North Texas Community Foundation Awards $380,000 through its ToolBox Grants Program
The North Texas Community Foundation announced that 35 nonprofits and three neighborhood associations have been awarded nearly $380,000 in grants through the ToolBox Grants Program: Building Nonprofit Capacity to Combat Poverty in Our Neighborhoods. The grants aim to help nonprofits build organizational capacity through strengthening leadership development, organizational effectiveness and operational efficiency.
The ToolBox Grants Program runs on a three-year cycle with capacity building grants awarded each spring. The 2018-2020 grant cycle focuses on nonprofits serving the neighborhoods experiencing the highest poverty levels in Tarrant County. The seven neighborhoods identified include Western Hills (Las Vegas Trail), Como, Diamond Hill-Jarvis/Northside, Butler Place/Historic Southside/Morningside, East Seminary/Wichita Street, Stop Six and East-Central Arlington.
Neighborhood improvement and increasing self-sufficiency amongst residents are priorities for the City of Fort Worth. At the ToolBox Grants Celebration, David Cooke, Fort Worth’s city manager, expressed support for the North Texas Community Foundation’s efforts which complement the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Strategy. “The government can’t do it alone, we are excited to be with you and to invest in these neighborhoods,” said Cooke. “If we can make every neighborhood stronger, we’ll make our city stronger,” Cooke continued.
The grants range in size from $1,000 to $15,000 and are intended to be one-time, transformative investments to strengthen services and improve the lives of local families. Grant proposals were reviewed by a grants committee chaired by Michael Appleman, and included Stephanie Brentlinger, Joseph DeLeon, Kelly Hanley, Adelaide Leavens, Judy Needham, Becky Wilkes, Tony Prenger and Melissa Winborn.
The grant cycle is supported by myriad investors, including six North Texas Community Foundation endowed funds and fifteen donor advisors. Additionally, five private and corporate foundations provided financial support for the cycle.
“The ToolBox Grants Program shows that when we come together to support smart solutions, big things happen,” said Rose Bradshaw, president & CEO of the North Texas Community Foundation. “These grants will help nonprofits strengthen their services and outreach in neighborhoods that are disproportionately impacted by lack of access to education, health, income and employment resources. Together with our fundholders and partners, the North Texas Community Foundation is intent upon making our region strong for generations to come,” said Bradshaw.
Since its inception in 2010, the ToolBox Grants Program has provided more than $2.8 million in grants for critical capacity building to more than 100 nonprofits serving Tarrant County.
Click here to view the list of 2019 grantees.
To view photos from the event visit our Facebook page.
