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Community Foundation Initiatives
Make an impact in the community you call home.
Explore Giving Opportunities
We offer opportunities for donors to collectively make an impact on the region’s most pressing needs. Explore the possibilities, whether you are giving as an individual, family or business.
North Texas Community Foundation supports animal welfare and equine therapy efforts in our region through the Helen D. and R.E. (Bob) Wallace Foundation Fund and the Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund.
ToolBox Grants address organizational effectiveness, leadership development, or operational efficiency through one-time, transformative investments.
Our Better Together Fund deploys resources to local organizations serving those who have been the hardest hit by disasters in our community.
The Fleetwood Memorial Fund provides immediate financial assistance to certified Texas law enforcement or fire protection personnel who are injured or killed in the line of duty.
The Fund to Advance Racial Equity provides support to nonprofits and municipal entities working to achieve a more equitable community for all.
WORTH empowers the next generation to change North Texas for the better.
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Alzheimer’s Association, North Central Texas
About the Organization
The Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is to accelerate global research, drive risk reduction and early detection and maximize quality care and support. In Tarrant County, where Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death, the North Central Chapter continues to be a leader in the community in providing support to families, caregivers and professionals affected by this devastating disease.
About the Project
An innovative series of seminars will provide valuable support, education and access to resources to underserved communities. Carefully structured to remove barriers to access, funding provides for practical resources to be mailed directly to homes and for seminars to be accessible by phone, internet or on-demand to meet communities where they are and provide desperately needed support.
Funding Needs
- $10,000 – African American Family & Caregiver Conference and Community Forum
- $10,000 – Hispanic/ Latino Family & Caregiver Conference and Community Forum
- $5,000 – LGBTQ Caregiver Conference
Project Budget
$25,000
Number Served by Project
750
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BoardBuild
About the Organization
BoardBuild is on a mission to strengthen communities through the training and matching of emerging and established leaders with nonprofit boards. Utilizing innovative online training and an advanced algorithm-based matching system, BoardBuild connects community leaders with mission-driven nonprofit organizations to form board-level relationships.
About the Project
BoardBuild seeks to fill the gap laid bare by the lack of online, on-demand diversity, equity and inclusion training specific to nonprofit boards of directors. Foundation, corporate and government granting agencies increasingly require board of director DEI training. BoardBuild’s DEI course will provide a spring board for deeper conversations that will drive nonprofit organizational performance.
Funding Needs
- $2,500 – curriculum creation for one module, 8 modules total
- $5,000 – studio and production costs for one module, 8 modules total
Project Budget
$76,000
Number Served by Project
500
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Botanical Research Institute of Texas & Fort Worth Botanic Garden
About the Organization
Plant education, conservation, research and horticultural display are the heart of the Botanical Research Institute’s (BRIT) and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s (FWBG) mission. Through a wide variety of programs and outreach they explore, explain, and display the plant world to enrich lives and conserve life on Earth.
About the Project
Texas is home to 448 rare plants, including 113 species at high risk for extinction. These plants are faced with increasing threats: population growth, land development, invasive species, and now climate change. Each threat pushes our rarest species closer to extinction. Seed banks serve as a critical first step to restoring ecosystems in Texas.
Project Budget
$20,000
Number Served by Project
500
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CoAct
About the Organization
CoAct is a nonprofit social impact studio that develops creative and inclusive solutions to address the pressing challenges our communities face. They equip partners with the knowledge, capacity, and support systems to aid in creating lasting impact.
About the Project
Many neighborhoods within Southeast Fort Worth (SEFW) lie within an identified USDA food desert. Nearly all of the restaurants are fast food, just 2 grocery stores within the 34.8 square mile area, and more than 100 convenience stores selling mostly unhealthy food, tobacco and alcohol. Grow Southeast is a community development initiative focused on incubating community-owned urban farms to combat food insecurity. Through CoAct’s efforts, they help each of their farmers create viable business strategies, learn effective growing techniques, align their products to customer channels, develop their sites, and explore models to support their social missions. The goal is to help each farmer become self-sufficient and build a hub of resources so other Fort Worth neighborhoods can easily develop their own urban farms.
Funding Needs
- Grants of $1,000 or more will support equipment, materials, and labor purchases to build the farms.
Project Budget
$380,000
Number Served by Project
5 neighborhood farms in SEFW
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Cuisine for Healing
About the Organization
Cuisine for Healing (CFH) promotes the healing power of food by making delicious, nutritious organic meals available to people facing life-threatening illnesses and offers educational resources to empower individuals to make food choices that benefit their well-being and health. CFH serves Tarrant County residents to improve quality of life, reduce doctor visits, hospital stays and related costs.
