Full Breakdown
MacKenzie Scott Accounts for One-Third of U.S. Megagifts
6/26/2026, 1:01:14 AM
Dominant Share of Megagifts
Fortune, citing Giving USA and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, reports U.S. megagifts—donations over 0.1 % of annual giving—totaled $19.2 billion. MacKenzie Scott contributed about $7 billion, roughly one-third. Other donors were Michael Bloomberg, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
Key Figures & Yield Giving
Scott married Jeff Bezos in 1993, divorced in 2019, and have four children. She founded Yield Giving, reporting $26.2 billion given to 2,700 nonprofits over five years. Yield Giving’s website lists its largest 2025 grants: $60 million to the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, $63 million to Howard University, and $90 million to Forests, People, Climate.
Scale of Giving
The $19.2 billion megagift pool supported sectors, with recipients reporting solid or better growth. Yield Giving’s “quiet research” approach selects nonprofits that advance opportunities for underserved communities while minimizing administrative burden. Scott’s $7 billion funded projects from Howard University scholarships to large climate and anti-deforestation initiatives.
Impact on Nonprofits
Concentrating megagifts in a single donor expands recipient capacity to scale programs, especially in underserved areas. Gabe Cooper noted charitable growth across all categories, implying a multiplier effect from large gifts. Scott’s emphasis on climate justice, higher education and forest preservation is reflected in Yield Giving’s 2025 top grants to the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, Howard University and Forests, People, Climate.
Official Perspectives
Gabe Cooper described the period as a positive one for charitable giving, observing that recipient categories posted solid or better growth. Yield Giving says it employs a low-profile research method that evaluates nonprofits privately and anonymously to minimize the burden on them and keep them focused on their missions.
Criticism & Opposition
The sources provide no criticism of Scott’s giving strategy or of megagift concentration, and no organized opposition is cited.
Conflicting Reports
Only a single total for megagifts and for Scott’s share is given; detailed recipient outcomes or alternative estimates are absent, leaving a measurement gap.
Verbatim Quotes
"It was a positive year for charitable giving, with virtually all categories of recipient organizations achieving solid or better growth at the aggregate level." — Gabe Cooper, Vice Chair, Giving USA Foundation
"We each come by the gifts we have to offer by an infinite series of influences and lucky breaks we can never fully understand. In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share. My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait." — MacKenzie Scott, Philanthropist
"quiet research" — Yield Giving (website)
"as privately and anonymously as we can in order to limit burden on non-profits and avoid diverting them from their work" — Yield Giving (website)
