March 19, 2024

South Bronx United Receives $2 Million Gift From the Yield Giving Open Call

Bronx, NY – Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced South Bronx United as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. South Bronx United received $2 million, as one of the highest scoring organizations in the open call process, to further its impactful work in the community.

South Bronx United, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, has been committed to uplifting the Bronx community since 2009. Through a wide range of initiatives including academic enrichment, college prep, mentoring, workforce development, immigration legal services, individual and family support, and soccer programs, South Bronx United now reaches more than 1,600 young people annually between the ages of 2 and 24. Notably, the organization has achieved remarkable academic outcomes such as a 100% high school graduation rate and a 94% college matriculation rate among participants in its SBU Academy program over the past decade. Situated in the Concourse neighborhood, South Bronx United serves as a vital community hub through its school and parks-based programs, the SBU Clubhouse, and the Clubhouse Café, a youth-run coffee shop.

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. The gift to South Bronx United marks the single largest donation to the organization in its 15 years.

“This gift is a testament to our mission and vision, to the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and to the investment that we make in the South Bronx community and in the dreams of its youth. It is a validation of our unique model for uplifting low-income, first-generation, immigrant, and at-risk youth in our community,” said South Bronx United’s Executive Director and co-founder Andrew So.

“It also could not have come at a better time. It has been an uphill climb to secure the resources needed for our growing programs and expanded infrastructure while still aiming to deliver the maximum social impact possible with constituent needs as high as ever. Now, this gift will enable South Bronx United to further our impact today while also planning for the future. We will be leveraging the funds to best serve the long-term success, sustainability, and positive impact of the organization. We want to be here to serve the South Bronx until the day our services are no longer needed, and this gift will provide us with the time, flexibility, and capital to build the capacity to achieve that goal.”

The 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.

"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.

South Bronx United

Since 2009, South Bronx United has used soccer as a tool for social change aiming to help youth build character, teamwork, and leadership so that they can succeed in high school, college, careers, their community, and beyond. Its programs offer academic enrichment, college prep, mentoring, workforce development, immigration legal services, and other individual and family support. In 2020, South Bronx United was recognized with the Laureus Sport for Good Award in Berlin, Germany. Learn more at southbronxunited.org or on social media at Instagram, Facebook, or X.

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.

PRESS CONTACT:
pr@southbronxunited.org
(718) 404-9281