About the Project
Cuisine for Healing has an urgent need for a Marketing/Social Media Coordinator. This person would design, post, manage and analyze marketing and social media content, in addition to assisting with outreach to the community and partners. Social Media wil help extend organizational reach and maintain relationships with and recruiting new organizational partners for client referral, clients and donors.
Funding Needs
- $1,500 – 100 hours of marketing/social media coordination.
- $3,000 – 200 hours of marketing/social media coordination.
- $5,000 – more than 300 hours of marketing/social media coordination.
Project Budget
$10,000
Number Served by Project
5,014
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FORT WORTH AYA ONCOLOGY COALITION
About the Organization
FWAYA is a coalition of over 100 passionate healthcare professionals, volunteers, and AYAs (Adolescents & Young Adults) focused on facilitating services for 15 to 39 year old’s with cancer. AYAs face unique medical barriers and psychosocial issues that, when not addressed, can have devastating short & long-term consequences. AYA specialists include Nurse Navigation, Child Life, Psychosocial Support.
About the Project
Often AYAs are underemployed, underinsured or uninsured leaving them at financial risk while undergoing cancer treatment. FWAYA provides navigational support to clients which identify 1) Co-payment needs for insurance allowing life-saving medical needs 2) prescription needs 3) social work services that identity basic needs such as food & rent. Without the support from AYA, many clients would have access to these resources..
Funding Needs
- Gifts of $1000 or more are appreciated to help fund insurance co-payments, prescrition costs, and other basic needs.
Project Budget
$15,000
Number Served by Project
50
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Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange
About the Organization
GRACE is a 501c3 relief agency that provides food, clothing, sheltering, medical care, and other assistance to those in need in North Tarrant County. Compassion, respect, and understanding are offered in partnership with local businesses, churches, foundations, municipalities, civic organizations, and individuals. Serviced are provided to all and the GRACE mission embraces all.
About the Project
GRACE donation station is the first and strongest link to the community. Used goods are collected from generous donors and put to most efficient use to serve clients. A new, larger and more efficient donation station is under construction on Texan Trail in Grapevine. The donation station and the resale program are anticipated to generate nearly 30% of GRACE’s annual budget for programs and services.
Funding Needs
- $1,000 – 50,000 – Renovate space, rack and distribute work clothes and uniforms.
- $75,000 – Fund the cost of a materials bailer used for bulk sales.
- $125,000 – Replace operating funds directed to purchase and renovation.
Project Budget
$3,250,000
Number Served by Project
500,000
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James L. West Center for Dementia Care
About the Organization
James L. West Center serves persons, families, caregivers & healthcare professionals impacted by dementia. It is estimated that 7 out of 10 people over the age of 65 live with some form of dementia AND reside at home using the support of friends and family. The Day Program provides access to appropriate dementia-specific medical care and emotional support of these persons and their caregivers.
About the Project
The majority of older adults (85-90%) prefer to remain at home throughout their lives where they are comfortable and secure. The West Center Day Program focuses on finding ways to support them in their home settings by providing respite, health services, social-emotional support and engagement critical to enhancing the overall quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers.
Funding Needs
- $1,000 – Plants for the raised garden beds
- $2,000 – Dementia specific technology for Day Program participants
- $5,000 – Scholarship support for Day Program participants
Project Budget
$3,500,000
Number Served by Project
11,800
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Johnson County Children’s Advocacy Center
About the Organization
Johnson County Children’s Advocacy Center uses a multi-disciplinary team approach to provide justice, hope and healing children who have suffered abuse. Their team is made up of Crimes Against Children Detectives, prosecutors, forensic interviewers, therapists, Cook Children’s Medical Center’s CARE Team and juvenile services. Collectively they work on behalf of the children and families of Johnson County.
About the Project
JCCAC has outgrown their current facility and has been severely challenged with space restrictions during the pandemic. A new building would allow JCCAC to have more room for staff and provide private waiting rooms for families. Currently, staff members are sharing offices; some offices have up to three staff members. Therapists’ offices in the new building would open into a courtyard providing indoor/outdoor session options. The building architect took COVID precautions into account to ensure the building will be safe for children and familes.
