Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott has donated $2.9 million, the largest single private donation in the affiliate’s 55-year history, the Urban League of Greater Madison announced on Monday.
The transformational gift, the Urban League says, will allow the organization to dramatically expand and enhance the reach of its empowerment programs.
“We’re honored and grateful that Ms. Scott and her team have recognized the Urban League’s value and impact to the community,” ULGM President and CEO Ruben L. Anthony, Jr. said in a statement. “By placing racial equity and social justice at the forefront of her philanthropic mission, Ms. Scott is shining a much-needed spotlight on the nation’s structural and institutional limitations and is helping to build a stronger, more resilient society for everyone.”
The affiliate will use a portion of the proceeds to support the Black Business Hub project and the Black Business Hub Accelerator Program which will be the Madison region’s premiere enterprise center, Urban League of Greater Madison said in a statement. It will be devoted to incubating, accelerating, and networking Black and other BIPOC entrepreneurs. This gift brings the project’s total fundraising to $22 million, leaving just $4 million left to reach the campaign’s goal.
The $26 million Black Business Hub is looking to become the Madison region’s premiere Black-led enterprise center devoted to incubating, accelerating, and networking under-served entrepreneurs. Located on Madison’s South Side, the hub will include office space, retail storefronts, pop-up vending spaces, co-working space, a shared commercial kitchen and more.
Scott was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos until 2019 and has donated billions of dollars of her fortune since the two divorced.
The funds donated on Monday will also support the Urban League’s array of other community development programs which includes high school and career readiness programs for youth, career development programs for adults, home ownership programs for families, and a multitude of other community engagement, advocacy, and civil rights initiatives.
