Full Breakdown
Unauthorized Use of MacKenzie Scott's Donation at Santa Barbara City College
2/13/2026, 3:23:33 AM
Overview of the Incident
Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is facing scrutiny after it was revealed that over $10 million of MacKenzie Scott's $20 million donation was spent without proper authorization. The funds were allocated to The Promise Program, which offers tuition assistance and supplies for local high school graduates. This spending occurred without the approval of the SBCC Foundation Board or the college's Board of Trustees, leading to significant financial discrepancies.
Background & Context
MacKenzie Scott, a prominent philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, made her historic donation to SBCC in 2021 as part of her commitment to give away the majority of her wealth. The donation was celebrated as the largest in the college's history, intended to enhance educational opportunities for the community. However, an internal review revealed that the funds were mismanaged, prompting an audit that uncovered unauthorized expenditures.
Key Figures Involved
- MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist and donor of the $20 million gift to SBCC.
- Bobbi Abram: CEO of the SBCC Foundation, who confirmed the unauthorized use of funds and initiated the audit.
- Jonathan Abboud: President of the SBCC Board of Trustees, who expressed disappointment over the situation and announced an investigation.
Findings from the Audit
The audit, which concluded in December 2025, identified that approximately $10.5 million of Scott's donation was used to cover a deficit in The Promise Program. Abram stated that the foundation's leadership had been misled into believing that other funding sources were supporting the program. The review also highlighted "legacy accounting misstatements" that obscured the unauthorized use of funds.
Official Statements & Responses
Bobbi Abram emphasized that while the funds were spent without explicit authorization, they were utilized in alignment with the donor's intent. She stated, “We have complied with all reporting requirements of the donor.” Jonathan Abboud acknowledged the disappointment of the Board of Trustees but also commended the current leadership for identifying the issue and improving internal controls.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics have raised concerns about the lack of oversight and transparency in the management of the donation. The unauthorized use of funds has sparked calls for greater accountability within the SBCC Foundation and its governance structures. The ongoing investigation aims to address these concerns and ensure that similar issues do not arise in the future.
What's Next
The SBCC Board of Trustees is set to discuss the future use of the remaining funds from Scott's donation during its meeting on February 19, 2026. The board is committed to working collaboratively with the SBCC Foundation to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of the gift funds.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Those funds were used without approval from the foundation’s board, college officials or the board of trustees,” — Bobbi Abram, CEO of SBCC Foundation
- “While we were disappointed to learn that the MacKenzie Scott funds were used without explicit authorization by either the SBCC Foundation board or the College, SBCC is nevertheless grateful to the SBCC Foundation’s current leadership and staff for identifying the past unauthorized activity,” — Jonathan Abboud, President of SBCC Board of Trustees
