MacKenzie Scott reveals inspiration behind $26 billion donations: A college book that changed how she viewed wealth |

MacKenzie Scott’s story as one of the world’s most generous philanthropists did not begin with a boardroom strategy, a foundation launch or a financial plan. Instead, the inspiration behind more than $26 billion in charitable donations can be traced back to a college book and a passage she had underlined years earlier. In her 2019 Giving Pledge letter, Scott revealed that she revisited a copy of Annie Dillard’s The Writing Life, where a piece of advice about not saving one’s best work for later resonated deeply. That lesson would go on to shape how she approached giving away one of the largest fortunes in modern history.

The college book that shaped MacKenzie Scott’s approach to giving

Before committing to give away the majority of her wealth, Scott looked through a collection of books from her college years and came across a passage she had previously marked in The Writing Life, a 1989 book by acclaimed American author Annie Dillard.The passage encouraged writers to use their best ideas immediately rather than saving them for a future project. Dillard wrote that the impulse to save something valuable for later is often a signal that it should be used now.Scott later explained that the words stayed with her and influenced her thinking about generosity and wealth.In her Giving Pledge letter, Scott highlighted a passage she had “underlined and starred” as a student.“The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now,” Dillard wrote.For Scott, the advice extended beyond writing. She interpreted it as a reminder that resources should be put to use when they can have the greatest impact rather than being preserved indefinitely. The idea became a guiding principle as she began one of the most ambitious philanthropic efforts ever undertaken by an individual.

How MacKenzie Scott became one of the world’s biggest philanthropists

Scott’s philanthropic journey accelerated in 2019 following her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. As part of the settlement, she received approximately 4% of Amazon’s outstanding shares, instantly making her one of the wealthiest people in the world.Shortly afterwards, she signed the Giving Pledge, a commitment created by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett that encourages billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth during their lifetimes or through their estates.Unlike many wealthy donors who establish large foundations with strict requirements, Scott adopted a different philosophy centred on speed, trust and flexibility.

More than $26 billion donated in six years

Since signing the Giving Pledge, Scott has donated more than $26 billion through her philanthropic organisation, Yield Giving.Her donations have reached thousands of organisations across a wide range of sectors, including:

The scale of her giving has made her one of the most generous living philanthropists in the world. According to public estimates, she has donated nearly half of her post-divorce wealth while continuing to support new charitable causes each year.

Why MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropy stands out

One of the defining characteristics of Scott’s philanthropy is her trust-based approach.Many charitable organisations receiving her grants are not required to submit lengthy applications, provide regular progress reports or spend the money in narrowly defined ways. Instead, Scott often provides unrestricted funding, allowing recipients to decide how the resources can best serve their communities.The approach has been praised by nonprofit leaders, who argue that flexible funding often creates greater long-term impact than highly restricted grants.Scott has also maintained a relatively low public profile, rarely giving interviews or making public appearances related to her donations.

The influence of Toni Morrison on MacKenzie Scott’s life

Long before becoming known for philanthropy, Scott was a writer.She studied English and creative writing at Princeton University under Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Morrison later described Scott as one of the strongest students she had taught and served as her thesis adviser.Scott also worked as Morrison’s research assistant and went on to publish two novels of her own, including The Testing of Luther Albright, which won an American Book Award.Her literary background helps explain why a passage from a book would play such a significant role in shaping her philosophy on wealth and giving.

Supporting education and historically Black colleges

Education has become one of the most important focuses of Scott’s charitable efforts.Over the past several years, she has directed substantial funding towards colleges, universities and educational programmes across the US. Historically Black colleges and universities have been among the largest beneficiaries of her philanthropy, collectively receiving more than $1 billion in donations.Her support has also honoured her former mentor Toni Morrison. In 2022, a $3 million gift to Howard University helped establish the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities.

Why her fortune remains enormous despite giving away billions

Despite donating more than $26 billion, Scott remains one of the world’s wealthiest women.The primary reason is the continued growth in the value of her Amazon holdings. As Amazon’s stock price increased over time, the appreciation of her remaining shares offset a significant portion of the money she gave away.As a result, her net worth has remained above $36 billion even after years of large-scale charitable contributions.

A promise to keep giving

Scott’s Giving Pledge letter made clear that her philanthropy is far from finished.While she described her approach as thoughtful and deliberate, she also emphasised that she does not intend to wait indefinitely before putting her resources to work. The message echoed the lesson she took from Annie Dillard’s writing advice decades earlier: valuable resources are most meaningful when they are used, not stored away.That philosophy, inspired by a marked-up college book and an underlined paragraph, has since guided one of the largest philanthropic campaigns in modern history.