SEATTLE — Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott continued her pledge to donate her fortune earlier this week, announcing the hundreds of nonprofits that would be receiving donations.
Of the 361 organizations selected through an external review process, Scott's Yield Giving chose 10 organizations from around Washington state to collect a portion of the total $640 million pledged by Scott. Nine of the organizations were given $2 million, while a tenth was given $1 million.
Council for the Homeless provides advocacy and "practical solutions" for the homeless population in Clark County, near the Washington-Oregon border. The organization's website features resources and contact information for a variety of different forms of assistance.
East African Community Services has centers in the New Holly neighborhood of Seattle and SeaTac to help refugees and immigrant families prosper in King County and western Washington. Founded back in 2001, the organization offers academic, recreational and other programs for East Africans and others within the BIPOC community.
Northwest Education Access helps financially support low-income people looking to pursue higher education. The organization focuses on people ages 16-29 and has worked with over 1,000 students since launching.
Altera is an educational non-profit located on the Yakama Nation reservation in central Washington. The organization works with 24 communities and 67 schools. Altera's motto is "social equity through education."
Interfaith Works has spent the past 29 years promoting justice and peace "through interfaith understanding and advances the social inclusion and empowerment of our neighbors experiencing homelessness through innovative practices of sheltering, mental health and emergency basic needs coordination."
Arts Corps works with over 2,500 kids in south Seattle and south King County to improve access to quality art education. According to its website, 72% of its students are from low-income families and 84% are youth of color.
Front and Centered is an organization consisting of color-led groups that work to advocate on behalf of environmental and climate causes. The Front and Centered Approach "seek to transition away from an extractive, exploitative society to a future where our communities and the earth are healed and thriving, our people have dignified work and the building blocks of opportunity and prosperity, and our government values, respects, and represents us," according to its website.
Technology Access Foundation (TAF) aims to eliminate race-based disparities by creating access to "transformative systems of learning" for communities of color. TAF operates an academy in partnership with Federal Way Public Schools.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning partners with families to provide therapy and support services to children dealing with developmental delays and disabilities. The organization has two locations in Bellingham and one in Ferndale.
Open Arms Perinatal Services provides support for families going through pregnancy and the early stages of a child's life, including doulas, lactation counselors and other parental support.
The Mockingbird Society received a $1 million grant in addition to the 10 above who were allocated $2 million. The Mockingbird Society works with youth in the foster care system or children who are homeless, offering support and programs that aim to improve the outcomes of those within that community.