Funding Needs
- Gifts of a $1,000 or more are appreciated
Project Budget
$3,299,301
Number Served by Project
1,700
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Lighthouse for the Blind (Tarrant County Association for the Blind)
About the Organization
Established in 1935, the Lighthouse is the only nonprofit in the community delivering “unduplicated services” at no charge to empower blind and visually impaired children, youth, adults and senior citizens on their journey to remain independent.
About the Project
Mission Optical, a collaborative effort, provides prescription glasses to children & adults at no cost. This effort fulfills two critical needs: 1) Employing the blind to make the glasses in the Lighthouse Optical Lab and 2) Donating glasses to those in the most need. Currently, funds are needed to help support a custom-built and interactive website to connect patients with eye doctors. A visual preview of the website is available at www.missionoptical.org.
Funding Needs
- $300 – Provides 3 hours of website development.
- $1,000 – Provides 10 hours of website development.
- $5,000 – Provides 50 hours of website development.
Project Budget
$27,000
Number Served by Project
3,000
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MHMR Visions
About the Organization
The MHMR Foundation raises funds & fosters community support for the people and programs of My Health My Resources (MHMR) of Tarrant County. As the leading provider of extensive mental health, disability, and early childhood services, MHMR helps more than 65,000 people year, including babies with delays and disabilities, veterans living in homelessness, and teens & adults with mental health needs.
About the Project
Equine therapy for adolescents with mental health and substance use disorders will assist clients in developing self-awareness, increase patience and empathy, improve communication skills, build healthy relationships, identify and set boundaries, process trauma and develop coping skills, learn the importance of trust, and more.
Funding Needs
- $1,800 – allows 16 Campus residents to attend one equine therapy session per month
- $3,600 – allows 16 Campus residents to attend two equine therapy session per month
- $5,400 – allows 16 Campus residents to attend one equine therapy session per month for 3 months
Project Budget
$21,120
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Mid-Cities Community Cats
About the Organization
Through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR), M-CCC provides surgeries for 800-1,000 stray/feral cats a year in Hurst, Euless, Bedford and nearby cities. The average cost to M-CCC is about $25 per cat. Spay-Neuter is part of M-CCC’s mission of improving the lives of unowned community cats while preventing unwanted kitten births.
About the Project
A national organization, Community Cats Podcast, is offering M-CCC a $1,000 grant specifically for TNVR if they can raise matching funds in that amount by Nov. 15, 2021. The funds will allow them to serve 80 – 100 cats with spay-neuter, while freeing up other funds for their related mission of providing medical care for sick, injured or abused cats they encounter in the course of TNVR projects.
Funding Needs
- $1,000 — Matching grant need to TNVR 80-100 cats.
- $2,000 — will cover TNVR of 160 to 200 cats.
- $5,000 — Provides additional funds to help treat sick, injured or abused stray/feral community cats
Project Budget
$2,000
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Mission Travis Mercy (Mercy Clinic)
About the Organization
Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth provides medical and dental healthcare for uninsured adults in our community without any charge to the individual. The barrier of poor access to health care for the uninsured contributes to poor health outcomes and poverty in our community. Care is delivered by dedicated, volunteer health care professionals. Generous donations fully support this work.
About the Project
Expansion of Access to Dental Care project will increase the hours of operation and service areas for Mercy Clinic Dental. In the first year of this pilot program, appointments will be scheduled two full days per week and extend soon to 5 days per week. Outcomes will be measured by documenting the increase in patient visits along with health surveys conducted before and after treatment.
Funding Needs
- $500 – for supplies related to infection control for the dental clinic for one month
- $500 – for instrument purchases for dental procedures for start up
- $1,500 – for restorative pharmaceuticals for fillings and other dental procedures for one month
Project Budget
$2,500
Number Served by Project
500
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National Wildlife Federation
About the Organization
The mission of National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure that wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. For decades NWF has partnered with U.S. urban school districts to provide nature-based science education. NWF has program presence in 14,000 U.S. schools serving 5 million students–50% of whom are from diverse, low-income backgrounds.
About the Project
National Wildlife Federation’s Monarch Heroes program helps the recovery of monarch butterflies through environmental education and outreach. This program will empower Fort Worth ISD students, teachers, and community members to create critical milkweed habitats. Grant funds will be used for teacher stipends to attend professional development, mini-grants to schools for gardens, and a teacher training webinar.
Funding Needs
- $2,500 – Supports the Webinar Classroom Management & Teaching in the Outdoors for 100 FWISD Teachers.
