FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Apr 19, 2022

Philanthropist furthers national service mission in underserved communities 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mackenzie Scott, an American philanthropist, announced nearly $4 billion in donations to nonprofit organizations focused on removing obstacles for underserved communities. Of the 465 recipient organizations, many are partners or affiliates of AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.  

AmeriCorps’ mission is “to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.” Like Scott, AmeriCorps turns compassion into action by building a culture of service to unite the nation. National service and volunteerism are proven to lift communities up from inequity while benefiting those who volunteer and serve.   

“Service and civic engagement harness the power of everyday changemakers to enhance and accelerate solutions to our nation’s toughest challenges,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO. "AmeriCorps takes pride in identifying evidence-based organizations and helping them strengthen their models to have the greatest impact on underserved communities. We’re proud to see Ms. Scott build on our investment to recognize and scale these solutions that work.” 

“Our team’s focus over these last nine months has included some new areas, but as always our aim has been to support the needs of underrepresented people from groups of all kinds,” Scott wrote in Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All. “The cause of equity has no sides. Nor can it have a single solution. Equity can only be realized when all people involved have an opportunity to help shape it.” 

AmeriCorps partner organizations that received donations:  

For a more on Scott’s focus areas and a complete list of organizations visit mackenzie-scott.medium.com. 

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests more than $800 million in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.