DENVER – March 15, 2024 – Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced Colorado Fiscal Institute as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. Colorado Fiscal Institute received $1 million.

The Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI) is a women-of-color led organization that was created to partner with communities who face the greatest barriers to economic prosperity and wealth-building – Black, Indigenous, people of color, especially women of color, immigrants, and people who earn the lowest incomes – to bring about change in Colorado’s tax system. At its core, a tax system is all about how communities raise money and solve problems together. Since its inception, CFI has advocated alongside the community for tax policies that work for all Colorado workers and their families — not just the ones for whom our economy already benefits.

Since 2012, CFI’s work has focused on amplifying the voices of these communities at our state capitol where laws are made and passed, through education, advocacy, and training. Outside the capitol, CFI uses innovative civic engagement strategies and popular education programs, such as the six-week Tax Ambassador train-the-trainer program, to support people to become champions for tax and economic justice within their own communities. 

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.

“We’re deeply grateful to receive this generous gift from MacKenzie Scott. It’s a testament to the efforts of our incredible staff, current and former board of directors, amazing local funders and supporters who’ve been with us all this time; and of course, to our community partners, with whom we’ve been working toward our shared vision of a state where our fiscal and economic policies support equity and widespread prosperity,” said CFI Executive Director Kathy White. “We’re excited to embark on an intentional and collaborative process with our board and our community to determine how we can best use these one-time funds for lasting impact to our organization, our community, and our movement for economic justice.” 

The Open Call received 6,353 applications and awarded 361 organizations with a total of $640 million. 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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Colorado Fiscal Institute

The Colorado Fiscal Institute uses research, advocacy, strategic communications and statewide education to promote responsible, people-centered, fiscal and economic policies that advance equity and widespread prosperity in Colorado. To learn more, visit www.coloradofiscal.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. ​