affects the ability of young adults to get a job following high school graduation. To earn a living wage, most jobs require at least a Bachelor’s degree. By donating to organizations like 10,000 Degrees, Scott is giving people the opportunity to further their education and brighten their futures. 10,000 Degrees has awarded over $113 million in scholarships, and that number will only grow thanks to the generosity of donors, especially Mackenzie Scott.

For additional reporting on Scott’s higher-education philanthropy, see the Associated Press coverage of her recent HBCU-focused gift to UNCF: AP News.