MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos’ Ex-Wife, Donates $25 Million to Minnesota Nonprofits
Six Minnesota nonprofits were surprised with huge donations from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. You may also know her because she is the ex-wife of Amazon owner, Jeff Bezos. In total, she gave $25 million to these Minnesota nonprofits.
If you think $25 million is a lot, she gave WAY more than that in total throughout 2020 to nonprofits across the country. According to a blog post written by MacKenzie, she has given $4,158,500,000 in the past four months to "384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C." Yep, that's billion with a B.
One of the nonprofits that she donated to was the YWCA of St. Paul. Gaye Adams Massey is the CEO of the YWCA of St. Paul. The Star Tribune writes that Gaye received a phone call that a "secretive philanthropist" wanted to donate $3 million to the YWCA. Of course, Gaye was shocked. This is "the largest one-time private donation in the organization's 113-year history."
The other nonprofits in Minnesota that MacKenzie donated to are Casa de Esperanza in St. Paul, Community Reinvestment Fund USA, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Duluth Area Family YMCA, and YMCA of the North.
All of these donations totaling over $4 billion is a part of MacKenzie's pledge to give away most of her wealth. On her Giving Pledge website she writes, "In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share." She plans to "keep at it until the safe is empty."