19 Mar Exciting News! CATA awarded MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call

A Message from Margaret Keller, CATA Executive Director:

Dear CATA Community,

Something extraordinary has happened at CATA. One year ago, we saw a posting for a grant opportunity funded by MacKenzie Scott: the Yield Giving Open Call. Nonprofits across the U.S. were open to apply for a $1,000,000 grant—unrestricted funding to help improve the well-being of people in their community.  

CATA submitted an application, along with thousands of other organizations–more than 6,000, it turns out. Over the months that followed, we learned that CATA had advanced to the next stage. And then the next. And then to the final round, where 1,000 organizations were evaluated by panels of national experts. 

I am thrilled to tell you that CATA has been selected as an awardee of MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call! And what’s more: Because CATA was among the highest-scoring applicants, the panel has DOUBLED our award! We are receiving $2 million dollars to support our innovative work serving people with disabilities through the transformative power of the arts. 

I will be honest: I burst into tears even before I finished reading the award announcement! 

I hope that you feel–and that our ENTIRE CATA community feels– a profound sense of pride in this achievement. YOU have helped build a trailblazing organization that has profoundly impacted the lives of people with disabilities. An organization that stands out among thousands of others across this country. 

We are overcome with gratitude for this support, and for all that you have helped us grow and build to support our remarkable CATA artists.

We will use this generous grant award to seed and launch the CATA FOR ALL Capital Campaign to help MORE people with disabilities thrive through life-changing arts programs. We know there is unmet need in our community– especially for people with disabilities with the fewest financial resources AND for children and young people with special needs who deserve more. Your support for CATA will go even further, thanks to this incredible head-start on our plans. 

We will be in touch with more news in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or feedback. 

Thank you for making CATA possible. We truly could not do this work with you.

With gratitude,
Margaret

Check out this exciting news in the press!