West Sacramento, Calif. —Rural Community Assistance Corporation’s board and staff are honored to announce the receipt of a $20 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Ms. Scott announced the award Tuesday, December 15 on Medium.

This generous gift is unique in terms of its size, flexibility and creativity, allowing RCAC to accelerate and elevate its work with Indigenous and rural communities in the rural West. RCAC will amplify our efforts to increase access to safe drinking water, decent and affordable housing, financial resources, and economic stability. This investment also enables RCAC to take its game changing ideas and dreams and strategically move them forward into actions that provide significant impact and power paradigm shifts in the communities we serve.

This award is well-timed, as RCAC just launched its new strategic framework. This grant will not only catalyze action on our part but will also support investments into locally and Native led initiatives that align with the framework and RCAC’s mission.

“Words are not adequate to express our gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for including RCAC as a recipient of her Giving Pledge generosity. It is truly humbling,” said Suzanne Anarde, RCAC chief executive officer. “Ms. Scott’s grant provides us with enormous opportunity to approach lending and programmatic models and initiatives from a distinct perspective of pure impact, giving us license to test, support and prove culturally appropriate and locally driven solutions, while ensuring Indigenous and rural communities continue to chart their own path now and into the future.”

In her announcement, Ms. Scott drew on the theme of hope and highlighted inequities, “Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty.”

RCAC’s Board Chair Vickie Oldman, a Dine’ (Navajo) New Mexico native said, “Nizhóní (beautiful). We are very honored and humbled by Ms. Scott’s generosity, which is truly momentous for our work in Indigenous and rural communities. Ahé’hee (thank you) for trusting and believing in RCAC’s vision of creating vibrant, healthy, and enduring Indigenous and rural communities throughout the West.”

RCAC is one of 384 organizations that received funding this week from Ms. Scott, who has pledged to give away much of her wealth during her lifetime.

Founded in 1978, RCAC provides training, technical, and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions. RCAC serves rural communities in 13 western states and western Pacific islands. Services are available to communities with populations of fewer than 50,000, other nonprofit groups, Tribal organizations, farmworkers, colonias and other specific populations. RCAC staff provides direct services in program areas including affordable housing, environmental services, economic development and lending. To learn more about RCAC.

Media contact:
Julia Helmreich, Director
Communications, Development & Events
(916) 529-7563; jhelmreich@rcac.org