Gift to Support Commitment to Racial, Social, and Economic Equity 

Washington, D.C., February 22, 2022 – The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) today announced a $10 million donation from philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott. The one-time unrestricted grant comes at a pivotal moment for CLASP’s anti-poverty and racial justice advocacy, as the pandemic, economic upheaval, and racial reckoning have shone a light on longstanding policy failures and created opportunities for fundamental change.  

“We, at CLASP, are honored by this important and timely donation. It comes at a time when our work is more critical and demanding than ever as we inform and create policies that are transformative for working families, children, youth and young people, people with low incomes, immigrants, and communities of color,” said Olivia Golden, executive director of CLASP. “We are deeply grateful to our partners and to the CLASP staff, Board, and alumni who have enabled us to reach this point – and who will continue to support our next steps. This charitable gift, along with the critical support we receive from all our donors, reflects the extraordinary importance of the anti-poverty and racial equity policy agenda that CLASP works to advance. It supports our vision and organizational capacity to respond with creativity and innovation to a shifting policy landscape.” 

CLASP celebrated its 50th anniversary of economic and social justice advocacy in 2019.  Golden has announced that she will leave her position this spring after leading the organization since 2013. The CLASP Board of Trustees is currently engaged in the search for a new executive director.  

“This is a moment of great transition and opportunity for CLASP. We thank MacKenzie Scott for this significant donation. It is a testament to Olivia’s leadership and the extraordinary passionate and effective advocacy by CLASP staff to advance real and lasting positive change on issues that affect people of color, immigrants, children, and families,” said LaVeeda M. Battle, Esq., Chair of the CLASP Board of Trustees. “It’s taken hard work and a courageous vision to continue to craft and advance a bold and transformational policy agenda during a pandemic. The reputation CLASP has built over more than five decades has positioned it well to continue its work as one of the nation’s premier organizations whose policy work seeks to advance social, economic, and racial justice.” 

### 

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty organization advancing policy solutions for people with low incomes. Because poverty in America is inextricably tied to systemic racism, CLASP focuses its policy and advocacy efforts for economic and racial justice on addressing systemic racism as the primary cause of poverty for communities of color.