MacKenzie Scott’s $7.1 Billion Donation in 2025 Shows Unprecedented Support for Charitable Causes
MacKenzie Scott has made waves again with her philanthropic efforts, revealing a massive $7.1 billion in donations to various nonprofits in 2025, marking a sharp increase from her giving in previous years. Writing on her website, Scott acknowledged her growing annual contributions, saying, “This dollar total will likely be reported in the news, but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year.”
Scott has already donated $2.6 billion in 2024 and $2.1 billion in 2023. Her donations now total an impressive $26.3 billion since 2019, catching the attention of both charities and other large donors alike, reported CBS News. Scott’s contributions are notable not only for their size but for the fact that they come without any strings attached. Her donations are often much larger than the annual budgets of the organisations receiving them, which makes them even more impactful.
Most of Scott’s giving is done through Yield Giving, a platform she created, but she has no public-facing office or foundation, and organisations cannot apply for her funding. Typically, they are notified through an intermediary when Scott decides to award them a donation, often with no prior warning.
This year, many historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) received a substantial amount of the donations, with more than $783 million allocated to them. According to research by Marybeth Gasman, a professor at Rutgers University, Scott’s donations to HBCUs are larger than those made in 2020. “One of the things that I really admire about Mackenzie Scott is that she is like an equity machine,” said Gasman, highlighting how Scott’s donations come at a crucial time when efforts to promote equity in education have been facing opposition.
In addition to the HBCU donations, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) received $70 million from Scott, which will be invested in a collective endowment for participating HBCUs. The Native Forward Scholars Fund, which supports Native American students, also received $50 million from Scott, marking another significant contribution.
What sets Scott apart from most major donors is that she does not require any reporting or updates from the organisations she supports. Unlike traditional foundations that mandate progress reports or updates on how funds are used, Scott’s approach is straightforward—she simply provides the funds, trusting the organisations to use them as they see fit.
The impact of Scott’s donations is clear. For example, 10,000 Degrees, a California-based nonprofit, was overjoyed to receive its first gift from Scott of $42 million earlier this year. Kim Mazzuca, the organisation’s CEO, called the gift “about double their annual budget,” and said it would allow them to reach more students and test out new technologies. The organisation helps low-income students graduate from college without accumulating student debt.
Mazzuca praised Scott for her focus on investing in proven solutions. “She comes from a very deep, reflective space, very heartfelt,” she said, explaining how Scott’s financial contributions are seen as a tool for empowering people to realise their own potential.
Scott’s giving philosophy is rooted in her own personal experiences. She shared an essay in October reflecting on acts of kindness, such as a free dental repair she received during her college years, and how those small moments of help have shaped her view on generosity. Scott has even invested in the company of her former roommate, which offers loans to students who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for financial assistance.
In her latest essay, Scott encourages others to take action, writing, “There are many ways to influence how we move through the world, and where we land.” Her commitment to mission-aligned investments and charitable giving continues to make a profound impact, inspiring others to follow suit.