Goodwill Manasota Receives $10 Million Gift From Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

December 18, 2020 – Sarasota

Goodwill Manasota has received a donation of $10 million as part of a nearly $4.2 billion philanthropic effort by writer and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to rebuild the U.S. economy in the face of the ongoing pandemic. Included in the wave of donations was a $20 million gift to Goodwill Industries International (GII), as well as contributions to 45 other local Goodwill organizations. 

Nearly 6,500 organizations were considered by Scott and her team on their way to determining the 384 that were funded over the past four months. Locally, Easterseals Southwest Florida, United Way Suncoast, and Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee – all community partners of Goodwill Manasota – also received gifts from Scott.

This investment comes at a time when more than 10 million Americans are unemployed and urgently need help finding their next jobs. The local contribution will help Goodwill Manasota to carry out its strategic plan as well as address programs it could not undertake due to a lack of resources. The funding from Scott will enable Goodwill to continue to expand on its role as an essential service provider in the region. 

GII is the country’s largest nonprofit workforce development provider; as part of the GII network, Goodwill Manasota is dedicated to closing the skills gap and eliminating associated challenges created by inequities. 

“We are uniquely positioned to lead the way in ensuring that every individual – regardless of their challenges and backgrounds – has access to the skills and services they need to face today’s economic challenges,” said Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Bob Rosinsky. “We are humbled and grateful by MacKenzie Scott’s transformative contribution, which will address the growing need for skills training for job seekers, while building access to opportunity and equitable hiring as community members continue to face historic hardships during this pandemic.”

Goodwill Manasota is seen as a leader in the GII network for its Mission Development Services (MDS) program, a fee service which provides intensive education, training and mentoring services to Goodwills across the country. It also offers Goodwill®U, an online curriculum available through a subscription to other Goodwills to further professional training and development. 

Goodwill Manasota provides a breadth of services that range from job readiness, skills training — including digital skills and various certifications and credentials — and employment placement as well as facilitating connections to holistic wraparound services such as emergency financial assistance, housing, financial literacy, and transportation. Goodwill works with hundreds of community partners to increase its impact while reducing duplication in service offerings.

Goodwill Manasota has two Job Connection offices, a Veterans Services program office, and virtual services available for those living in Goodwill Manasota’s territory of Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties. In 2019, Goodwill Manasota served more than 800 people in the Job Connection, placed 378 people in jobs, served 384 veterans, and offered intensive job supports for the 58 team members in the Supported Jobs Plus program, helping those with significant disabilities to succeed on the job. 

For more information, visit experiencegoodwill.org.