MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving is awarding $640 million to 361 organizations for their work with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. The $640 million is nearly 2.56 times the originally announced plan.
The awards, initially announced at $1 million each to 250 organizations, evolved to 279 organizations. The organizations in the top tier of scores will receive $2 million each and 82 organizations in the next tier will receive $1 million.
The Open Call received 6,353 applications. In the Fall of 2023, organizations top-rated by their peers advanced to a second round of review by an external Evaluation Panel recruited for experience relevant to this cause, and underwent a final round of due diligence.
The 361 organizations are from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The awards are intended to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. These community-led, community-focused organizations work in urban and rural settings, with individuals of all ages, focusing on a wide range of issues, according to an announcement from Lever For Change, which is managing the open call. Lever For Change is part of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in Chicago.
Those receiving the awards share a common sense of purpose: making positive change in their communities by reducing disparities in economic outcomes, education, health, and other critical issues, according to an announcement from Lever For Change.
“We are excited that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change via a statement. “In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”
Yield Giving, established by Scott, is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has awarded $16.5 billion to more than 1,900 nonprofits to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. Scott does not respond to media inquiries. She wrote in her Yield Giving post: “From a pool of over 6,000 applicants, each of these 361 community-led non-profits was elevated by peer organizations and a round-2 evaluation panel for their outstanding work advancing the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Grateful to Lever for Change and everyone on the evaluation and implementation teams for their roles in creating this pathway to support for people working to improve access to foundational resources in their communities. They are vital agents of change.”
Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network — a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 175 organizations.
