Habitat for Humanity International, along with 84 U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations, has announced an unrestricted gift of $436 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Over the next three to four years, Habitat for Humanity International will use its $25 million portion of the donation to fundamentally increase the supply of affordable housing and prioritize advocacy and programmatic efforts that support the millions of individuals increasingly shut out of the housing market. Specifically, the donation will enable Habitat to expand advocacy for policy proposals and legislation that aim to substantially increase access to affordable housing through its Cost of Home campaign; increase Black homeownership in the United States by targeting current systemic barriers through a new initiative this summer; and leverage innovative capital investments that serve communities of color.

Moreover, the gift to Habitat for Humanity International will broadly support its affiliates across the U.S. through grants aimed at helping them innovate, engage new volunteers, and advance Black homeownership, all of which will enable them to serve more families across the country. Funding also will be used to advance research and measurement efforts to identify best practices in areas such as preserving home affordability and housing innovation, and to explore how new and existing programs lead to better outcomes for individuals and families. Gifts to affiliates include $20 million to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, $11 million to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, and $9 million to the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

In addition, the unrestricted gifts to Habitat for Humanity International and its U.S. affiliates will provide support for the organization’s tithe program, to which U.S. affiliates are expected to contribute a portion of their unrestricted revenue each year in support of Habitat’s global ministry. Last year, U.S. affiliates tithed nearly $14 million in support of Habitat’s work around the world, and the Tithe International Disasters Fund already has committed $200,000 in support of Habitat’s initial response to refugees fleeing Ukraine.

“This gift gives us the opportunity to increase and improve equity in our work, policies, practices, and programs throughout our organization, our affiliated network, but especially in the communities with which we partner,” said Natosha Reid Rice, Habitat’s chief global diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. “We look forward to bringing diverse groups of people together to focus on the ways we can address systemic racism and injustices in the housing sector that continue to limit access and harm people of color.”

(Photo credit: Habitat for Humanity International)