Philanthropist’s latest gesture surpasses initial pledge, benefiting hundreds

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, in a stunning act of generosity, has recently donated $640 million to 361 nonprofits through her organization, Yield Giving, in collaboration with Lever for Change. This remarkable contribution came after an open call for funding applications that attracted more than 6,000 nonprofit organizations, showcasing a vast interest and need within the nonprofit sector.

Originally, the plan was to award 250 organizations with $1 million each. However, impressed by the impactful work and potential of these organizations, Scott and her donor team decided to increase both the number of awardees and the total amount donated. This move underscores Scott’s distinctive approach to philanthropy, which focuses on empowering a broad range of smaller, impactful organizations, in contrast to the more concentrated donations often seen in philanthropic circles.

Gender Justice, an organization committed to advancing gender equality, exemplifies the transformative impact of Scott’s philanthropy. The organization received $2 million, marking the largest single donation in its history. This significant boost will enable Gender Justice to elevate their efforts in dismantling barriers to gender equity, furthering their mission on a much larger scale.

Scott’s philanthropic strategy involves a peer-review process, where organizations are initially rated by their counterparts. The most promising applicants then proceed through a rigorous selection process, including interviews and evaluations by external panels. This meticulous approach culminated in the allocation of $2 million to the top 279 organizations and $1 million each to an additional 82 organizations, based on their scores and potential for impact.

Through Yield Giving, Scott maintains transparency about her donations, offering a database that tracks the distribution and utilization of funds among the recipient organizations. Her continued commitment to philanthropy is evident in her recent announcement of $2.15 billion in donations over the past year, adding to the more than $3.8 billion donated to 465 organizations over nine months in 2022.

As one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, with a fortune estimated at $36.2 billion, Scott’s philanthropic endeavors set a benchmark for impactful giving. Her contributions not only offer immediate support to hundreds of organizations but also inspire a new model of philanthropy that prioritizes widespread, equitable support across a variety of sectors