Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a transformative $42 million donation to 10,000 Degrees, a San Rafael-based nonprofit that helps low-income students access and complete college. The gift, announced this week, is the largest in the organization’s 45-year history. Scott’s donation came through her philanthropic fund, Yield Giving, which focuses on advancing equity and opportunity through large, unrestricted grants. The organization’s CEO, Kim Mazzuca, said the contribution will significantly expand scholarships and student support programs. 10,000 Degrees works with thousands of students across the Bay Area, aiming to close education gaps for first-generation college students and increase access to higher education for underrepresented communities.
Supporting Educational Equity
While visitors to the Community College of Beaver County enjoyed the chaos of LibraryCon at the dome, the campus’s library hosted their Tiny Art Show in a more laid back, quiet atmosphere right next door on Oct. 19, 2024.
Founded in 1981, 10,000 Degrees helps students from low-income backgrounds navigate higher education through scholarships, mentorship and financial aid guidance. The nonprofit partners with local high schools, community colleges and universities to ensure students have the resources they need to graduate. The organization reports that 80% of its college graduates earn degrees — a rate significantly higher than the national average for low-income students. Scott’s $42 million donation will help the nonprofit expand these programs statewide, support additional financial aid recipients and provide career readiness training. Mazzuca described the gift as “transformational,” noting that it will allow 10,000 Degrees to reach more students than ever before.
Scott’s Expanding Philanthropic Reach
Ruth Ray Jackson speaks at the All-Black Towns Conference at Langston University, an HBCU in Oklahoma, in August.
Scott, the novelist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has become one of the world’s most prolific private donors. Since pledging to give away much of her fortune in 2019, she has distributed more than $19 billion to over 2,000 organizations. Her approach is distinct: Donations are typically large, unrestricted and unexpected. Recipients often learn of the grants through surprise notifications rather than formal applications. Scott’s giving spans a wide range of causes, including education, health care, housing, and racial and gender equity. Her philanthropy, which emphasizes giving based on trust, allows nonprofits to decide how best to use the funds rather than imposing strict conditions or reporting requirements.
Investments in Higher Education
Aug. 18, 2025, Northport, AL; The HBCU Athletic Conference announced a three year partnership with River Run Park to host the conference baseball and softball championships. HBCU Athletic Conference commissioner Kiki Baker Barnes talks with Stillman College president Yolanda Page.
Education and opportunity are among Scott’s central focus areas. Earlier this year, she donated $70 million to the UNCF to strengthen the financial foundations of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The contribution will help build long-term endowments for 37 HBCUs, addressing disparities in institutional wealth compared with predominantly white universities. Scott has also supported numerous scholarship programs, community colleges and workforce development organizations. Her team at Yield Giving has emphasized the importance of investing in institutions that remove systemic barriers to success. These education-focused donations reflect her stated belief in the “value of diverse perspectives” and the power of education to drive social progress.
A Broader Vision for Giving
Kloshe Illahee Haws affordable housing project has 39 townhome and triplex units in northeast Salem.
In 2024 alone, Scott gave nearly $2 billion to almost 200 organizations, most working in economic mobility, affordable housing, child development, and postsecondary education. Many nonprofits report that her unrestricted funding has allowed them to act quickly and strategically, expanding programs or launching new initiatives that would otherwise take years to develop. A three-year study by the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that most organizations used Scott’s gifts responsibly and saw long-term improvements in financial stability and impact. Experts note that her approach challenges traditional philanthropy by prioritizing trust, speed and flexibility — principles that many funders are now beginning to emulate.
Transforming Lives Through Access
A ribbon cutting on Oct. 4, 2025, marked the official opening of Gannon University’s Center for Lake Erie Education and Research at the Blasco Library.
For 10,000 Degrees, the donation marks a defining moment. The organization said the new funding will help it serve thousands more students, especially in under-resourced communities across California. Many of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and the nonprofit’s support — from tuition aid to mentorship — plays a crucial role in their success. While Scott remains largely private about her donations, her contributions continue to reshape how philanthropy supports education and equity. For 10,000 Degrees, her generosity offers the promise of sustained growth and a powerful boost to its mission: helping students from all backgrounds achieve their academic dreams and strengthen their communities.
Sources: KGO-TV (1), 10,000 Degrees (1), 10,000 Degrees (2), KGO-TV (2), Fortune (1), Fortune (2)
