MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire philanthropist, has once again made headlines with her innovative approach to philanthropy. Scott’s organization, Yield Giving, recently concluded its first open call for grants, a move that has been hailed as a game-changer in the philanthropic world.

Scott had initially promised to donate $1 million to 250 organizations through an open call for applications. However, in a surprising turn of events, she announced that she would be donating $640 million to 361 organizations instead¹ This decision effectively doubled the first round of donations from Yield Giving.

The open call initiative was designed to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen. It marked the first time that nonprofits could reach out to Scott for potential funding. The initiative received an overwhelming response, with 6,353 nonprofits applying for the $1 million grants.

The organizations that benefited from this initiative range from those providing support to people returning from incarceration to The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, which creates original theater with young people in Los Angeles. Many of the organizations serve very specific geographies or populations, like Asian Americans in central Texas or South Asian young people in New York.

Scott’s open call initiative is a testament to her commitment to empowering communities and advancing the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means. It also underscores her belief in the power of community-led nonprofits to bring about positive change.

This initiative is just one of the many ways in which Scott is revolutionizing philanthropy. Since pledging to donate the majority of her wealth in 2019, Scott has given more than $14 billion in unrestricted funds to 1,600 nonprofit organizations.