Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has awarded Maryland Family Network (MFN) a grant of $2.5 million through her charitable organization, Yield Giving. Scott’s unrestricted gift will help MFN advance its mission of making Maryland the nation’s leader in early childhood care and education as well as ensure that the young children grow up with strong families and other caregivers. 

Yield Giving grants are not awarded based on a competitive application process like most funders but rather on a “quiet research approach” that examines the reputation, reach, and fiscal responsibility of the organizations they choose to support. They don’t tell the organizations who is a candidate until the foundation makes a decision. 

“The support from MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving came as welcome recognition of the work MFN has done on behalf of children and families. It’s not every day that a national figure says. ‘We see you and the work you do. It matters.’ It is an additional honor to be amongst the first wave of early childhood organizations to be recognized by MacKenzie Scott, evidence of the leadership role Maryland plays in early childhood nationally,” Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director, Maryland Family Network said. 

Among other needs, the funding will be used to support MFN’s public policy work. MFN is a stalwart presence in Annapolis and has led the fight for policies which benefit young children and their families for over a decade. Most recently this included the passage of Paid Family and Medical Leave, the expansion of pre-K for low-income three- and four-year olds, and strengthening and expanding the state’s Child Care Scholarship program. 

“Every child deserves to have strong families, quality early learning environments, and a champion for their interests. MFN is that champion. We’re extremely grateful for this support. It will help us keep up the amazing momentum we have gained in Annapolis which is a large part of what MFN is known for,” said Kesha-Simone Jones, Chair, MFN’s Board of Directors.

MFN is the coordinating entity of Maryland’s Child Care Resource Network, the Family Support Patty Center Network, the state’s largest grantee of Early Head Start Centers, and the state lead for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention program. 

For a complete list of awards recipients, see the Yield Giving website.

To learn more about Maryland Family Network visit marylandfamilynetwork.org.