Donation from Bezos’ ex-wife shows that philanthropists are trying to make up for Trump’s cuts

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is once again donating millions. On Tuesday, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) announced it had received a $60 million donation from Scott and his organization, Yield Giving, which has donated more than $19 billion to thousands of organizations.

The donation to CDP, which supports recovery from natural disasters in underserved and resource-poor communities, comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – an organization that Americans depend on for help during and after hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods.

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“All sectors of society – public, private and social – share the responsibility to help communities thrive after a disaster,” Patricia McIlreavy, CDP President and CEO, told Fortune. “Philanthropy plays a crucial role in providing resources for communities to build back stronger, but it cannot – and should not – replace government and its essential responsibilities.”

The Trump administration canceled or suspended key disaster mitigation grant programs, reduced federal disaster spending, shifting more financial and operational responsibility to state and local governments.

For example, the government ended the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which had pledged billions of dollars to help state and local governments reduce disaster risks.

President Donald Trump has also suggested that FEMA could eventually be dismantled or drastically reduced.

The Trump administration suggests that FEMA has an “outsized role,” which has created “bloated bureaucracy that has disincentivized state investment in its own resilience,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fortune.

“President Trump is committed to right-sizing the Federal Government while empowering state and local governments, enabling them to better understand, plan for, and ultimately meet the needs of their citizens,” Jackson said. “Effective disaster response and recovery depends on strong local and state leadership.”

The president’s FEMA Review Board will recommend to Trump how FEMA can be reformed to “better serve the national interest,” Jackson added.

McIlreavy said, however, that the federal government is crucial to disaster preparedness and recovery, and that as the country prepares for more climate-related disasters, “we need all levels of government working together to help communities, especially those most at risk, thrive after a disaster.”

CDP plans to use the funding to deepen its “equity-centered approach,” strengthen its partnerships, and expand the organization’s commitment to long-term disaster recovery.

“Our focus will be on driving broader support for locally led and community-driven solutions and fundamentally changing how philanthropic systems and structures support equitable recovery efforts for all communities around the world,” said McIlreavy.

MacKenzie Scott’s Giving History

Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been deeply dedicated to philanthropy in recent years. Her fortune is estimated to be $34 billion, and she has pledged to give away most of her wealth.

Their giving, totaling more than $19 billion, has supported organizations in diverse areas, including education, disaster recovery, housing, arts and health. She has recently made significant donations to causes focused on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), including a $40 million donation to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, and has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Many consider Scott’s philanthropic style unique because she gives unrestricted donations, meaning organizations can choose how to use donations.

“Unlike traditional funding processes that often involve lengthy applications, specific restrictions and reporting requirements, her style empowers organizations like ours to determine how best to direct funds quickly and innovatively to address pressing issues,” Housing Trust CEO Noni Ramos told Fortune in late 2024, when her organization received a $30 million grant from Scott.