Allie O’Brien Aobrien@ftfb.us
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY, March 19, 2024 – Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced the Franklin Food Bank as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. The Franklin Food Bank received $1 million.
The Franklin Food Bank serves the food needs of the local community in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. Recently, in the face of growing demand and in light of overwhelming evidence that it takes more than food to solve hunger, the FFB launched wraparound services including mobile health screenings, navigation for social services, and nutrition classes on top of its current and robust food assistance programming. These additional services are performed onsite at the FFB and made possible through strategic partnerships with a small number of organizations. When combined all together, the thoughtful programming of the FFB is designed to help neighbors establish and maintain self-sufficiency.
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.
Franklin Food Bank’s Executive Director Derek Smith states, “There are so many individuals and groups out there doing incredible work to serve the most underserved among us. We’re both humbled and inspired by their efforts, so…for the Franklin Food Bank to be recognized by Yield Giving as one of the impactful organizations doing transformative work in the food security space, that really means the world to us. We wake up each and every day, committed to serving our neighbors in need, and we’re so grateful for the many volunteers, partners, and supporters that dedicate the hard and heart work to our mission. One love.”
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
Visit www.franklinfoodbank.org for more information on how to get involved.
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.
