MacKenzie Scott donates $3.8 billion to 465 organizations, including $275 million to Planned Parenthood

The former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, announced recently that she has donated a total of $3.8 billion to 465 charities since June, selecting organizations that “support the needs of underrepresented people from groups of all kinds.”

The gifts included a $275 million to Planned Parenthood. Regarding Scott’s gift, Planned Parenthood said the donation “comes at a time when access to sexual and reproductive health care is under attack like never before, especially access to abortion.”

Many states, particularly conservative states like Texas, have passed strict laws prohibiting abortion in most circumstances, which abortion advocates have said hinders the ability for women in those regions to access what they consider to be essential healthcare.

In a post to Medium on Wednesday, Scott noted that her donations are intended to help all types of people, adding that “helping any of us can help us all.” She added that efforts like investing in work and educational opportunities for girls and women results in more significant economic growth. According to Scott, about 6 in 10 of the charities to which she donated are led by women.

“We don’t advocate for particular policies or reforms. Instead, we seek a portfolio of organizations that supports the ability of all people to participate in solutions,” she wrote. “This means a focus on the needs of those whose voices have been underrepresented.” 

Scott is currently ranked as the world’s 22nd wealthiest person as her fortune amounts to $55 billion, as noted by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Her ex-husband, Bezos, is the world’s second-richest, with a personal fortune of $188 billion, falling behind Elon Musk.

Beyond Planned Parenthood, Scott also reported donating to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, FoodCorps, National Council on Aging, and Wounded Warrior Project among other organizations.