MacKenzie Scott & the Reimagining of Philanthropy

<p>In this episode we take a look at the philanthropic giving of MacKenzie Scott (former wife of Jeff Bezos), who has garnered a great deal of attention and praise for the scale, pace and approach of her philanthropy. We ask: what are the key aspects of received wisdom about giving that she is rejecting? And will this lead to wider changes in how big money philanthropy works in future? Including:</p> <p>-Rejecting the myth of the "self-made billionaire", i<span style="font-weight: 400;">n favour of recognition that luck, privilege & reliance on wider society are always factors in wealth creation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Carnegian idea that "it's harder to give money away intelligently than earn it", and that if you're willing to cede power & give unrestricted grants it's actually eminently possible.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the idea that philanthropy needs to be done slowly, or that it should aim towards perpetuity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the idea that grants need to be restricted or short-term.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the idea that the donor has all the answers or should set the agenda</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the idea that being "strategic" means being top-down or technocratic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the idea that we need to maintain distance between donor and grantee, or avoid human connection in philanthropy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Rejecting the idea that philanthropy by itself can ever be a solution to inequality.</span></p> <p>-Rejecting the idea that philanthropy needs to be secretive or opaque.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Related Links:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li>MacKenzie Scott's <a href= "https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/116-organizations-driving-change-67354c6d73