Ed Scott
/SOURCES OF WEALTH: Cofounder BEA Systems
FUNDING AREAS: Global poverty, health, autism, journalism
OVERVIEW: Unconventional philanthropist Ed Scott co-founded the Center for Global Development, bankrolling its early years. He has also given millions to support advocacy groups that help the poorest people in the developing world. on the planet. In 2009, Scott and his wife, Cheryl, donated to help the Florida Institute of Technology create what is now known as the Scott Center for Autism Treatment. Scott does not maintain a philanthropic foundation, making it difficult to ascertain the scope and goals of his philanthropic giving.
BACKGROUND: Ed Scott holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in political science from Michigan State University, as well as a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from the University of Oxford. Prior to his career in technology, Scott worked in the federal government for nearly two decades, including roles in the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Finance. In the tech world, Scott worked at Pyramid Technology, was part of the team that started the federal division of Sun Microsystems and co-founded the former BEA Systems, which was acquired by Oracle in 2008.
ISSUES:
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL HEALTH: In 2001, Scott co-founded the Center for Global Development with Nancy Birdsall and Fred Bergsten. The center has become a leading policy shop in Washington and supports greater U.S. development assistance and the reform of trade policies that hurt the global poor. The center's budget grew to nearly $10 million in its first 10 years, with Scott remaining actively involved as board chair. Scott is also founded and chaired the former Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty, which aimed to "improve the capacity and effectiveness of the faith community in its collective effort to reduce global poverty and disease," and which merged with Religions for Peace in 2013. Other global development and health recipients include Whole Child International, Malaria No More, Friends of the Global Fight and ONE, the African develoopment NGO which Scott co-founded with George Soros and Bill Gates.
AUTISM: In 2009, Scott and his wife, Cheryl, helped to create the Scott Center for Autism Treatment at the Florida Institute of Technology. The Scotts’ giving in this area is personal; their son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three. In addition to serving the needs of autistic people in Central Florida, the Scott Center participates in collaborative research on autism with leading universities and institutes around the world. The Scotts have also endowed the Cheryl and Reece Scott Chair of Psychiatry and two fellowships to support autism research at the University of Oxford.
OTHER: Scott has demonstrated an interest in civic engagement and media in recent years. He supported George Washington University’s Face the Facts USA, an on-line journalism project that aims to “deliver fascinating, sometimes entertaining, always thoroughly vetted information that will foster dialogue, participation, and consensus.”
CONTACT: Scott does run a philanthropic foundation, making it difficult to gauge the scope of his philanthropy. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the philanthropy page of his personal website. Inquiries may be directed to Scott’s office via email or his personal contact page.
