If everyone gave and gave like philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the world would undoubtedly be a better place. The repetition of “gave” is intentional when describing a Howard County housing nonprofit that received a remarkably generous gift for the second time from this extraordinary benefactor. Scott recently left Columbia-based Enterprise Community Partners ecstatic with a monumental $65 million donation.
Scott is no stranger to benevolence of the highest order. In 2022, she donated $275 million to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and an astounding $436 million to Habitat for Humanity International and its 84 U.S. affiliates. Back in 2020, Enterprise Community Partners received $50 million from her foundation, and this year’s contribution reaffirms her commitment to affordable housing.
As with most of her donations, this recent act of generosity broke records. The $65 million gift marks the largest single-donor grant ever received by Enterprise, an organization founded in 1982 by Columbia developer James W. Rouse. Together, Scott’s contributions bring her total support for Enterprise to an extraordinary $115 million, a resounding vote of confidence in their mission.
“Some of us probably wanted to cry for joy,” said Janine Lind, president of Enterprise’s community development division. “This came at a moment when the affordable housing sector certainly is being put to the test and is struggling.” Scott’s largesse comes during a critical time for affordable housing. Earlier this year, she gifted $30 million to Housing Trust Silicon Valley, ushering in a new era for Bay Area housing initiatives.
Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Jeff Bezos and his fiancé’ Lauren Sánchez pledged $60 million to restore land twice the size of Rhode Island. Bezos further demonstrated his commitment to social issues with a $110.5 million donation to combat homelessness in 23 states, echoing Scott’s philanthropic ethos.
What does the Enterprise community do?
With nearly 50 years of experience, Enterprise is the only national nonprofit offering integrated solutions, capital, and community development expertise. Their mission aligns perfectly with Scott’s vision: increasing housing supply, advancing racial equity, and fostering resilience and upward mobility.
Enterprise collaborates with over 700 communities and thousands of partners across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. They are among the largest developers of affordable homes in the Mid-Atlantic and rank as the sixth-largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in the United States. With Scott’s transformative support, Enterprise is poised to reach even greater heights.
