We are at an extraordinary moment in the history of philanthropic giving in the United States. Over the past four years, MacKenzie Scott has gifted over $16 billion to nearly 2,000 organizations driving innovative solutions to complex challenges. While Scott’s trust-based, unrestricted approach has been widely applauded, the true catalytic potential of her giving lies in the opportunity it creates for other funders to double down on the strategic plans and bold visions that her gifts have unlocked.
Drawing from her own experiences at VisionSpring, a recipient of Scott’s funding, CEO Ella Gudwin will share insights into how Scott’s $15 million gift represents a critical downpayment towards their ambitious “Livelihoods in Focus” initiative. This initiative aims to correct the vision of over eight million farmers and artisans, unlocking more than $1 billion in income-earning potential for low-income households by 2023. However, truly achieving this transformational impact still requires an additional $61 million in funding.
Through interactive discussions and real-world examples from VisionSpring, while also drawing on examples from other Scott grantee organizations, this session will:
1. Highlight the unique, time-sensitive opportunity presented by Scott’s giving, estimated to last only 2-3 years.
2. Demonstrate how organizations in Scott’s portfolio represent lower-risk, higher-impact investments for funders seeking catalytic philanthropy.
3. Encourage funders to move beyond the prevailing approach of emulating Scott’s approach directly and instead focus on doubling down on the transformative potential her gifts have unlocked.
By fostering a global perspective and introducing a healthy controversy around traditional philanthropic models, this session will challenge those to rethink catalytic giving. Ultimately, it will encourage funders to seize this unprecedented moment and catalyze transformational change by investing in the strategic plans and bold visions that Scott’s philanthropy has enabled.
*Please note, we indicated as part of the application that we are open to changing the format of the session. If recommended, we would be open to transitioning from a Keynote format to a Panel format to examine this topic through varied lenses. Potential speakers to incorporate into a panel format could include a fellow MKS grantee, a philanthropic advisor/consultant, or a representative from an organization that tracks and analyzes philanthropic data such as Candid or The Center for Effective Philanthropy.
