Billionaire Giving: Zuckerberg Shifts Focus, Scott Stands Firm

Billionaires are changing how they give money to causes. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have stopped funding FWD, a group that pushes for immigration and criminal justice reform. They supported this group for ten years. Now, they want to focus on AI and science instead. Zuckerberg's move is not surprising. Experts saw this coming. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) slowly moved away from social causes. They gave FWD money to adjust before the partnership ended. Now, Zuckerberg is focusing on AI research. Meta, his company, is already ahead in tech. But they need to keep up. Meanwhile, MacKenzie Scott is doing something different. She is giving a lot of money to support underrepresented communities. In 2025 alone, she donated £5. 2bn. She focuses on Black and tribal colleges, Native scholarships, and low-income students. Unlike Zuckerberg, she gives money without restrictions. She also supports organizations that focus on equity.Zuckerberg's new focus is on AI and science. This could lead to breakthroughs in biology and technology. But experts think Scott's grants are more impactful. She supports communities regardless of their background. This helps people thrive and makes society better. Without these people, AI tools won't be as useful. Zuckerberg's exit from immigration advocacy is a big deal. FWD needs to find new backers or scale back. Scott's giving offers a counterweight. She avoids the political spotlight. She lets her work speak for itself. These two billionaires show different approaches to philanthropy. One aligns with political winds. The other pushes against them. It's a study in contrasts.