BROOKLYN — National tech training nonprofit NPower, which focuses on advancing race and gender equity and increasing economic prosperity for underrepresented populations through tech jobs, announced that MacKenzie Scott has donated $15 million, the single largest gift from an organization or individual in the nonprofit’s history. The funds were given to advance NPower’s strategic priorities including continuing to expand equitable pathways to opportunities in the tech sector for young adults and veterans from underserved communities.
“We are grateful to Ms. Scott as this transformational contribution meets NPower at a strategic inflection point, giving us the funds to respond to the needs of the communities we serve,” said David Reilly, Chairman of the NPower Board of Directors. “The gift will help scale our program so more young adults and veterans from underserved communities across the U.S. can gain full-time employment in the tech sector.”
NPower has provided tuition-free technology training, career support, and job placement services to thousands of individuals over the past five years, in seven U.S. states including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, California, and Texas. NPower’s program not only equips trainees with the technical and professional acumen needed to land entry-level tech roles but also offers specialized training in cybersecurity and cloud computing to ensure graduates continue to thrive in today’s ever-evolving industry.
“This generous investment from MacKenzie Scott speaks to the significant impact our work has had in transforming the lives of young adults, women of color, and the military-connected populations. We could only achieve the quality of outcomes that caught Ms. Scott’s attention because of our dynamic team, engaged Board, and the sustained support of so many funding partners before her,” said Bertina Ceccarelli, CEO of NPower Inc. “Her unrestricted gift will help us establish an innovation and capacity fund, support our overall growth and strategic initiatives, and seed an impact campaign to further leverage her generous grant. Thank you, Ms. Scott.”
MacKenzie Scott is the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. She is a philanthropist, activist, and novelist. She is also the executive director and founder of Bystander Revolution, an anti-bullying organization.
