Philanthropist’s transformational gift will support NSC’s ongoing advocacy for an inclusive, equitable workforce
Washington, D.C. – National Skills Coalition (NSC) today announced that it has received a transformational $6 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott through her charitable organization, Yield Giving.
The one-time gift was informed not just by the recognition by others in the workforce development field regarding the effectiveness of NSC’s organizing and advocacy efforts over the years, but also by the purposeful way in which NSC and its affiliates have centered racial equity in how they develop policy, in how they are reaching out to new partners to mobilize around those policies, and in how they are assessing the impacts of that advocacy and its work overall as an organization.
“We are honored and humbled by this extraordinary donation,” said NSC CEO Andy Van Kleunen. “This gift is an acknowledgement of the impact of our visionary board, our talented staff, and our committed philanthropic partners over the past two decades. But even more, it is a recognition of the commitment of our stakeholders and networks throughout the country – the local organizations that are investing in the skills and talents of people every day, and working with local businesses in local communities to create equitable pathways to good jobs for working people who have been systematically denied such opportunities. Their advocacy for an America that invests equitably in all of its people, and the policies they have helped changed nationally and in the states in pursuit of that goal, is really at the heart of this gift. I want to thank Ms. Scott for her immense generosity and recognition of that worthy goal.”
Earlier this year, Van Kleunen, who founded the organization in 2000, announced his plans to step down as CEO and to make way for a new organizational leader to take the Coalition into its next phase of work. NSC’s Board of Directors is currently overseeing a search of Van Kleunen’s successor, with an announcement planned for later this year.
“NSC’s Board is so grateful to MacKenzie Scott and the Yield Giving team for this donation,” said Girard J. Melancon, Ph.D., incoming Chair of NSC’s Board of Directors. “It is a testament to the extraordinary organization and national movement built under Andy’s leadership since he founded NSC over twenty years ago. And it’s a tribute to the incredible work that our leadership, staff and members are positioned to continue into the future. This gift will give us the flexibility to be nimble, responsive, and innovative as we pursue our ambitious agenda to build a diverse, inclusive infrastructure workforce, to make higher education work for working people, to make our nation’s workforce system more equitable and resilient, and to close our nation’s digital divide.”
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National Skills Coalition fights for inclusive, high-quality skills training so that people have access to a better life, and local businesses see sustained growth. We engage in analysis and technical assistance, organizing, advocacy, and communications to improve state and federal skills policies.
