UWGC announces additional funding for regional initiatives from $22 million MacKenzie Scott gift

United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) announced its investment strategy for the remaining $22 million of MacKenzie Scott’s gift to the organization.

The investments will continue to drive critical impact in education, housing and workforce readiness over the next three years. In addition, UWGC is announcing $2.3 million in partnerships and initiatives aimed at improving youth success and workforce readiness.

UWGC President and CEO Moira Weir outlined bold, innovative investments during the organization’s donor event, A Brighter Tomorrow , Thursday night at The Anderson Pavilion. The announcements coincided with the opening night of BLINK, and just as the festival illuminates endless possibilities for our city, UWGC is committed to building pathways to a brighter future for our community.

“We know there’s a need for comprehensive strategies to support our young people and ensure they have opportunities to realize their greatest potential,” said Weir. “Every child is filled with remarkable promise, and we have a collective responsibility to ensure that children in our community can thrive.”

First, UWGC is investing $2.3 million to support educational and youth leadership capacity through the following partnerships and initiatives:

EducateNKY – $500,000
HEY Cincinnati – $250,000
The Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati – $450,000
Launch a Regional Head Start Innovation Fund – $500,000
Pilot a child college savings program – $125,000
Pilot a basic needs stipend for teens and young adults – $500,000

The investments create supportive avenues for young people to achieve economic well-being. These partners play critical roles in driving positive results, so we’re collaborating to scale up efforts throughout the region.

In addition, UWGC is prepared to invest the remainder of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s $25 million gift strategically over the next three years. United Way received the funding in December 2020 amidst the disruption and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, the organization paired $5 million of the grant with public funds to rebuild organizational capacity, support community initiatives and better connect individuals to short-term financial relief.

With a clearer picture of how the community has changed since 2020, the UWGC Board of Directors recently approved plans to invest more than $22 million to support longer-term recovery efforts.

“United Way took a strategic, patient approach to investing the MacKenzie Scott funding,” said UWGC Board Chair Brian Hodgett. “We managed to grow the initial gift, and as a result, we’re able to engineer cross-sector collaborations and pilot innovative solutions that can transform our community.”

A primary focus for these investments is supporting positive youth and educational outcomes. To do this, United Way will address critical challenges outside the classroom that hinder student and family stability and success.

Additional funding is earmarked for the ongoing expansion of 211 — the resource and referral service staffed by UWGC — and housing security efforts, including eviction prevention and homeownership preservation. All these investments, aligned with the Cincinnati Futures Commission report , support strategies to drive regional growth, support educational success and strengthen workforce development.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati

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