Jeff Bezos gives Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven $100m for charity

Philanthropy is often associated with people who have fortunes large enough to fund schools, charities and ambitious social programmes. Yet the ability to support others does not necessarily depend on the size of a bank account.

As reported by Fortune, actress Eva Longoria has been making that distinction after receiving a $50 million philanthropic award from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, alongside retired US Navy admiral Bill McRaven. Two years after the recognition, Longoria says the experience has changed how she approaches charitable work, but she also wants to challenge the idea that meaningful contributions are reserved for wealthy individuals.

How Jeff Bezos brought Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven together

In 2024, Eva Longoria and retired admiral Bill McRaven were selected as recipients of the Bezos Courage and Civility Award, an initiative established by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos to recognise people working to improve society.“The Courage and Civility Award makes it possible for us at the Eva Longoria Foundation to create long-term impact with transformative giving.”Each recipient received $50 million, bringing the combined philanthropic commitment to $100 million.

The funding was intended to support causes that reflected their respective areas of work.For Longoria, the award offered an opportunity to expand programmes focused on education, economic opportunities and support for Latino communities in the United States. McRaven, meanwhile, had plans to direct his share towards education and support services for military personnel and their families.McRaven is widely recognised for overseeing the 2011 US military operation that resulted in the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Why Eva Longoria believes giving back is about more than money

Longoria's experience with the award has given her a larger platform to discuss charitable giving, but her message is not centred on financial donations. In an interview with Fortune, she said, “This award has allowed me to continue investing those resources into the communities and causes I care deeply about—supporting Latina entrepreneurs, expanding access to education, and backing organizations that are driving real change on the ground.

”Her understanding of giving back includes mentoring, sharing professional knowledge and helping small businesses find opportunities they might otherwise struggle to access.

What Longoria has done with her philanthropic award

Longoria's involvement in charitable work began well before she received recognition from Bezos. In 2012, she established the Eva Longoria Foundation, which focuses on improving educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for Latinas in the United States.

Its work includes helping women access resources that can support their education and participation in business. She also founded Eva's Heroes, an organisation that supports young adults with intellectual special needs.The $50 million award has provided additional resources for these efforts. Longoria has described the funding as an opportunity to plan longer-term programmes and direct investment towards communities and organisations working on the ground.Her charitable activities also sit alongside a varied business career. The former Desperate Housewives actress has developed interests in entertainment, entrepreneurship and sports, including her luxury tequila brand Casa Del Sol, production company Hyphenate Media Group and investment in women's football club Angel City FC.She has also been associated with an early investment in the John Wick film franchise.

These business activities have helped establish her as more than an actor, while her foundation work has remained a separate part of her public life. Longoria has said,“Receiving that support was incredibly meaningful, not just because of the scale of the gift, but because it represented trust and responsibility.”

What Bill McRaven plans to do with his $50 million

The other half of the $100 million commitment went to Bill McRaven, whose philanthropic priorities reflect his military background.

McRaven has said he intends to support educational programmes for future military leaders and children of deceased veterans. Mental health assistance for serving military personnel is another area included in his plans.A former four-star admiral, McRaven held senior leadership positions in the US military and later served as chancellor of the University of Texas System. His work has included military education, leadership development and public service.The Bezos Courage and Civility Award has previously recognised other prominent figures involved in humanitarian and social initiatives. Among its recipients are civil rights advocate Van Jones, chef and humanitarian José Andrés, and singer Dolly Parton.

Growing debate over billionaire philanthropy and public responsibility

Large charitable donations attract attention because they can finance projects that would be difficult for smaller organisations to undertake. But the concentration of philanthropic resources among a relatively small number of wealthy individuals has also raised questions about how much responsibility should rest with them.

The Giving Pledge is one example of an effort to encourage large-scale charitable commitments.

Established in 2010 by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett, it invites billionaires to commit at least half of their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetimes or through their wills.More than 250 individuals and families have signed the pledge since its launch. However, making a commitment and distributing the promised wealth are not the same thing. For Liz Baker, chief executive of Greater Good Charities, waiting for wealthy donors to address community problems leaves too much work undone. The organisation she leads has distributed more than $1 billion in support across 121 countries since 2006.

Speaking to Fortune, Baker argued that charitable participation should not be limited to people capable of making substantial financial contributions.