North Texas Community Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to BRAVE/R Together through the Fund for Good. This strategic investment builds on important work already underway, supporting BRAVE/R Together in its role as a community quarterback, convening stakeholders and empowering residents to ensure that culture, commerce, and community thrive in the Historic Southside.
BRAVE/R Together advances health equity through four key pathways: healthcare, education, business & economic development, and housing. “This partnership with NTCF is a critical step in addressing barriers to opportunity in 76104,” said Shawn Lassiter, PhD, executive director of BRAVE/R Together. “We’re committed to sustainable, community-led strategies that drive positive change.”
Launched in 2024, the Fund for Good enables NTCF to respond to our region’s evolving needs by directing philanthropic resources to transformative solutions in North Texas. The City of Fort Worth recently identified the Historic Southside neighborhood as a priority community experiencing significant private and public investment to ensure that residents are not displaced, and cultural history is preserved.
Powered by the generosity of NTCF donors, the 2025 Fund for Good grant will help BRAVE/R Together strengthen local businesses, prevent displacement, and preserve the area’s cultural legacy by centering residents in decision-making. The long-term goal is to cultivate an economically vibrant neighborhood that remains deeply connected to its history and community.
“Creating economic opportunity for local residents while preserving historic neighborhoods is essential for Fort Worth’s future,” said Rose Bradshaw, President & CEO of NTCF. “By aligning philanthropic and public investments today, we can ensure long-term impact and drive results for decades to come.”
This grant is part of NTCF’s broader commitment to community development. In 2024, NTCF funded a Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce survey to prioritize community voices in the Historic Northside District. The Foundation also launched the BEACON Fund to support historically disinvested neighborhoods and participates in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Economic Mobility Action Network Cohort, which brings together community foundations nationwide to collaborate on strategies for increasing economic opportunity.
Prior Fund for Good Investments
NTCF’s Fund for Good has previously supported initiatives addressing critical community needs, including:
Affordable Housing: A grant to Presbyterian Night Shelter supported the Journey Home Housing initiative, which repurposed former Seminary student housing into 42 units of affordable housing for individuals and families in South Fort Worth. This initiative provides a stable housing solution with wrap around services that promote long-term well-being and economic stability.
Maternal and Infant Health: A grant to Best Place for Working Parents supported the expansion of the Parent Pass app, a critical tool that connects mothers with essential healthcare and social services for themselves and their babies. By streamlining referrals to vital resources, the app strengthens support networks for families and improves health outcomes.
All Fund for Good grants undergo rigorous evaluation by a volunteer committee of community experts.
The 2025 committee members are:
Michael Appleman
Dennis Chiessa
Fernando Costa
Jennifer Grammer
Janeen Lamkin
Jeffery Postell
Dani Tucker
