MacKenzie Scott Gives $640M to Small Nonprofits in 2024

MacKenzie Scott just made life easier for hundreds of small nonprofits that never saw her generosity coming.

The billionaire philanthropist distributed $640 million in 2024 through Yield Giving Open Call, her foundation's first application-based grant program launched in 2023. The initiative specifically targets organizations with smaller operating budgets, inviting them to apply for unrestricted funding.

Scott's approach breaks from traditional philanthropy in a refreshing way. She hands money directly to nonprofits without requirements for how it should be spent, a practice called trust-based giving that respects organizations' expertise about their own needs.

Since 2020, Scott has given over $26 billion to charitable causes. Last year alone, she donated more than $7 billion to over 126 organizations through Yield Giving, the foundation she established after her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Her secretive style means nonprofits often don't know they're being considered until the money arrives. Scott even declined to provide information to the Chronicle of Philanthropy's top donor list, keeping her focus on giving rather than recognition.

The 2024 Open Call program awarded $36 million to 20 local nonprofits in the Washington D.C. area alone. These unrestricted gifts mean organizations can address immediate needs, invest in infrastructure, or plan for long-term sustainability without jumping through reporting hoops.

The Ripple Effect

Scott's giving comes at a critical time for the nonprofit sector, which faces ongoing funding shortages. While the top 50 individual donors in America gave $22.4 billion in 2025 (up from $16.2 billion in 2024), many smaller organizations still struggle to secure stable funding.

Her trust-based model is influencing how other major donors think about philanthropy. By proving that unrestricted gifts work, Scott demonstrates that nonprofits closest to community problems often know best how to solve them.

The ripple extends beyond individual organizations. When small nonprofits receive unrestricted funds, they can retain staff, upgrade systems, and build capacity that benefits communities for years.

One nonprofit wins because Scott believes the people doing the work deserve resources and respect in equal measure.