{
  "id": 38052,
  "title": "Most billionaires are stuck in ‘slow philanthropy.’ MacKenzie Scott gave away $26 billion and won’t stop until ‘the safe is empty’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/most-billionaires-are-stuck-in-slow-philanthropy-mackenzie-scott-gave",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-02T09:11:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/02/billionaires-slow-philanthropy-mackenzie-scott-stanford-essay/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MacKenzie Scott has stunned the world with her extraordinary philanthropic efforts, particularly her rapid donation of over $26 billion in a short span of time. This pattern of giving, which deviates significantly from the norm, has earned her praise from figures such as Melinda French Gates, who values her actions over mere words. However, many billionaires tend to exhibit \"slow philanthropy,\" a phenomenon researched by Jeffrey Bradach of Bridgespan Group. According to Bradach, ultra-wealthy individuals are often reluctant to disperse their wealth, despite having access to substantial resources. He attributes this to factors including the discomfort of failure in philanthropy compared to investing, difficulty in delegation, and an underestimate of the capabilities of nonprofits to utilize funds efficiently. Yet, Scott stands out as an outlier, employing \"trust-based philanthropy,\" which allows her to unburden organizations with unrestrictive donations that can be utilized swiftly and innovatively. Despite the challenges, Scott remains steadfast in her mission, declaring that she will continue her giving until her wealth is depleted, emphasizing her commitment to the cause.",
  "summary": "MacKenzie Scott has been praised for her rapid pace of philanthropy, giving away over $26 billion in a short period, which stands in stark contrast to the typical slow philanthropy observed among billionaires. According to research from Bridgespan Group, even though assets of those with over $500 million have grown, the percentage given away has remained stagnant. Jeffrey Bradach, cofounder of Bridgespan, coined this phenomenon \"slow philanthropy\" and argues that many ultra-wealthy individuals do not live up to their philanthropic promises. Scott's approach, which has been commended by figures like Melinda French Gates, highlights the importance of action over mere promises. Bradach identifies reasons such as the fear of failure in philanthropy and the compounding nature of wealth as contributing factors to the slow pace of giving among billionaires.",
  "key_points": [
    "MacKenzie Scott donated over $26 billion in a short period.",
    "Jeffrey Bradach notes billionaires' reluctance to disperse wealth.",
    "Scott uses trust-based philanthropy to unburden organizations swiftly."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}