“Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos have just given $5 million to David Flink, the founder of the Neurodiversity Alliance, a nonprofit that helps students with autism, ADHD and dyslexia build inclusive classrooms.
## The Bezos Courage & Civility Award
The $5 million grant is part of the Bezos Courage & Civility Award, a program that has been presented each year since 2021. Five individuals are selected annually, and the prize money is unrestricted, allowing recipients to direct the funds toward their chosen charitable projects.
## About David Flink and the Neurodiversity Alliance
Flink, who has led the Alliance for more than 25 years, began the organization as a peer-to-peer mentorship program for students with learning and developmental differences. Today the nonprofit reaches more than 600 high schools and colleges, encouraging youth to create educational environments that serve classmates whose brains function differently from what is considered typical.
## Flink on the Impact of Small Actions
“I feel like there’s a narrative sometimes that our little actions don’t matter,” Flink said. “That’s just not true. And this proves it. Lots of little actions that happen every day in our work, collectively over time, reached the ears of folks like Lauren and Jeff.”
## A Shift From Celebrity to Grassroots
The selection of Flink marks a departure from previous award recipients, who have included well-known figures such as CNN commentator Van Jones, chef José Andrés, actress-director Eva Longoria and country star Dolly Parton. The change reflects a desire to channel funds directly to the people and programs that are driving change.
## Bezos’s Philanthropic Focus
Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is about $240 billion according to Forbes, has long shown an interest in early childhood education. He founded a network of tuition-free preschools inspired by the Montessori model, and the recent grant continues his focus on education.
## Lauren Sánchez’s Personal Connection
Sánchez grew up with undiagnosed dyslexia. She told “Good Morning America” last year that her children’s book, “The Fly Who Flew to Space”, is for “the 8-year-old me who was told I wasn’t smart.” She credited a college professor, who recruited her to the school newspaper despite her insistence that she could not spell, for encouraging her to get tested.
## A More Direct Philanthropy Model
Indiana University professor emeritus Leslie Lenkowsky noted that today’s entrepreneur-philanthropists “Rather than trying to change the system, what they’re trying to do is provide funding to individuals or communities to deal with important issues.” Lenkowsky added, “It really is a much older model of philanthropy.”
## The Award’s Size and Distribution
This year’s award total is $25 million, split equally among five winners. Past awards have been larger, with totals up to $100 million. The smaller pot reflects a strategic choice to keep the money closer to the ground.
## How the Funds Will Be Used
Flink said the money will help the Alliance reach its goal of more than 2,000 sites by 2028. He plans to:
– Expand the mentorship program
– Share stories that challenge negative narratives about neurodiversity
– Grow the national network of student leaders who receive training to sustain their schools’ clubs
He emphasized that the support is especially important when “the demand has never been greater” and schools have seen “some oscillation” in resources.
## Federal Policy Context
The Trump administration’s dismantling of the Education Department included mass layoffs at the agency that handles complaints about inadequate support for students with disabilities. Earlier this month, the department rehired dozens of Office for Civil Rights staffers to address a backlog of discrimination complaints.
Kala Shah, an attorney with 24 years at the Department of Education, said that neurodivergent students depend on that oversight. “This is an especially critical time for private foundations and philanthropy to help fill the gap in resources that’s been created by the current federal climate,” she said.
## Closing
The $5 million grant from Jeff and Lauren Bezos underscores a growing trend among high-profile philanthropists to invest directly in grassroots initiatives that have proven impact. By channeling funds to the Neurodiversity Alliance, the Bezoses are supporting a movement that empowers students to shape classrooms that reflect their diverse needs.”
