Charleston nonprofit receives $2M boost from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

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A Charleston non-profit organization has received a cash boost that its founder says will “take it to the next level.”

In a country that incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world, Turn90, a South Carolina-based nonprofit, has been awarded a transformative $2 million grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving to fund expansion, according to a news release.

The organization was selected from over 6,000 applicants nationwide for its “therapeutic social enterprise” model that combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), on-the-job training, and personalized support to reduce recidivism and equip men with the skills and opportunities to succeed after prison, the release stated.

Turn90’s expansion is critical when criminal justice reform is at the forefront of the national conversation, the release stated. With mounting evidence of the disproportionate impact of incarceration on communities of color and growing public support for alternatives to traditional punitive approaches, Turn90’s model offers a promising solution to one of the most pressing social issues of our time, the release stated.

The United States has seen a sevenfold increase in incarceration since 1970, far outpacing population growth and crime. Nearly 10 million Americans, including millions of children, have an immediate family member in jail or prison, according to the release. Racial disparities persist, with one out of every three Black boys born today expected to go to prison in his lifetime, compared with one of every 17 white boys. Nationwide, 62% of people are rearrested within three years after release. Turn90 is part of the solution.

“This incredible grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving is not just a financial boost — it’s a powerful endorsement of our work and vision for the future,” said Amy Barch, founder of Turn90, in the release. “Receiving $2M in seed funding is exactly what we need right now to take Turn90 to the next level.”

Turn90’s holistic approach yields results

Turn90;s holistic and immersive approach is promising: Eighty-eight percent of graduates retain employment for 90 days or more and 78% remain arrest-free, according to the release. In 2024, Turn90 plans to support 120 men recently released from prison.

Turn90 exists to level the playing field for men who have experienced a lifetime of disadvantage, the release stated. Each person is hired full-time, including those who have never worked and have lengthy and serious criminal histories. One in five Turn90 participants had never worked legally, and half were arrested more than seven times. Additionally, 1 in 3 do not have a GED or high school diploma, and 77% were first arrested as a youth.

Individuals leaving prison have needs unique to their life histories, risk factors, and reentry challenges, the release stated. Networks of criminal associates, lifestyle addictions, and norms of violence combine with poverty, felony labels, and a lack of job skills and education to create a very challenging situation at the prison’s door. Turn90 is a specialized solution to solve this complex problem.

The organization operates two reentry centers in South Carolina, with a third opening in 2024.