Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) continues to advance positive social change, economic security and leadership opportunities for women and families across Texas. During the organization's fiscal year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023), the Foundation invested $7.1 million in advancing its mission through research, advocacy, innovative programs and solutions and grantmaking.
Dena L. Jackson, Ph.D., TXWF interim president and CEO, said, “Our research continues to show ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic and systemic challenges in health care, housing and child care. To address these issues, the Foundation is deploying funds to strategic initiatives, community programs and advocacy efforts that are making change for women statewide.”
Highlights:
- Texas Women’s Foundation along with its philanthropic partners – Giving Circles, Donor-Advised Fund holders and Young Women’s Initiative – distributed $4.9 million in grants to 197 nonprofit organizations.
- A grant highlight includes $907,000 distributed from the Health Care Access Fund to help women and girls access health care in rural and medically-underserved Texas communities statewide. (See chart).
- For a complete list of grantees, visit txwf.org/grants. See additional information below for select grantees’ quotes and how their organization will use these funds.
- An additional $2.2 million was invested in programs and initiatives that equip girls to become strong women and prepare women to lead in their lives, their workplaces and their communities. Examples include the support of the Foundation’s leadership programs such as the Young Women’s Initiative, advocacy efforts and giving circles.
Carrie Freeman Parsons, Texas Women’s Foundation board chair, added, “Texas Women’s Foundation continues to invest in the lives of women, girls and families statewide thanks to our generous donors and events. Never has our work been more important with the ever-increasing challenges women and girls face, and we stand in the gap ready to help.”
To learn more about the grants, visit txwf.org/grants.
About Texas Women’s Foundation:
As Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) nears its 40th year, it is clear that now more than ever is the time to elevate Texas women. By working with women, families and communities, they are building a stronger, more equitable Texas. One of the world’s largest women’s foundations, TXWF raises funding from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $7.1 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through timely research, advocacy, grants and strategic initiatives. Since inception in 1985, TXWF has invested $78.9 million in women and girls. Their statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its advocacy, grantmaking and leadership initiatives support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100 percent of its assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now
Select Grantees
Hope Clinic of McKinney (Collin County)
The grant from Texas Women's Foundation will assist low-income, minority, single mother and immigrant women, who are all more likely to find affordable health care out of reach, especially when it comes to addressing their female-specific health needs. Hope Clinic increases access to preventative cancer screening and prevention services for low-income, uninsured females in Collin County with its well-woman exams, which include PAP smears, STD testing and treatment, HPV vaccines, HIV testing, colposcopies, cervical biopsies, family planning and contraception, breast exams and on-site mobile-unit mammogram clinics or mammogram referrals. This grant funding will be used for its well-woman program, including in-clinic appointments, labs, vaccinations and supplies.
Vicki Northcutt, Executive Director – Development, Hope Clinic of McKinney
“Having the ability to offer these services in-house, instead of referring to another off-site location or another medical specialist, provides much needed trusted access and consistency for our patients. This ultimately results in fewer no-shows because our patients are typically more comfortable with us as their medical home.”
Agape Resources & Assistance Center, Inc. (Collin County)
Agape Resource & Assistance Center, Inc. (“Agape”) is celebrating 10 years of successfully empowering homeless women led families to move from crisis, poverty and abuse to fulfilling, self-sustaining lives by providing safe, stable transitional housing and critical transformational services including childcare, workforce education, transportation assistance, budgeting, credit repair and counseling. Despite graduating from Agape with higher wages and increased education, Agape women face the near-impossible task of finding safe, economically attainable housing. To provide an innovative solution to truly affordable housing, Agape is expanding its mission and continuum of care by building Jericho Village, an innovative 38-unit urban village of income based rental homes in Wylie, Texas. Jericho Village will provide income-based rental homes not only for women led families who graduate from Agape, but for other households who struggle each month to stay safely housed. About 95% of the units will serve households earning 80% or less of Area Median Income (AMI), with 60% targeting households earning 50% or less of AMI. All Villagers will have on-site access to Agape’s Empowerment Services, the secret sauce to attaining and retaining economic stability. The generous support of Texas Women’s Foundation through an operating grant for Jericho Village will allow Agape to staff and implement customized onsite casework and property management in advance of the grand opening, which they hope to celebrate in 1st quarter of 2024.
Rev. Janet Collinsworth, Founder and CEO of Agape and Jericho Village:
“Texas Women’s Foundation understands that the problem of homelessness and homeless prevention is not solved with roofs, but rather with accessible support services that empower those who struggle to stay safely housed to increase their economic stability and move from fear of homelessness to looking forward with hope. This grant will allow Agape to build on the success of our transitional housing program and expand our Empowerment Support Program to serve all the families in Jericho Village, changing lives today and to the 4th and 5th generation.”
