Santa Barbara City College Mismanages Mackenzie Scott’s Donation
Santa Barbara City College has reportedly spent a significant portion of Mackenzie Scott’s generous $20 million gift—the largest ever for the college—on programs that lacked the necessary approvals.
About $10.5 million of Scott’s donation was allocated to the Promise program, intended to help local high school students cover their tuition, books, and supplies. However, SF Gate reported that this spending was never sanctioned by the Santa Barbara City College Foundation Board of Directors.
Bobby Abram, the CEO of the SBCC Foundation, stated that these funds were utilized without any consent from the Foundation Board or the Board of Trustees. The foundation only discovered these discrepancies after an internal audit, leading to a full audit conducted in the fall of 2025.
It was noted that the funds had been “inflated” and the financial accounts were showing negative balances. Abram mentioned during the audit that these expenditures were not easily traceable in the financial statements.
When asked about whether Scott was made aware of these issues, Abram maintained that the foundation complies with all donor reporting requirements. Yet, he emphasized that the funds were used “in line with the donor’s intentions” and refuted any claims of “misuse.”
The billionaire philanthropist, known for her previous marriage to Jeff Bezos, made this generous donation in 2021, which the university celebrated as a testament to its value.
Jonathan Abboud, Chairman of the SBCC Board of Directors, expressed disappointment with the situation and announced that an investigation would be initiated to uncover what went wrong. He acknowledged gratitude for the current leadership’s role in identifying the past misconduct.
Scott has not yet responded to requests for her comments on this matter. Meanwhile, the university plans to address this funding controversy during its board meeting scheduled for February 19.
Notable alumni of SBCC include celebrities like Katy Perry.
