Jeff Bezos and McKinsey Scott, out in Beverly Hills, California, in a 2018 photo Source: Archive
WASHINGTON – Food banks, immigrant aid societies, and struggling universities faced a surprising donor last year:
McKinsey Scott, the ex-wife of the CEO of Amazon
,
Jeff Bezos.
Scott donated a whopping $ 6 billion in 2020
, Without claiming any compensation, in contrast to the usual practice of charitable donors in
United State .
MacKenzie Scott shook the philanthropic worldNot only because of their tremendous contributions, but also because, By allowing organizations to determine how to use them, it frees them from bureaucracy.
Laura MacDonald, president of the Giving USA Foundation, a non-profit organization that conducts research on charitable giving, says that The former wife of the second richest man on Earth is leading a movement for “philanthropy based on trust”.
“This may encourage other donors to take more risks.”, Goal.
In December, Scott donated to 384 organizations, ranging from the University Technology Institute at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana (northwest) to a food bank in Arkansas (central) to the Immigrant Families Fund.
“This pandemic has devastated the lives of Americans who were already fighting,” writes MacKenzie Scott. “The economic losses and medical costs were more severe for women of people of color and those living in poverty. Meanwhile, the wealth of billionaires increased dramatically.
“I hope the amount you put on the table and your resolve to continue doing so will give everyone who sits on their fortunes a big boost as we face incredible challenges and needs,” Phil Buchanan said, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy that provides information to charities.
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The former partner of Bezos whoSince their divorce It has a $ 58 billion stake in e-commerce giant Amazon, Pledged to give a large portion of its assets to combat social inequalities.
In July, Announce $ 1.7 billion in grants and in December, another $ 4.2 billion.
Scott
She has hired a team of advisors to help her identify organizations that support those struggling with the economic impact of the pandemic
Coronavirus and in particular the fight against hunger, poverty and racial inequality.
These organizations “are dedicated to helping others, working and volunteering, face to face and day after day, at the table or in the bed of real people, in prisons, in the streets, in classrooms or in hospital wards,” wrote a 50-year-old philanthropist at Medium .
Her approach contrasts with that of her ex-husband, Jeff Bezos.
While the Amazon founder donated $ 10 billion to fight climate change, the largest charitable contribution for 2020, His participation was relatively slower and more limited than that of his ex-wife, Although it is considered that his wealth is three times greater.
An elderly couple can give a big boost to Charitable works in the United States, which in 2019 raised about 450 thousand million dollars.
For Benjamin Suskis, a researcher specializing in philanthropy at the Urban Institute, Scott’s initiatives are remarkable not only for their scale, but also for the speed with which the money is disbursed. Additionally, “I insisted on donating the money and moving away,” he said.
In general, “philanthropists see themselves as part of the process and carry out multiple checks and evaluations that can be extremely stressful.”
Scott may be criticized for a “blackout” in the selection of his granteesThe expert says.
But their recklessness could set an important precedent. “No great philanthropist will be able to ignore his example.”
Agencia AFP
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