The nonprofit organization YWCA Bucks County recently announced that it has received a $1.25 million grant from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, marking the largest gift in the organization’s history.
This is the seventh year that the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded grants to organizations across the country that are leading the way to move the needle on family homelessness with the goal of ensuring that no child sleeps outside.
“The Day 1 Families Fund donation is the largest gift YWCA Bucks County has ever received, and we are deeply grateful for this incredible support,” said Guillaume Stewart, executive director of YWCA Bucks County. “This generous donation will empower us to continue serving those in our community who are most in need and who rely on the critical support of our agency. On behalf of the YWCA staff and board of directors, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Day 1 Families Fund for their commitment to making a difference.”
Family homelessness in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2022 to 2023, and families now represent more than 28 percent of the country’s homeless population, according to a 2024 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. With its one-time Day 1 Families Fund grant, YWCA Bucks County will work to reverse this national trend by serving families experiencing homelessness in Bucks County.
Specifically, YWCA Bucks County plans to use its funds to increase its capacity to serve more individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Through its Rapid Rehousing and Shared Housing programs, YWCA Bucks County will assist unhoused families to transition into permanent housing by providing case management, rental assistance and supportive services.
A group of national advisers who are leading experts on family homelessness and its solutions, including the intersection of homelessness and housing policy, child welfare, racial equity and service provision, identified the organizations selected for funding.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Day 1 Families Fund for their generous donation to the YWCA Bucks County. Funding to support homeless families isn’t just about temporary relief — it’s about creating lasting change. By providing the resources for families to maintain stable housing, we take meaningful steps toward ending the cycle of homelessness and helping families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope,” said Kristin Chapin, associate director of YWCA Bucks County.
Launched in 2018, the Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help families experiencing homelessness and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities.
Since its inception, the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750 million to organizations serving families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The grants are uniquely flexible and enable organizations to support families experiencing homelessness — including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters — to regain safe, stable housing and achieve wellbeing.
This year, the Fund issued a total of $110.5 million in grants to 40 organizations and, for the first time, nonprofits in Kansas and New Jersey are among the awardees. The other organization receiving a grant in Pennsylvania is Impact Services.
Visit BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund for more information.