- $3,300 – Provides 18 FWISD teachers stipends to attend Professional Development Workshops
- $5,000 – Supports the creation or expansion of 3 to 5 FWISD school’s Monarch Heroes gardens
Project Budget
$52,984
Number Served by Project
938
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NewDay Services for Children & Families
About the Organization
NewDay teaches parents to be parents so kids can be kids. They help parents on their journey to becoming the loving engaged role models their children need. Many times, NewDay works with parents whose children have been removed from their home or are at risk of being removed for abuse/neglect. They believe all children grow and thrive because parents work courageously to provide a safe, loving home.
About the Project
Today, NewDay serves over 700 mothers in Tarrant County, referred by Child Protective Services (CPS), during the FOCUS for Mothers, 10-week parenting classes. In the past, this program has been funding by local, priviate donors. However, the FOCUS for Fathers parenting classes have been funded by CPS. In September 2021, funding for FOCUS is being divided equally between the mothers and fathers classes in 19 counties without a funding increase. Funding is needed to support the FOCUS for Mothers parenting classes.
Funding Needs
- $1,000 provides 10 weekly classes for 2 mothers at risk of losing their children to foster care
- $2,000 provides 10 weekly classes for 4 mothers at risk of losing their children to foster care
- $5,000 provides one complete 10-week program for 10-15 mothers
Project Budget
$590,000
Number Served by Project
2,000
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Performing Arts Fort Worth, Inc.
About the Organization
Performing Arts Fort Worth owns and operates Bass Hall, serving as home to major Fort Worth performing arts companies and presenting touring Broadway productions and acclaimed artists that bring our community together. PAFW provides free-of-charge education programs, making high-quality curriculum-related performing arts accessible for North Texas children from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
About the Project
PAFW children’s program will be working with touring Broadway productions of DEAR EVAN HANSEN and HAMILTON to provide tickets free of charge to 250 Fort Worth ISD high school students. Students from all backgrounds will be selected by FWISD administrators for this special experience to learn about social media and mental health issues in DEAR EVAN HANSEN and history of one of America’s founding fathers in HAMILTON.
Funding Needs
- $1,000 helps send 20 FWISD students to dinner, a show and a post-show talk-back with cast.
- $5,000 helps send 100 FWISD students to dinner, a show and a post-show talk-back with cast.
- $10,000 helps send 200 FWISD students to dinner, a Bradway show and a post-show talk-back with cast.
Project Budget
$47,100
Number Served by Project
250
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S.T.E.P.S. With Horses
About the Organization
STEPS’ mission is to improve the mental health and well-being of military service members and family members, at-risk youth, and others with mental health needs through equine-assisted activities and therapies including counseling and psychotherapy, therapeutic activities, education, community engagement, and research. All services are coordinated by licensed mental health professionals.
About the Project
STEPS has recently expanded by moving to a new location and acquiring its own program equines, enabling the organization to expand service offerings and increase client capacity. Along with these changes, STEPS has again been awarded a matching grant to double the number of sessions provided to military veterans and family members over the next two years.
Funding Needs
- $1,000 – Moveable loafing shed for play therapy
- $1,000 – Military counseling sessions to be equally matched
- $5,000 – One year of care for one equine that supports this program
Project Budget
$150,000
Number Served by Project
40
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World Relief
About the Organization
World Relief is a global humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement — by partnering with local community leaders. In the United States, they help refugees and immigrants in vulnerable situations find hope and rebuild their lives, creating communities of love and welcome.
About the Project
Having fled their country following the Taliban takeover, thousands of Afghan families are becoming increasingly vulnerable even as they seek asylum here in the United States. In North Texas, World Relief is responding by providing housing, food, clothes, transportation, case management and access to vital services.
Funding Needs
- $1,500 – Furnish a family’s new home, including beds, tables, and living room furniture
- $3,000 – Reunite a separated family
- $5,000 – Provide Immigration Legal Services, moving people towards independence and flourishing
Project Budget
$250,000
Number Served by Project
250
Become a Friend
Friends’ gifts ensure North Texas Community Foundation is a lasting resource to improve the community’s well-being by:
- Convening key groups in our community
- Developing community knowledge and insights into effective nonprofit organizations
- Advocating for effective collaboration
- Developing community-wide initiatives
Community Leadership
In addition to awarding grants, North Texas Community Foundation supports special initiatives that address local challenges and encourage smart philanthropy. All of our projects are developed in direct response to needs identified for the North Texas region.
Have Questions?
Together, we can cultivate a more vibrant and resilient community where all North Texans can thrive.
Amy Radcliffe
Donor Relations Associate
