MacKenzie Scott gives $60 million to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

MacKenzie Scott, one of the world’s richest women and most influential philanthropists, has donated $60 million to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, according to a statement released Tuesday by the nonprofit organization.

The donation is one of the largest donations Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has made to a nonprofit, and the largest the Center for Disaster Philanthropy has ever received.

Patricia McIlreavy, president and CEO of CDP, called the donation a “transformative investment” that would help the nonprofit “strengthen the capacity of communities to resist and equitably recover from disasters.”

This gift comes at a time when climate disasters are becoming more frequent and costly and President Donald Trump is fueling uncertainty about how much federal support communities will receive to recover from future emergencies.

Founded in 2010, CDP provides advice and resources to donors seeking to maximize their impact on communities recovering from climate disasters and other crises. The organization focuses on medium- and long-term recovery, two often overlooked phases of disaster response.

CDP also makes its own disaster donations, including through its Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund, which will soon support recovery from Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, according to the group.

The $60 million grant would be used to “improve disaster preparedness, address the root causes of hazard vulnerabilities, and provide vital resources for the long-term recovery of disaster-affected communities,” according to a CDP release.

Scott, 55, amassed most of her wealth through Amazon stock that she acquired after her divorce from the company’s founder and executive chairman, Jeff Bezos. Forbes estimates his current wealth to be around $34 billion.

Shortly after his divorce, Scott signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of his wealth throughout his life. She has donated more than $19 billion since 2019.

The author of two novels is known for her quiet, trust-based gifts. Scott rarely comments on his giving beyond sporadic essays posted on his website, Yield Giving.

Nonprofits are often surprised to learn they are receiving one of its grants, which have no restrictions on how groups can use the money.

McIlreavy told The Associated Press that she found out about the gift in September through a phone call. “There was mixed disbelief and joy,” she said.

The lack of restrictions allows CDP to spend some of the money on general operations such as recruiting staff, an aspect of nonprofit work that is often difficult to raise money for.

McIlreavy said nonprofits trying to raise money to cover administrative costs can sometimes feel like they’re running a pizza place. “People would come and say, ‘I want pizza, but I don’t want to pay for the staff who make it, or the trucks who bring the cheese.'”

This support comes as climate disasters continue to increase in frequency and cost, straining the response capacities of governments and donors.

The United States has experienced at least 14 disasters this year that exceeded $1 billion in damage, according to Climate Central, for a total of $101.4 billion. This count does not include the deadly July floods in Texas, which are still being assessed.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of ​​eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages the federal response to disasters. It has denied states requests for major disaster declarations, even when FEMA assessments have proven significant damage. His administration also cut billions in funding for disaster resilience.

The uncertainty is a challenge for survivors, as well as donors and philanthropists who cannot predict where and when their support will be most needed, McIlreavy said.

“When people face disasters across this country, not knowing what can happen, how they can get help and from whom, it takes away some of the hope that is intrinsic to any recovery,” she said.

Several other groups announced this month that they had received grants from Scott, including the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which received $40 million, and the Freedom Fund, which received $60 million. Scott donated $70 million to UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships to minority students, last month.

Scott hinted at a new cycle of giving in an Oct. 15 essay on his website, while downplaying his own donations and touting the power of small acts of kindness and generosity.

“What if care was a way for all of us to make a difference in leading and shaping our countries? Scott wrote. “There are many ways to influence how we move around the world and where we land. »

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