MacKenzie Scott, the well-known philanthropist and former wife of Jeff Bezos, has announced a significant $60 million donation to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. This vital funding will empower the non-profit to enhance disaster resilience and recovery efforts, particularly in communities that often struggle to rebuild due to limited resources.
This substantial grant comes at a crucial time, hinting that private philanthropists and charitable organizations are increasingly stepping in to address the gaps created by anticipated reductions in federal emergency assistance, particularly from the Trump administration’s scaling back of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
This latest act of generosity aligns with Ms. Scott’s recent pattern of supporting organizations dedicated to uplifting marginalized groups. Just this month, she contributed $42 million to 10,000 Degrees, an initiative focused on increasing college accessibility for low-income students, many of whom are people of color. She also provided $40 million to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Furthermore, her commitment to environmental causes was evident last week with a $10 million gift to the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Massachusetts, a hub for scientists researching innovative climate solutions.
Established in 2010, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy has a core mission to assist “historically marginalized and at-risk populations.” Patricia McIlreavy, the center’s chief executive, highlighted that Ms. Scott’s donation not only provides essential funds but also validates their critical approach: addressing how environmental hazards like floods and fires disproportionately exacerbate existing social, health, and economic inequalities.
While Ms. Scott previously allocated $13 million to the center for specific initiatives related to Covid-19 and the conflict in Ukraine, this new grant offers unrestricted flexibility, allowing the center’s leadership to deploy the funds where they are most needed, according to Ms. McIlreavy.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy collaborates with local non-profit partners to distribute impactful grants in areas frequently hit by disasters. It also guides other philanthropic bodies in strategically planning their disaster-related contributions. A prime example is this year’s launch of a $21 million fund, backed by North Carolina’s Truist Bank, dedicated to Hurricane Helene recovery. This fund prioritizes overlooked small towns and communities, focusing on rebuilding homes and actively working to prevent “disaster gentrification,” a phenomenon where rebuilding efforts inadvertently displace original residents.
Recently, the center has extended its support through grants to community organizations in regions grappling with the aftermath of hurricanes in Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina, as well as wildfires in Hawaii and California.
This donation is a significant boon for the Washington, D.C.-based center, exceeding its total reported contributions and grants from 2024 by nearly $20 million, and almost equaling its entire reported asset base from the previous year.
Despite its impressive size, this gift represents only a small portion of the roughly $12 billion that FEMA has historically allocated annually for disaster relief over the last three decades.
This philanthropic intervention gains added importance following President Trump’s removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion as priorities in government programs. His administration has also attempted to withhold disaster aid from “sanctuary” cities supporting immigrants. Simultaneously, Mr. Trump has advocated for states to manage most natural disaster responses independently, leading many affected communities to express a feeling of being abandoned without adequate federal assistance.
Ms. McIlreavy emphasized that the center’s mission is to rise above political disputes and bureaucratic hurdles that often hinder effective disaster response. Their unwavering focus remains on addressing the pressing needs for assistance globally and domestically, as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and their devastating impacts continue to escalate.
“Our core belief is in equitable recovery, which means ensuring no one is left behind,” she stated. “This principle applies whether it’s a white farmer in Iowa who lost a tractor in a powerful derecho storm, or a Black homeowner in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, whose house was devastated by a tornado.”
The financial burden of disasters, from wildfires and storms to floods, has rapidly increased as global temperatures rise and more people inhabit disaster-prone regions. Climate change, primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is directly linked to the surge in extreme weather events, including increasingly intense hurricanes, heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts, and swift-spreading wildfires.
The path to recovery from these extreme events often tests communities for extended periods, sometimes years. For instance, Elizabeth Brazas, CEO of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, noted that her region’s communities are “still reeling” over a year after Hurricane Helene brought devastating floodwaters.
Similarly, in Northern California, several years after major fires, communities remain dedicated to building resilience against future blazes. Rhea Suh, CEO of the Marin Community Foundation in the Bay Area, pointed out, “Just because a disaster happens doesn’t mean 180 days later it’s not still happening in some way in our communities.”
Ms. Scott made a public commitment to donate the majority of her wealth following her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.
Ms. McIlreavy indicated that the center is currently in the initial planning phase for deploying the generous gift. She suggested it could significantly bolster the organization’s financial reserves for years, or potentially be allocated towards an endowment, allowing them to “dig deeper in what we were already doing.”