Key facts
- MacKenzie Scott has donated over $26 billion to more than 2,700 recipients through her organization Yield Giving.
- Scott's philanthropic approach is inspired by Annie Dillard's 'The Writing Life,' which advises against saving good material for later.
- Her giving style involves unrestricted checks with no applications or progress reports.
- Scott's net worth remains above $36 billion despite her significant donations, largely due to Amazon's stock performance.
- A $3 million donation to Howard University funded the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities.
MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic strategy, which has seen her donate over $26 billion to more than 2,700 organizations, is rooted in a passage from Annie Dillard's 'The Writing Life.' The book's advice to writers—to 'spend it now' rather than hoard material—resonated with Scott, influencing her approach to giving away her fortune. Scott signed the Giving Pledge in May 2019, shortly after her divorce from Jeff Bezos, which left her with a significant stake in Amazon. Her giving is characterized by speed, unrestricted checks, and minimal publicity, a style described as 'trust-based philanthropy.' Scott, a novelist herself, studied English and creative writing at Princeton under Toni Morrison, who also served as her mentor and assisted in her early career. Scott has honored Morrison through donations to historically Black colleges and universities, including a $3 million gift to Howard University to establish the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities. Despite her extensive giving, Scott's net worth remains above $36 billion due to Amazon's stock performance. She has stated her commitment to continue her philanthropic efforts until her 'safe is empty.'