Giving Big: Lessons Learned From a Radical Approach to Philanthropy

MacKenzie Scott’s massive unrestricted gifts to nonprofits, including many seeking to advance equity, represented a radical departure from the proscriptive approach of many of her peers —which is often characterized by much smaller, frequently restricted grants. What can funders and nonprofits alike learn from the experience of the recipients of Scott’s grants? What have been the effects — intended or unintended — of her gifts on organizations, fields, communities, and equity efforts?

This session will offer a sneak preview of new, not-yet-released findings from year two of a multiyear study by the Center for Effective Philanthropy to track the uses, effects, and consequences of Scott’s gifts. The session will both share findings and, in an interactive process, invite you to reflect on relevant lessons for your own work — whether as funders or operating nonprofits.