Gift will help significantly advance the organization's mission to provide life-changing experiences, mentorship, and programming
Today, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced an $84.5 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The donation, awarded to GSUSA and 29 local councils selected by Ms. Scott, will accelerate GSUSA’s initiatives that give girls the tools to become the next generation of powerful women leaders.
This investment is the largest donation from a single individual in the organization’s history and will build upon GSUSA’s vision to support all Girl Scouts as they pursue their dreams and turn compassion into action in their communities.
“We are so appreciative of MacKenzie Scott’s gift to Girl Scouts. This is a great accelerator for our ongoing efforts to help girls cultivate the skills and connections needed to lead in their own communities and globally,” said Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Sofia Chang. “The support from all our donors, including this generous donation from Ms. Scott, is critical in delivering on our work of reimagination and transformation. We’re excited to prove how Ms. Scott’s investment in girls will change the world—because when one girl succeeds, we all succeed.”
“We are so appreciative of MacKenzie Scott’s gift to Girl Scouts. This is a great accelerator for our ongoing efforts to help girls cultivate the skills and connections needed to lead in their own communities and globally,” said Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Sofia Chang. “The support from all our donors, including this generous donation from Ms. Scott, is critical in delivering on our work of reimagination and transformation. We’re excited to prove how Ms. Scott’s investment in girls will change the world—because when one girl succeeds, we all succeed.”
The Grant Impact
Ms. Scott’s gift to GSUSA’s national organization and recipient councils will enable Girl Scouts to expand its investment in girls and advance the organization’s recovery from the effects ofCOVID-19. The gift will:
- Create more equitable membership opportunities in communities that have been under engaged. This includes diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice (DEI/RJ) initiatives; reimagining the troop experience model to break down accessibility barriers; and partnering with families and communities to holistically support the well-being and development of all girls.
- Foster meaningful program innovation informed by the current interests and needs of girls to prepare them for leadership, including an expanded focus on career readiness and mental wellness. Integral to this work is expanding girls’ access to STEM exploration, building upon exciting areas of interest such as hands-on coding, aeronautics, and sustainability.
- Bolster the “foundations” of the Movement in critical areas such as research, staff, and volunteer training. This investment will provide the ability to be visionary about the role Girl Scouts plays in the lives of girls and women while shaping the health and well-being of the communities the organization supports.
- Future-proof its facilities, including the iconic Girl Scout camp properties. This includes diverse investments such as making climate-resiliency improvements, reimagining its physical presence in communities, and expanding both accessibility and high adventure elements at camp.