We’re thrilled to share that Mandela Partners has been awarded $2 million from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call! This is the largest gift we have received in our 20-year history.
In March 2023, Yield Giving launched a nationwide Open Call for “community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources.”
The Yield Giving Open Call received 6,353 applications and initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. In light of the “incredible work of these organizations,” the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and give a mix of $1 million and $2 million gifts.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding,” says Executive Director Monique Brown. “As a fourth-generation West Oaklander and the first Black woman to lead our organization, I can truly see the impact of Mandela Partners' work in our communities over the years. This support is a wonderful way to honor and celebrate our 20th anniversary; it is an investment not just in our organization but in our communities, and the future is bright.”
Stay tuned for more exciting announcements throughout the year as we celebrate our Anniversary! You can follow our work by signing up for our newsletter, and following us on Instagram and Facebook.
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Founded in 2004, Mandela Partners uses food as a tool for communities of color to build wealth, well-being, and economic opportunities in their own neighborhoods. Our programs include: fresh produce distribution from local BIPOC farms to East Bay communities facing food insecurity; culinary training for community members facing barriers to employment, with a focus on those returning home after incarceration; workshops, mentorship, and resources for small food business owners and entrepreneurs; and culturally-relevant wellness education that goes beyond nutritional health and supports physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.
