MacKenzie Scott has made another major philanthropic move, this time directing $70 million to Meals on Wheels America as local providers across the country struggle with growing waitlists and shrinking federal support.
According to Fortune, the unrestricted gift arrives as one in three Meals on Wheels programs reports service delays, with seniors waiting an average of 4 months to receive meals and wellness checks.
Meals on Wheels America announced the donation last week, calling it one of the largest private gifts in the organization’s history. The nonprofit said the funding will help strengthen its nationwide network of more than 5,000 local programs, which provide meals, social connection, and safety checks to more than 2 million older adults and homebound Americans every year.
Federal funding for senior nutrition programs has been under pressure for more than a year. In 2024, Congress reduced funding for the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program by $37 million after an earlier $8 million cut. The reductions marked the first significant decrease in more than a decade and came as inflation and rising food costs increased demand for services.
Those cuts have already had a visible effect. Some local organizations have scaled back programs or suspended services altogether. Meals on Wheels Diablo ended its breakfast program, while Meals on Wheels San Antonio stopped some services in late 2025.
Meals on Wheels America has said nearly half of providers receiving federal funds experienced budget declines, leading to fewer staff members, longer waiting lists, and reduced deliveries.
The organization said Scott’s donation will allow it to shift attention from short-term survival to longer-term planning.
“We will steward the investment thoughtfully and responsibly to help generate economies of scale and impact that strengthen the capacity of local providers so they can reach more older adults with meals, connection and care,” Meals on Wheels America Chief Development and Marketing Officer Kristine Templin said in a statement.
She added that the goal is to help more seniors live independently and safely in their homes.
Scott’s latest gift continues a pattern that has become one of the defining stories in modern philanthropy. Since 2020, the billionaire author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated more than $26 billion through her organization, Yield Giving.
Her HBCU contributions also include $80 million to Howard University, $38 million to Spelman College, $20 million to Morehouse College, and $20 million to Xavier University of Louisiana.
Beyond education, Scott has directed $436 million to Habitat for Humanity, $90 million to the Forests, People, Climate initiative, and approximately $84.5 million to Girl Scouts of the USA.
