Mackenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announces Yield Open Call awardees
Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (NMCLP) as one of the Yield Open Call awardees for organizations working on community-led change. NMCLP received a one-time $2 million grant after participating in an extensive and competitive application process.
The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty was created 27 years ago to protect rights and build access to economic opportunities in our state. NMCLP works closely with communities to identify goals, connect New Mexicans with decision makers, and ensure that policy solutions are designed by those they impact most. Our team partners with community organizers, direct service providers, and other advocates on issues that are most important to New Mexico’s children and families, including redesigning the public education system, expanding access to healthcare coverage, food, and child care, and building protections for workers and New Mexicans facing housing insecurity. To learn more, check out this short video.
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. On March 19, 2024, Yield Giving announced 361 organizations were awarded $640 million.
“We are deeply honored to receive this gift and affirmation of our work, which has been bolstered by our community partnerships and every grassroots donation and funder investment made to our organization over the years,” said Sireesha Manne, Executive Director of the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “New Mexico is a vibrant place to live, and all of our families deserve opportunities, dignity, and justice. This grant will help accelerate the momentum for bold work ahead where we can continue to push our community’s vision even further and deepen our support for everyone we work with. While the barriers we are fighting to dismantle are significant, we are committed to this ongoing work together. NMCLP has always been built and strengthened by community support, and we look forward to continuing these vital partnerships to sustain our collaborative efforts long term.”
The Open Call received 6,353 applications nationwide. The year-long application process, involving written and video components, began with a peer review in which applicants read and scored other organizations’ proposals. In the Fall of 2023, organizations that were top-rated by their peers advanced to a second round of review by an external Evaluation Panel recruited for experience relevant to this cause. Finally, applicants underwent a final round of due diligence. NMCLP is proud to be one of the top organizations selected to receive this one-time investment in our work.
“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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