Check your afterschool program's eligibility for Yield Giving grants

In the past three years, MacKenzie Scott has shaken up traditional philanthropy by granting high-dollar awards to nonprofits in a variety of fields, including afterschool and summer learning. Until now, programs had no way of applying for or expressing interest in these awards. 

At the end of March 2023, Yield Giving, MacKenzie Scott’s charitable giving organization, announced the Yield Giving Open Call, its first open call for grant applications. The Open Call seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. The initiative will award 250 $1M awards to qualified applicants. 

While afterschool and summer programs and intermediaries may be eligible, organizations are advised to utilize the Organizational Readiness Tool to determine whether they are a good match for the application process. The Readiness Tool is fairly straightforward, does not take much time to complete, and provides comprehensive information about application strength based on the responses entered. 

A few notes on eligibility: 

• Programs must have an annual operating budget between $1M and $5M 

• Programs cannot be affiliated with previous recipients of funding (database available here) 

• The Open Call is seeking organizations whose main purpose is advancing the voices and opportunities of those most vulnerable. 

Interested organizations must register their intent to apply by 4 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Friday, May 5, 2023. Complete applications are due before 4 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Monday, June 12, 2023.

A pre-registration Training Webinar will be held on Thursday, 4/13, 11 a.m. CT. You can register here.