MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota nonprofit furthering Native homeownership received a $1.5 million donation from MacKenzie Scott.
Scott, an author and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given millions of dollars to nonprofits.
Andrea Reese, a board member and former staffer, said the donation will do so much for the Mni Sota Fund.
“I was like jumping up and down like crazy," said Reese. "It was such a huge honor.”
The Mni Sota Fund provides wealth-building services and access to capital for the Urban Indian community.
"Having a very culturally responsive native home buying resource has made a huge impact the last 12 years that it's been in operation,” said Reese.
Minnesota is among the worst in the nation for facial disparities in home ownership. While 77 percent of white households own their home, only about 49 percent of Native American families do, according to the American Community Survey.
"I think that a lot of the barriers are very systemic and very perpetuated by the traditional lending institutions," said Reese,
Homeownership also impacts the health of communities too, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
"I believe it's it comes from that stability," said Reese. "It comes from that stability and having the security, that you have a safe place to be. And that provides financial security, it provides mental health, it provides physical health."
There are only five full-time staff members with the fund. Reese says this donation will help so many find their way home.
