Last year, MacKenzie Scott found herself at the center of public debate after receiving criticism from Elon Musk regarding the focus of her philanthropic contributions. Yet despite such scrutiny, Scott—well known both for her immense wealth and for once being married to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon—has shown remarkable steadfastness in her commitment to supporting causes that champion diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her recent initiatives demonstrate not a retreat but a renewed intensity in advancing such missions through substantial charitable investments.
On Wednesday, Morgan State University, a historically Black university celebrated for its long-standing dedication to advancing educational access for African Americans, revealed that it had been the recipient of an extraordinary $63 million donation from Scott. This unprecedented act of generosity, representing her second significant financial contribution to Morgan State within a span of five years, further underscores her sustained trust in the institution’s leadership and vision for the future. Back in 2020, she had already gifted the Maryland-based university an impressive $40 million, a sum that transformed various academic programs and strengthened its long-term strategic initiatives.
When asked for a response regarding the new donation, a representative from Morgan State University referred Business Insider to the official statement published on October 15. Within that statement, the university’s president, David K. Wilson, captured the magnitude of the moment with deep gratitude, emphasizing that while receiving a single historic gift from Scott had already been an honor beyond measure, the arrival of a second momentous contribution spoke volumes about her continued confidence in the university’s ability to manage resources responsibly, guide visionary projects, and sustain forward momentum.
In a separate philanthropic gesture made public the same day, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund—an influential division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation dedicated to protecting and honoring the historical legacy of African American communities—announced that it too had received a monumental $40 million donation from Scott. This contribution follows an earlier donation of $20 million she gave to the same organization in 2021, effectively tripling her total support for their mission within just a few years. Brent Leggs, executive director of the fund, issued a statement acknowledging the transformative nature of Scott’s continued partnership, noting that the breadth and scale of her investments in cultural and historical preservation are leaving an indelible imprint on America’s collective memory. He expressed profound gratitude for her unwavering philanthropic leadership, which, in his words, continues to shape a broader and more inclusive understanding of national heritage.
Although representatives for Scott chose not to comment publicly, her broader financial activities offer insight into the scope of her current philanthropic capacity. A regulatory filing disclosed on Tuesday revealed that she had reduced her ownership stake in Amazon by roughly 42%. This divestment, worth about $12.6 billion based on the company’s closing share price at the time, suggests that she is actively converting portions of her fortune into liquid assets, perhaps to further expand her broad-reaching charitable endeavors.
Scott’s path toward philanthropy began in earnest following the conclusion of her 25-year marriage to Jeff Bezos, which formally ended in 2019. As part of their divorce settlement, she received approximately 4% of Amazon’s total shares, then valued at around $36 billion. Rather than allowing that wealth to remain idle, Scott dedicated herself to a model of strategic yet hands-off giving—establishing herself not merely as a benefactor of immense means, but as a transformative figure redefining modern philanthropy by emphasizing trust-based, unrestricted donations. Unlike many donors who impose stringent reporting and operational guidelines on recipients, she has deliberately adopted a no-strings-attached approach, allowing organizations to allocate resources according to their own understanding of need and impact.
Just earlier this month, Scott extended her generosity once again by donating $42 million to 10,000 Degrees, a California-based educational nonprofit committed to expanding college opportunities for students from underrepresented, lower-income, and minority backgrounds. Her continued emphasis on accessible education and equitable opportunities aligns with a broader social mission that has become increasingly vital amid a shifting national discourse on diversity.
Notably, Scott’s most recent philanthropic actions coincide with a period of growing tension and re-evaluation surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across corporate America. Large companies—from McDonald’s to Meta—have begun scaling back their visible commitments to DEI programs that once stood at the forefront of their corporate social responsibility agendas. In September, The Conference Board, a prominent think tank, released the findings of a survey involving 82 corporate philanthropy leaders. The results painted a nuanced picture: more than half of respondents (55%) acknowledged that heightened federal oversight and political scrutiny had directly influenced their companies’ approaches to charitable giving, prompting some to pull back on DEI-related investments.
Amazon itself offered an emblematic example earlier this year when the company quietly removed virtually all references to DEI from its 2024 annual report and rebranded what had previously been its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page under the neutral title “Inclusive Experiences and Technology.” When questioned by Business Insider in February about the rationale behind this change, an Amazon spokesperson explained that the company continually updates its public materials to reflect evolving programs and organizational priorities. Meanwhile, internal communications from Amazon Web Services’ vice president of technology, Mai-Lan Tomsen Bukovec, reassured employees that these updates did not signify an abandonment of the company’s foundational commitments. In a meeting transcript obtained by Business Insider, Tomsen Bukovec clarified that while the rollout of new language may have been less effective than intended, the company’s dedication to promoting inclusivity remained intact.
Viewed in this broader context, the timing and magnitude of Scott’s philanthropic gestures take on even greater significance. At a moment when many corporations are retreating from overt advocacy for diversity-related causes, Scott’s actions serve as a powerful counterbalance—an affirmation that the pursuit of equality and inclusion continues to deserve not only attention but active, substantial investment. Her ongoing generosity, free from the bureaucratic constraints that so often accompany large-scale giving, continues to inspire nonprofits, educators, and advocates working to build a more equitable society grounded in opportunity, learning, and shared cultural heritage.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/mackenzie-scott-millions-donations-diverse-causes-hbcu-amazon-2025-10
