United Way outlines plans for remaining $22M from Scott’s gift

United Way of Greater Cincinnati has a new investment strategy for spending the remaining $22 million of MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic gift. In addition, the organization is announcing $2.3 million in grants to support educational and youth leadership capacity.

That initial $2.3 million will go toward 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

“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 Moira Weir, UWGC president and CEO. “Every child is filled with remarkable promise, and we have a collective responsibility to ensure that children in our community can thrive.”

A transformational gift

United Way received a total of $25 million from Scott in December 2020 amid the disruption and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. UWGC took a “strategic, patient” approach to investing the money, according to Board Chair Brian Hodgett, enabling the organization to grow the initial gift. 

“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,” Hodgett said.

Early on, UWGC combined $5 million from the grant with public funds to rebuild its organizational capacity, support community initiatives and connect individuals to short-term financial relief. Now that it has a clearer picture of how the pandemic has changed the needs of the Greater Cincinnati community, the board has approved a strategic plan to use the remaining funds for longer-term recovery efforts. The main focus will be on supporting young people, addressing challenges outside the classroom that affect student and family stability. Over the next three years, these investments will focus on education, housing, and workforce readiness.

UWGC has also set aside additional funding to continue expanding 211, its resource and referral service, and to support housing security efforts, including eviction prevention and homeownership preservation.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati