March 19, 2024 – Today, MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation was awarded $2 million to assist with their efforts and growth towards establishing a new Pittsburgh-based LGBTQ+ Youth and Family Resource center in the coming years. The Hugh Lane Team works to improve the health of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities in and around Western Pennsylvania. 

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.“This is an incredible and generous starting point toward creating a leading edge LGBTQ+ Youth & Family Center right here in Pittsburgh, and Hugh Lane is looking forward to working with our community to establish it.” said Sarah Rosso, Executive Director for Hugh Lane. 

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 and to learn more about the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation visit http://www.hughlane.org.