After giving away billions to charity, MacKenzie Scott says, ‘small acts of kindness matter’

After giving away more than $26 billion since 2019, including roughly $7 billion in 2025 alone, MacKenzie Scott has continued to emphasise a message that runs counter to the scale of her philanthropy. In a 2025 essay published on Yield Giving, she highlighted the importance of everyday generosity, arguing that small, consistent acts of kindness often go overlooked despite their collective impact. Drawing on data about charitable giving, volunteering and informal support networks, Scott pointed out that ordinary people contribute vast sums and effort each year, shaping communities in ways that extend far beyond headline-grabbing donations.

MacKenzie Scott’s message behind the billions

Scott’s argument centres on the idea that large-scale philanthropy is only one part of a much broader ecosystem of generosity. In her essay, she noted that Americans collectively give hundreds of billions annually to charities, with a significant share coming in relatively small amounts. Beyond formal donations, she also referenced financial support sent to family members abroad, participation in crowdfunding, and the economic value of volunteer work and lower-paid service roles.

Taken together, these contributions likely amount to well over $1 trillion annually, when considering both financial giving and the broader value of unpaid and underpaid care work. This figure should be understood as a rough estimate of the wider ecosystem of generosity rather than a single standardised statistic.

What research says about kindness

Scientific studies broadly support the idea that small acts of kindness have measurable psychological benefits. Research in psychology, including work such as the “counting kindnesses” studies, has found that people who intentionally perform or reflect on acts of kindness report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.

Other behavioural research has shown that kindness can spread through social groups. In workplace experiments, individuals exposed to small acts of generosity are more likely to engage in similar behaviour themselves, increasing overall prosocial activity and improving group wellbeing over time.

Small actions matter

Scott’s perspective highlights a key point: while large donations can drive systemic change, everyday kindness helps sustain it. Small gestures such as helping a neighbour, offering support, or contributing modest amounts can influence wellbeing, strengthen social ties and encourage others to act similarly.