MacKenzie Scott's $20 Million Gift to Community College Sparks Controversy

Santa Barbara City College's board launches investigation into unauthorized use of donation

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated a record $20 million to Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in 2021, but the college's board of trustees has now launched an internal investigation after discovering that around $10.5 million of the gift was spent without explicit authorization.

Why it matters

Scott's donations are known for their 'trust-based philanthropy' approach, where recipients can use the funds as they see fit. However, the SBCC case raises questions about accountability and transparency when large unrestricted donations are made to public institutions.

The details

According to the college, the $20 million donation was meant to help address a 'serious enrollment decline' caused by the pandemic. Around $10.5 million of the gift was used to fund SBCC's Promise Program, which covers tuition, books, and supplies for local students. However, this funding was never approved by the foundation's board, college officials, or the trustees themselves.

  • In 2021, MacKenzie Scott donated a record $20 million to Santa Barbara City College.
  • From 2021 to 2024, about $10.5 million of Scott's gift was used toward SBCC's Promise Program without explicit authorization.
  • In late January 2026, the SBCC Board of Trustees disclosed the unauthorized use of the donation and initiated an investigation.

The players

MacKenzie Scott

A billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who has donated over $26 billion to various causes in recent years.

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC)

A community college in California that received a record $20 million donation from MacKenzie Scott in 2021.

SBCC Board of Trustees

The governing body of Santa Barbara City College that has launched an investigation into the unauthorized use of MacKenzie Scott's donation.

Bobbi Abram

The CEO of the SBCC Foundation, who ordered an internal review after spotting accounting discrepancies related to the use of the Scott donation.

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What they’re saying

“This gift is an act of incredible generosity and due to its unrestricted nature, a demonstration of tremendous trust in our community's college. It reinforces the importance of providing quality higher education that is accessible to everyone.”

— Geoff Green, Former SBCC Foundation CEO (SBCC Statement (2021)

“More than 1,800 local students are supported by the Promise each year. This is a nationally recognized program which makes higher education accessible for local families. Using some of the Scott gift funds for the Promise was not a 'misuse.' It was entirely consistent with the Foundation's mission and in the spirit of the donor's intent.”

— Bobbi Abram, CEO of the SBCC Foundation (People)

What’s next

The SBCC Board of Trustees will discuss the use of the MacKenzie Scott donation and hear public comment on the matter during their February 19, 2026 meeting.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges that can arise when large, unrestricted donations are made to public institutions. While MacKenzie Scott's trust-based philanthropy approach has benefited many organizations, the SBCC situation raises questions about accountability, transparency, and the need to balance donor intent with institutional governance policies.