Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott has made a historic $45 million donation to The Trevor Project, the leading U.S. nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention. The organization confirmed the gift, calling it the largest single donation in its 28-year history. Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, previously donated $6 million to the group during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said the team was thrilled by the contribution, describing it as a vital safety net at a moment of deep crisis for queer young people. Black said the funds will be used “not only to meet the current moment for our organisation and the LGBTQ+ youth we serve, but also to strengthen and sustain The Trevor Project for years to come.”
An estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the U.S. consider suicide each year, a crisis intensified after the Trump administration shut down the 988 LGBTQ+ suicide lifeline last year. The Trevor Project called that closure devastating and says Scott’s gift is a powerful step toward repairing the harm. Scott’s total donations to nonprofits now exceeds $7.1 billion, with a net worth estimated at over $40 billion.
