Scott R. MacKenzie Foundation Grants is sponsored by Scott R. MacKenzie Foundation.

Supports innovative genetic research aimed at advancing cures for diseases like cancer, diabetes, lung, and heart diseases. Emphasizes collaboration among research entities to enhance genome sequencing and disease detection.

The MacKenzie Scott Foundation & Grant Explained - 2026 MacKenzie Scott Foundation & Grant Explained Acquire More Donors & Raise More funds With Bloomerang. It’s no secret that grants are often game-changers for nonprofits. Unlike individual donations, they usually come from established foundations capable of gifting large lump sums—sums that can push an organization into a new phase of growth and impact.

However, securing these grants is no easy feat. Finding the right grant foundation for your nonprofit is just the first hurdle as the application process is often complex, time-consuming, and comes with strict spending guidelines. But what if another solution existed?

What if nonprofits could be given funding in a simpler way? Enter MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving—a billionaire philanthropist and her foundation who together are transforming the grantmaking process. How do I apply for a MacKenzie Scott (Yield Giving) grant?

There’s no standing application for Quiet Research—applications are only accepted during Yield Giving’s announced Open Calls. Check yieldgiving. com for updates on future opportunities.

What are the eligibility requirements for Yield Giving funding? Yield Giving favors nonprofits with a multi-year track record, stable finances, measurable outcomes, and work that supports underserved communities. Past Open Calls required organizations to meet specific budget ranges and demonstrate strong impact.

When is the next Yield Giving Open Call? Yield Giving has stated that the Open Call process is ongoing, but no new round has been officially announced. Monitor yieldgiving.

com for updates. How does Yield Giving select recipients? Most grants are awarded through a private “Quiet Research” process where Yield Giving identifies and reaches out to organizations.

Open Calls use a structured process including narrative applications, peer review, and multi-month evaluations. Are the grants unrestricted, and how large are they? Yes, Yield Giving provides unrestricted funding.

In recent rounds, grants have typically ranged from $1 million to $2 million per organization. What are the requirements to be considered for Yield Giving funding? While Quiet Research criteria are not publicly detailed, common factors include a multi-year track record, stable finances, and measurable outcomes.

Open Calls have included specific eligibility requirements such as budget size, community-led focus, and demonstrated impact. How can my organization get MacKenzie Scott's attention? Pay attention to funding trends and themes highlighted by Yield Giving.

Grants are often awarded in thematic batches, so aligning your work with current focus areas and maintaining strong impact reporting can help position your organization. Who has MacKenzie Scott gifted to in the past? While many recipients are publicly known, some grants remain undisclosed.

When recipients choose to share their funding, details are often published on Yield Giving’s website and summarized in MacKenzie Scott’s public essays. Who is MacKenzie Scott & what is Yield Giving? If you like to keep tabs on the ultra-rich, MacKenzie Scott is a name you’ve likely heard.

She first gained public attention as the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and, more notably, the $38 billion she received following their divorce. A sum of money that skyrocketed her to the top spot on the list of wealthiest women in the world—a list she still ranks in the top five of. Since then, she’s made quite the name for herself in the nonprofit sector.

Given that she’s donated over $19 billion to 2,000 organizations since 2019, it’s safe to say she’s earned the recognition. In 2022, following criticism over the secrecy of her donations, MacKenzie Scott founded Yield Giving with the aim of providing transparency to the causes and organizations she supports.

From the beginning, Yield Giving took an untraditional approach to grantmaking by providing unrestricted funding to nonprofits, allowing them to use the money as they see fit. Fortunately for nonprofits, there is now an application process for grant consideration! Naturally, you might be wondering, how then does Yield Giving decide who receives a grant?

It’s a question you’re not alone in. Yield Giving’s grant selection process If you take a perusal of Yield Giving’s website, you’ll notice how bare bones it is—especially when it comes to information about their process. “Shrouded in secrecy” could honestly be the motto for this foundation.

However, we do know they rely on two models for their grant selection. The first, and most common, is their Quiet Research approach. As the name suggests, this process and all that it entails is kept close to the chest.

What we know about it largely comes from past recipients: A nonprofit leader will get an unexpected call from Yield Giving, have a discussion or two, and then a generous sum of money will be dropped into their account. After that, two things are stated—use the money however your organization sees fit, and don’t come back asking for more.

While this approach certainly limits the burden on nonprofits that are chosen by nixing the application process, it also restricts accessibility for those that may not be on MacKenzie Scott’s radar. Given that fact, in 2023 Yield Giving announced their first Open Call in partnership with Lever for Change.

According to Lever for Change , the inaugural round focused on “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.

” Unlike the Quiet Research model, the Open Call included an approximately 10 hour long application process, lengthy peer evaluation, and a nine month long selection process. Despite this intense undertaking, participants claimed they appreciated the transparency through the multiple rounds of review. And the effort paid off—big time.

In 2024, Yield Giving awarded a total of $640 million to 361 organizations, which, when broken down, equated to 279 organizations receiving $2 million each and 82 organizations receiving $1 million each. In true Yield Giving fashion, this came as quite the surprise as the original goal was to award 250 organizations with $1 million each.

With such a clear penchant for extreme charity, you probably have a few questions on how your nonprofit can be considered for Yield Giving Funding. Nonprofit grants similar to Mackenzie Scott’s Yield Giving While MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving has redefined large-scale philanthropy, several other grantmakers offer similar opportunities for nonprofits seeking transformational funding.

Yield Giving (MacKenzie Scott) Unrestricted, trust-based philanthropy Primarily invite-only, occasional open calls Established nonprofits with strong track records and visibility Coefficient Giving (Open Philanthropy) Research-driven, high-impact funding Primarily invite-based, some outreach accepted Organizations tackling large-scale systemic issues High-impact, scalable solutions funding No unsolicited applications, invite-only Nonprofits with proven, scalable models Lever for Change / Big Bet Philanthropy Open-call, large-scale competitions Competitive application process Nonprofits ready to scale impact significantly Scaling capital, long-term investment Multi-million (often $10M+) Invitation and due diligence process Large nonprofits with proven, data-backed outcomes Strategic, flexible funding Organizations focused on economic mobility and education Ford Foundation (BUILD Program) Unrestricted, multi-year support Varies (often multi-year, six–seven figures) Established nonprofits needing infrastructure support MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving are disrupting the traditional grantmaking process.

While secretive, their Quiet Research removes the usual hurdles of lengthy applications, strict spending guidelines, and rigorous reporting requirements. Meanwhile, while intensive, their Open Call creates a pathway for greater accessibility and broader impact. However you slice it, it’s clear MacKenzie Scott truly cares about nonprofits and the work they do.

And while not the most transparent of foundations, Yield Giving seems to have three key takeaways for nonprofit organizations—remain mission-driven, maintain financial stability, and demonstrate measurable impact. Do that, and you may just be the surprise recipient of a life-changing grant. Get the Buyer's Guide to Donor Management Software.

As Bloomerang's Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Melaina Chromy is passionate about strategic communication and powerful storytelling that draws in volunteers and fundraisers alike. Drawing on her experience as a prior board member of her local Junior League, recruiting and managing volunteers, she understands firsthand the complexities of coordinating and inspiring volunteers.

At Bloomerang, she translates this experience into practical advice, showing how dedicated volunteer management software can transform a nonprofit's ability to build, manage, and sustain a thriving volunteer program, ultimately maximizing their mission's impact.

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