MacKenzie Scott Donates $45 Million to the Trevor Project
Monday, the billionaire Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $45 million to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ youth. This significant donation comes just months after the Trump administration shut down counseling services for queer youth through the federally funded 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline program, for which The Trevor Project administered services.
In a blog post, Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, called the donation “transformational,” describing Scott’s donation as the largest donation the charity has ever received in its 27 years of operation. Scott previously donated $6 million to a nonprofit during the first Trump administration.
Scott, who divorced from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, is a prolific philanthropist who has recently increased her charitable giving. As of 2025, Scott has donated more than $7 billion to nonprofit organizations.
“At a time when many LGBTQ+ youth face increased stigma, political hostility, and mental health issues, MacKenzie Scott’s support sends a powerful message,” Black wrote. “LGBTQ+ youth matter, and the world is full of people fighting for their safety and well-being. »
According to a survey by the Trevor Project regarding the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in the United States, approximately 45% of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13 to 24 have considered suicide. The organization aims to help those most at disproportionate risk.
After Trump’s election in 2024, The Trevor Project saw a 700% increase in calls, chats, and texts. Awareness increased 33 percent after last year’s inauguration, and there is also an increase following events such as last year’s ruling in the case United States vs. Skrmetti case, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
Black considers Scott’s donation “an important step toward building our sustainable capacity” as the group strives to grow and serve more LGBTQ+ youth around the world and innovate to ensure services reach them when they need help.
“Over the coming months, we will develop a strategic and thoughtful investment plan focused on strengthening our core crisis services, improving long-term sustainability, and accelerating our progress toward a world where every LGBTQ+ young person knows they are loved and supported,” Black said in the blog post.
Scott’s other recent donations to charitable organizations include multimillion-dollar donations to groups working on environmental protection and public education.
