Mackenzie Scott donates $45 million to The Trevor Project

Billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott donated $45 million to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization serving LGBTQ+ youth. This major gift comes just months after the Trump administration shuttered counseling services for LGBT youth through the federally funded 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline program, whose services are managed by The Trevor Project.

In a blog post, Trevor Project CEO James Black called the donation “transformational,” calling Scott’s gift the largest single donation the charity has ever received in its 27 years of operation. Scott previously donated $6 million to the nonprofit during Trump’s first administration.

Scott, who was one of Amazon’s first employees, divorced Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019. She is a prolific philanthropist and has recently ramped up her charitable giving. In 2025, Scott gave more than $7 billion to nonprofits.

“At a time when many LGBTQ+ youth face increasing stigma, political hostility, and mental health challenges, supporting Mackenzie Scott sends a powerful message,” Black wrote. “LGBTQ+ youth matter, and the world is full of people fighting for their safety and well-being.”

According to a Trevor Project survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth in the United States, about 45 percent of LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 have considered suicide. The organization aims to help people who are disproportionately at risk.

After Trump was elected in 2024, The Trevor Project saw a 700 percent increase in calls, chats, and texts. It saw a 33 percent increase in outreach after the inauguration last year, and has also seen upticks following events like last year’s ruling in the Supreme Court. United States v. Skremiti The case, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Black sees Scott’s gift as a “strong step toward building on our sustainable capacity” as the group works to expand and serve more LGBTQ+ youth around the world and innovate to make sure services reach them when they need help.

“Over the coming months, we will develop a strategic and thoughtful investment plan focused on strengthening our core crisis services, improving long-term sustainability, and accelerating our progress toward a world where every LGBTQ+ youth knows they are loved and supported,” Black said in the blog post.

Scott’s other recent gifts to charitable organizations include multi-million dollar donations to groups working in environmental protection and public education.