Junior Achievement USA Receives $38.8 Million Gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

August 16, 2022

We have more great news from the JA network! Today, Junior Achievement USA announced a US$38.8 million gift from American philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This gift will benefit not only the regional operating center, but also JA operations in 26 communities across the United States. This donation will help both local areas and the regional office increase efficiencies and continue to improve delivery of JA learning experiences to more students than ever before.

Junior Achievement Receives $38.8 Million Gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Funds To Help Increase Organizational Capacity

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Junior Achievement USA (JA) announced today that philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $38.8 million to Junior Achievement USA and JA operations in 26 communities across the country. This is the largest gift from a single donor in the organization’s 103-year history.

“We greatly appreciate the incredible generosity of MacKenzie Scott for this amazing gift to our organization,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. “This investment will increase access to our learning experiences in underserved communities, as well as help us pay for things that are not usually top priorities for funders, such as updating our IT infrastructure. Increasing efficiencies in our day-to-day business operations will allow us to make better use of other donor contributions in terms of delivering learning experiences to the young people we serve.”

Junior Achievement USA will be using its portion of the gift to build network capacity and innovative new learning channels that will benefit all 102 JA operations across the country. JA organizations in 26 communities are receiving direct gifts from MacKenzie Scott and will announce plans for that support in a manner and at a time they determine is appropriate.