MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is giving away $640 million to 361 non-profits.
Scott, 53, has announced the staggering donation of $640 million to 360 small charities through her philanthropic company, Yield Giving.
Unlike her previous donations, which were handpicked, these funds were allocated to nonprofits that responded to an open call for applications, per CNN.
Scott, who became one of the world's richest women after her divorce from Bezos in 2019, has now given away more than $16.5 billion of her fortune.
Expressing her gratitude, Scott thanked Lever for Change, the organization that managed the open call, as well as the evaluators for their role in selecting the beneficiaries. She acknowledged them as "vital agents of change."
The open call attracted a staggering 6,353 applications from small nonprofits, all hoping to get their hands on the $1 million grants.
Lever for Change, which specializes in managing philanthropic prize awards, noted the incredible work of these organizations and decided to expand both the pool of awardees and the award amount.
Renee Karibi-Whyte, Senior Vice President of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, highlighted the significance of competitions like these, stating they provide an opportunity for organizations without connections to specific funders to be considered.
The nonprofits selected went through a rigorous multilayer process, with external review panels and peer evaluations determining the final recipients. Organizations that received top scores were awarded $2 million each, while those in a second tier received $1 million.
Gender Justice, an organization that aims to advance gender equality, said it received a $2 million donation.
"This Open Call award helps us take our fight for justice and equity to the next level, continuing our work to dismantle the legal, structural, and cultural barriers that contribute to gender inequity," said Megan Peterson, Gender Justice’s executive director, in a statement.
Scott's commitment to philanthropy extends beyond monetary donations. She has dedicated herself to identifying the most impactful charitable organizations, as evidenced by her recent donation of her $55 million Beverly Hills estate to benefit the homeless and immigrant integration programs.
Bezos, who announced a $118 million donation to nonprofit groups supporting families experiencing homelessness, has also made strides in charitable giving since his divorce.
The entrepreneur, now engaged to Lauren Sánchez, also recently announced plans to relocate to Miami, where he spent his childhood, per the Daily Mail.
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