Micronesia Conservation Trust Receives $12 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Drinnette James, djames@ourmicronesia.org
Funding will accelerate marine and biodiversity conservation, climate resilience initiatives, and support for local organizations and partners across the region’s more than 600 islands
(Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia – Nov. 6, 2025) The Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT) is honored to announce a $12 million unrestricted gift from Yield Giving, the philanthropic organization established by MacKenzie Scott. This extraordinary contribution, which follows a $6 million gift from Ms. Scott in 2022, arrives at a pivotal moment for Micronesia, the broader Pacific region and the planet.
Micronesia's island communities have long taken their future into their own hands — collaborating across geographies and generations to protect their environment and sustain their way of life. The region's leadership through the Micronesia Challenge, initiated in 2006, offers proof of what's possible when vision is matched with resources. Continued investment will ensure that locally led solutions can scale and endure for generations to come..
Coral reef ecosystem at Ant Atoll off the west coast of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Photo: Noah A. Adams
“We are deeply grateful to MacKenzie Scott for this remarkable expression of confidence in MCT’s ability to help the people and governments of Micronesia fund and implement critical conservation, sustainable development, and climate adaptation projects,” said Mae Bruton-Adams, Chief Executive Officer of the Micronesia Conservation Trust. “This level of support is truly transformative. We are committed to ensuring that every decision we make honors the magnitude of Ms. Scott’s trust in our organization and its people.”
The contribution will support various programs and initiatives, such as:
Enhancing MCT’s financial stewardship and coordination of the Micronesia Challenge, a regional commitment by the governments of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to effectively manage 100% of their oceans by 2030.
Expanding community-driven conservation programs across Micronesia and ensuring that funding reaches the people and places most in need.
Strengthening internal capacity, governance and transparency, as well as the systems that make MCT’s work effective.
Collaborating with public and private sector partners throughout Micronesia and across the globe.
“This gift is a validation of MCT’s long record of regional collaboration and the strength of our island communities,” added Bruton-Adams. “With this funding—and continued support from our partners —we will be able to accelerate conservation and climate resilience efforts that protect both the natural environment and the people who depend on it.”
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About the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT)
The Micronesia Conservation Trust serves as a regional financing and coordination mechanism supporting conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development across the Micronesia Challenge jurisdictions. Through partnerships with governments, NGOs, and local communities, MCT mobilizes and manages financial resources to promote thriving island communities and resilient ecosystems.