MacKenzie Scott’s multibillion dollar gift to nonprofits across the nation, including seven in San Antonio, all started because of a 19-year-old in Chicago. The woman wanted to help those in her neighborhood who’d lost a job during the pandemic and raised $7,000 after texting her friends about getting involved by buying supplies for those in need. Scott, the former spouse of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, heard about the effort and was inspired to act, she wrote in a post for Medium. Over four months, she gave $4.2 billion to 384 high-performing charities nationwide, including more than $60 million that came to San Antonio. “MacKenzie’s gift will keep us from going into debt and from having to get loans for our projects,” says Michael Guerra, chief resource officer for the San Antonio Food Bank. Each of the donations were unrestricted, meaning there are no strings attached.
To identify organizations, Scott and her team used data to find nonprofits that had solid leadership and a track record of results. “This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling,” Scott wrote on Medium. “Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.”
Here’s a look at what Scott’s donation will do for San Antonio.
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center
Amount given: Undisclosed
What will the money do: This nonprofit will use funds to expand their services (from early childhood intervention to training and job placement) to meet the needs of children and adults living with an autism spectrum disorder or other disability. Programs help those with disabilities engage in the community, and demand often outpaces what’s available.
Goodwill Industries of San Antonio
Amount given: $10 million
What will the money do: Having just celebrated 75 years in San Antonio, this organization is currently in a vetting process to see how it will best utilize its funds to boost its diverse programming, all of which is aimed at combating poverty while creating job opportunities.
LiftFund
Amount given: $10 million
What will the money do: LiftFund, which provides micro and small business loans to entrepreneurs, will use the money to support minority entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses during the pandemic.
Palo Alto College
Amount given: $20 million
What will the money do: The funds will allow the college to enhance support for student scholarship assistance through AlamoPROMISE, which provides free tuition toward a certificate or associate’s degree for students from participating high schools. It also is being used to increase resources at the college’s S.H.A.R.E. Center, which connects students with counseling, career services, peer coaching and more, and it will help launch a soon-to-be-announced new program.
San Antonio Food Bank
Amount given: Undisclosed
What will the money do: The gift will allow the organization to complete its capital projects, including the Culinary Center at their main campus and the Apple Seeds Apartments in New Braunfels, without having to take on loans or debt.
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County
Amount given: $20 million
What will the money do: United Way’s staff says much of the donation will go toward their efforts to help combat economic, educational and social disparities in the community, while another part of the gift will go specifically to the United Way Dual Generation Partnership, which works to help families break the cycle of poverty through housing, education, childcare and employment programs.
YWCA San Antonio
Amount given: $1 million
What will the money do: The million dollars will go toward building its racial justice and gender equality department and making it sustainable over the next three years. The YWCA also plans to update computers and provides raises to staff members.
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How Local Charities Are Using Mackenzie Scott's Multibillion Dollar Donation - San Antonio Magazine
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