MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropy Yield Giving announced the recipients of $640 million in grants through an open call process, with grants ranging from $1 million to $2 million. Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, provided a message on her website expressing her gratitude to the teams involved in selecting the recipients. Yield Giving partnered with Lever for Change to manage the open call process, with over 6,000 organizations applying for the grants. Winners came from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with 279 organizations receiving $2 million each and 82 organizations receiving $1 million each.
Among the recipients in Washington state were organizations such as Open Arms Perinatal Services, Council for the Homeless, Northwest Education Access, East African Community Services, and Arts Corps, each receiving $2 million. Technology Access Foundation, a school in Seattle, was also a recipient of a $2 million grant. Scott has given away $17.3 billion to charitable efforts through Yield Giving, with her current net worth being $35.6 billion, slightly lower than her estimated worth of $37 billion at the time of her divorce.
The open call process marks a shift in Scott’s previous philanthropic efforts, which involved privately researching and surprising nonprofits with no-strings-attached gifts. The open call process allowed organizations that may not have had access to traditional funding opportunities to receive support. Renee Karibi-Whyte, senior vice president of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, noted that one of the benefits of prize philanthropy is bringing attention to organizations that may not otherwise have access to funding and support.
The open call process was launched by Yield Giving a year ago, with the aim of supporting “community-led, community-focused” nonprofits that serve individuals and families of limited means. The process involved peer reviews, external panel reviews, and due diligence to select the recipients of the grants. Winners were announced on March 19, 2024, with 361 organizations receiving grants ranging from $1 million to $2 million. Scott expressed her appreciation for the teams involved in the evaluation and implementation of the grants.
In December 2022, Scott published a list of recipients and the amount of funding they received, shedding light on her philanthropic efforts. The grants awarded through the open call process represent a significant investment in organizations that work to address systemic obstacles and provide support to underserved communities. The grants will enable these organizations to continue their important work and make a positive impact in their communities. Through the open call process, Scott has demonstrated a commitment to supporting and uplifting organizations that are making a difference in the lives of those in need.
