Twin Cities Nonprofit Gets $6M Donation From MacKenzie Scott

MINNEAPOLIS — Leaders at Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities celebrated Tuesday after learning they are set to receive a $6 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

The seven-figure donation to the Twin Cities nonprofit was part of the $122.6 million Scott gave to 38 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies throughout the U.S., which was the largest donation the nationwide organization has ever received from an individual.

The nonprofit said the $6 million donation will allow it to “further its mission in connecting youth to caring adult mentors, forming life-changing relationships that foster greater safety, belonging, and significance.”

Pat Sukhum, CEO of the Twin Cities nonprofit, said he was “euphoric, downright gleeful” when he heard about the donation.

“I’ve never gushed like that on a phone call,” Sukhum said in a news release, adding “our gratitude is through the roof.”

“What a remarkable example of giving to inspire even greater philanthropy for our community and passion for our mission,” Sukhum said.

The $6 million donation “approximately amounts to our annual operating budget,” Sukhum said, and it will allow the Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities to “collaborate with our youth to boost our impact in unprecedented ways.”

Scott has donated $48 million to six Minnesota groups since last summer, including a $13.5 million gift to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and $20 million to Planned Parenthood North Central States, Bring Me The News reported.

She has now donated almost $12.5 billion since 2020 to more than 1,250 nonprofits, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports. She has given at least $1.5 billion to about 30 nonprofits since the start of 2022, according to the report.