Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced Sherwood Forest as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. Sherwood Forest received $2 million.
Sherwood Forest is a year-round youth development organization dedicated to using research-based methods, innovative practices and the unique opportunities offered by the natural environment to give children from low-income families the foundation needed to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty. By balancing traditional camp adventures with evidence-based programs that reinforce and support school-year learning, Sherwood Forest connects with, educates, and inspires the youth of St. Louis.
In March 2023, Yield Giving launched an 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.
“Sherwood Forest is honored and humbled to receive this gift that will allow us to further our mission to provide dynamic programs and immersive outdoor experiences that inspire and empower youth from low-income households in St. Louis,” said Addie Bond, Sherwood Forest’s Executive Director. “This funding will strengthen our organization, allow us to deepen our work with our current families and increase our ability to serve more children in our community, especially those who would otherwise not be able to access summer enrichment opportunities.”
The Open Call received 6,353 applications and initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. In the Fall of 2023, organizations top-rated by their peers advanced to a second round of review by an external Evaluation Panel recruited for experience relevant to this cause, and underwent a final round of due diligence. In light of the incredible work of these organizations, as judged by their peers and external panelists, the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and the award amount.
“We are excited that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”
More information on the Yield Giving Open Call and other initiatives can be found at www.leverforchange.org.
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Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest is a year-round youth development organization dedicated to using research-based methods, innovative practices and the unique opportunities offered by the natural environment to give children from low-income families the foundation needed to break the cycle multi-generational poverty. Anchored in a summer camp experience, our years-long, multi-faceted programs build the personal characteristics and habits that kids need to achieve the factors that most determine their future: sustained academic success and building strong, healthy relationships with peers and adults. This vision guides our mission: to provide dynamic programs and immersive outdoor experiences that inspire and empower youth from under-resourced communities to discover their resilience, prepare for their future, and embrace their civic responsibility. We envision a community where all youth discover and achieve their fullest potential. Sherwood Forest has provided services to more than 50,000 youth in the St. Louis region since our founding in 1937. To learn more, visit www.sherwoodforeststl.org.
Yield Giving
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.
Lever for Change
Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 145 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org.