MacKenzie Scott’s Billion‑Dollar Bet on Trust: How No‑Strings Giving Is Reshaping Philanthropy

Recipients of MacKenzie Scott’s multimillion-dollar gifts often describe the moment they learn they’ve been funded the same way: stunned, shy, then elated. Faces brighten, laughter bubbles up, and relief follows. Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), says the experience is disarming—an initial note of thanks, a few logistical details, and then the reveal of a transformational gift. In Lomax’s case, that call culminated in $70 million.

Scale and philosophy

Since 2020, Scott has given away roughly $19 billion to more than 2,400 nonprofits addressing racial justice, education, economic mobility and other social causes. This year alone she directed over $700 million to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities—organizations that rarely receive such large, unrestricted support.

What distinguishes Scott is not only the scale of her giving but the philosophy behind it: a public posture of trust combined with rigorous, behind‑the‑scenes vetting. In essays and letters she invites readers to imagine starlings—birds moving in a fluid, egalitarian flock—and urges philanthropists to cede control and trust grantees to do the work.

'What if acts of service that we can feel but can’t always measure expand our capacity for connection and trust?' she wrote recently.

How she gives

Scott’s model pairs rapid, often unrestricted gifts with a private advisory process. Her team and outside consultants conduct research and due diligence so organizations receive funds without the lengthy proposal cycles and reporting burdens common at large foundations. The public face of this work emphasizes generosity and human connection while a quiet, data‑driven backend supports prudent decisions.

Some of her high-profile grants underline this mix: GiveDirectly has received more than $120 million from Scott; the Malaria Consortium received $10 million; Evidence Action was given $20 million; and Food4Education got $4 million. Many recipients report that these infusions stabilized operations and accelerated impact.

Trust‑based philanthropy explained

Trust‑based philanthropy seeks to flip the traditional power dynamic between donor and grantee. Instead of requiring detailed project line items, long applications and heavy reporting, it reduces administrative friction and respects grantee expertise. Advocates say this approach frees nonprofit staff to focus on mission rather than fundraising and compliance.

Supporters point out that strategic, unrestricted funding can enable organizations to invest in capacity, retain staff, and respond quickly to changing needs—advantages that rigid grants can’t provide.

Critiques and limits

The model is not without risks. Large, rapid infusions of capital can strain organizations that lack systems to absorb or steward the funds. One organization that received a major unrestricted grant later closed amid leadership and spending problems, and critics warn that giving without follow-up can enable missteps.

Experts who caution against purely hands‑off philanthropy emphasize that trust and due diligence are not mutually exclusive: donors can simplify requirements while still ensuring responsible stewardship. Scott’s approach illustrates that funders can combine careful vetting with flexibility on the ground.

Lessons for other donors

Scott’s experiment offers practical nudges for philanthropists of any size: give sooner rather than later; trust experienced leaders who work close to the problem; reduce unnecessary reporting burdens; and consider fewer, larger grants that meaningfully affect an organization’s budget. For small nonprofits, even modest unrestricted gifts can be transformative.

Ultimately, Scott’s model is part moral and part strategic: she couples a willingness to cede control with a quiet backend of research and counsel. Whether or not every grant yields perfect results, many grantees say the human value of being seen and trusted—alongside the financial support—has been profound.