MacKenzie Scott gives $1.7 billion to colleges, organizations

MacKenzie Scott, one of the world’s richest women, pledged one year ago to give away her money “until the safe is empty.”

In July, Scott — an author and philanthropist who was once married to Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon — said she had so far given $1.7 billion to a long list of institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities as well as organizations that support women’s rights, LGBTQ equality, and efforts to fight climate change and racial inequities.

“I gave each a contribution and encouraged them to spend it on whatever they believe best serves their efforts,” Scott said in a Medium post in which she listed more than 100 organizations that received donations.

Scott, who was married to Bezos for 25 years, is estimated to have a net worth of $36 billion and is the fourthrichest woman in the world, according to Forbes. Scott, 50, received 4% of Amazon’s shares as part of the couple’s divorce settlement.

A Princeton graduate who studied under Toni Morrison, Scott pursued a career as a writer as she helped Bezos start his business.

Soon after the divorce, Scott, still using her married name, signed the Giving Pledge, noting that she had “a disproportionate amount of money to share.”

Other wealthy individuals such as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have also signed the pledge, a project that encourages billionaires to promise to give away at least half of their wealth over their lifetimes.

Several of the organizations that received donations from Scott said the gifts were the biggest contributions their institutions had ever received.

Howard University said it received $40 million, a donation it described as “transformative.”

The university said Scott’s gift would help support a student retention program that gives financial assistance to students who receive the maximum amount of aid under the federal Pell grant program.

“We hope that other donors will follow her example to lift the financial burden off of deserving students and help make ends meet so they can focus on graduating on time,” Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of the university, said in a statement.

Lily D. McNair, president of Tuskegee University, said Scott had donated $20 million to the university.