MacKenzie Scott’s $20 Billion Donations: A Study Reveals Transformative Impact

MacKenzie Scott. You know, the one who used to be married to Jeff Bezos? She’s been on a serious giving spree. Over $20 billion to nonprofits in just the last few years.

That’s a lot of money. But is it actually doing any good?

Turns out, yeah. A new study dug into what happened after Scott dropped these massive, no-strings-attached gifts on over 800 organizations. What did they find?

A “Transformative Effect? ”

That’s the phrase the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) used. They spent three years looking at the impact of Scott’s generosity.

The median gift size? A cool $5 million. No rules on how to spend it.

And guess what? 93% of the nonprofits said it seriously boosted their ability to do their thing. Like, really helped.

More Than Just Money

It’s not just about the cash, though. It’s about what that cash does .

• Stronger Foundations: 90% said the gift made them more financially stable.
• Credibility Boost: Over 60% used the grant to get other funders on board.
• Bigger Impact: Nonprofits expanded their programs and reached more people.
• Happier Employees: Some even used the money to improve employee well-being.

Kaboom! , for example, builds playgrounds. Scott’s donation more than doubled their budget. And the South Texas Food Bank? They almost doubled the amount of food they distributed.

A Different Way to Give

Scott’s approach is unique. She doesn’t tell nonprofits what to do with the money. They decide.

Phil Buchanan, president of CEP, put it this way: “Every funder can learn from her fascinating approach. ”

But. .. Are There Downsides?

Of course, nothing’s perfect. Some nonprofit leaders had concerns.

• Funding Cliff: Would other donors pull back, thinking they didn’t need the money anymore?
• Long-Term Worries: Would the good times end when the grant ran out?

It’s a valid point. Imagine winning the lottery. Amazing, right? But you still need a plan for the future.

The Big Picture

Scott’s gifts are huge. Way bigger than the average nonprofit grant. She’s giving until the “safe is empty,” as she put it.

She quietly researches organizations, looking for ones that are already doing good work. Then, she trusts them to do even more.

It’s a bold move. And so far, it seems to be paying off.