LSC is thrilled to share that we were awarded $2 million in MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call – double the amount originally announced for the Open Call award! We are so proud to have received this resounding recognition of the impact of our work empowering young people in crisis to achieve their goals through legal and social services. We are extremely excited about the opportunities this award will open up for us to help even more children and youth.
The Yield Giving 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. As one of the top-scoring organizations from among a nationwide pool of applicants, LSC received a $2 million award.
Every year, LSC helps hundreds of children and youth – young people like Joanna*, 12, whose mother was in hospice with terminal cancer. A family friend had offered to be Joanna’s guardian, since her father had died the year before. After meeting with Joanna to confirm this was what she wanted, LSC started the legal process. But at the last minute, the friend backed out. Joanna’s mother died soon after, and Joanna was potentially going to be put in a foster home.
Her LSC social worker met with her again, and Joanna revealed she would like her older brother, who was 24, to be her guardian. He was willing, but didn’t think he could afford to take care of her; he lived in a small apartment and couldn’t afford higher rent, health insurance, and all the other expenses that caring for her would involve.
Fortunately, her LSC social worker was able to help him find and apply for the benefit programs he needed to provide Joanna with stable housing, food, and healthcare. With these supports in place, LSC’s attorney helped them complete the legal guardianship. Our social worker also helped Joanna enroll in a school near her new home and access mental health support as she processed the loss of her mother.
We were able to help Joanna, but every week youth in crisis call us who we don’t have the capacity to help.
This Yield Giving award will enable LSC to meet the needs of even more Bay Area children and young people. Every young person needs and deserves safety and stability, loving caretakers, access to education, freedom from detention and deportation, emotional well-being, and so much more.
We are deeply honored by this recognition that our holistic service model transforms young people’s lives – something our incredible community of supporters has long known.
If you are already a supporter, thank you. If not, will you join the LSC community and support our life-changing work with Bay Area children and young people? Watch our video submission to the Yield Giving Open Call and make your donation!
It has truly been a momentous year for LSC. Our team, board of directors, and wonderful community of supporters are looking forward to raising a glass to this award, to our amazing clients, our talented staff, and to the immense contributions of our pro bono attorney partners at our annual event on May 30th. Get your tickets or become a sponsor – we can’t wait to share this special celebration with you!
*Names and other identifying details of our client have been changed.