Dallas Leadership Foundation (Dallas County)
The grant from Texas Women’s Foundation provides funding for Dallas Leadership Center's Teen Girls Mentoring Program. This program provides trained female mentors to work with girls ages 14 to 18 to help them navigate school, social situations, dating, after high school careers and education goals, and other support to help the girls graduate high school and make good decisions into their future.
DLF Board Member, Charlene Powell-Atkins:
“DLF is so honored to receive funding from Texas Women’s Foundation. The funds will allow DLF to expand and improve our mentorship program for high school girls. Young girls of color often reside in areas with limited opportunities for them to find their voice. Programming such as this creates space for girls, provides exposure, improves self-esteem and allows them to grow in confidence.”
The Way Back (Dallas County):
Funds from this grant will provide The Way Back with the opportunity to offer counseling services, hire an additional case manager, expand outreach, and increase advocacy on behalf of the thousands of women in prison or on probation/parole, while answering the growing need to expand services to more women returning to the local communities from incarceration who are often victims of violent crime themselves (sexual assault, sex trafficking, domestic abuse).
A client of The Way Back:
“I am so thankful and grateful for The Way Back and all of the services and support they provide. The Way Back helped me find employment and assisted me with bus passes so that I could get back and forth to work. They also helped me with eyeglasses, hygiene and clothes. The staff spent time education me on how to budget my money, and I have even started saving. I have never had a savings. I felt so comfortable talking with the staff, and it is a good feeling to know that there are people who really care.”
Hearts for Homes (Denton County)
This grant from Texas Women's Foundation is a huge blessing for Hearts for Homes and the senior homeowners that they serve. It will not only go toward making home repairs, but also helping to pay the salary of a part-time project coordinator. Having one full-time and two part-time project coordinators allows them to answer the seniors' repair needs quicker and in a more efficient manner. The nonprofit is constantly dealing with emergency repairs such as plumbing leaks and A/C units going out on these 100+ degree days, but also safety modifications such as replacing rotten subfloors, tub-shower conversions, wheelchair ramp installations, installation of ADA toilets, etc. to make living and navigating in their homes easier and safer for their seniors.
Susan Frank, Founder & Executive Director, Hearts for Homes:
“I cannot express my thanks enough for Texas Women's Foundation blessing Hearts for Homes with a grant this year. We are so thankful that your organization believes in what we are doing to help Denton County low-income seniors homeowners, most of whom are women, have a safe, comfortable, and well-functioning home to live out their years with hope and dignity. This is a huge blessing to Hearts for Homes, our senior homeowners and me personally. Thank you for your faithful support.”
Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas (Denton County)
Funding will be used towards improving its response to High-Risk Youth and provide preventative care to break the cycle of kids at risk of becoming involved in sex trafficking, drug abuse or other harmful activities. Through this support, the organization will train more mental health providers to work with this group of kids, improve parental response to why their kids are acting out this way, and increase how law enforcement, juvenile system and other first responders support child victims part of its High Risk Youth/Child Sexual Exploitation program caseload.
A quote from a parent of a teen:
“After my daughter has been coming to the Center, I know our relationship is better; she is open and honest with me and talks to me about her feelings and concerns and includes me in her life instead of isolating me.”
From a teen client to a therapist:
“I never thought I’d stop seeing the images of the abuse in my head, but they are gone now! I know I can accomplish things in my life without stuff from years ago weighing on my shoulders!”
The Ladder Alliance (Tarrant County)
Funding from Texas Women’s Foundation will support career-readiness programs designed to create a pipeline of highly qualified program graduates (women survivors of domestic violence) with the skill set necessary for gainful employment to increase household earnings and directly reduce poverty. The goal is to eradicate the negative effects of domestic violence on women, empowering them with the skills needed to be self-supportive, lead self-reliant lives, and participate as contributing members and leaders in the community. Its programs provide technical skills, build cultural capital, and increase confidence, giving each student the tools and support to realize her true potential, and to pursue individual career goals, leading to a happier, healthier, independent life of self-sufficiency.
Kathryn Thalken, MS, LMFT, The Ladder Alliance Executive Director:
“The support of Texas Women's Foundation comes at a time when it is most needed. For over 20 years, we have supported survivors of domestic violence and low-income women through workforce development. This funding will allow us to not only continue our current programming, but enable us to expand our offerings to even more women who may require our services. We are incredibly grateful.”
Con Mi MADRE (Tarrant County)
Grant funding will support Con Mi MADRE in the continued implementation of programming and support in the Fort Worth area. The 2023-2024 school year will be the 6th year partnering with Fort Worth ISD; a new cohort will be recruited thus serving (6th-11th graders.) 11th graders will enter the Post-Secondary Participation Program, meaning they will initiate the college application process with the guidance of a Con Mi MADRE staff.
Con Mi MADRE Parent:
“El programa es una excelente oportunidad de empoderamiento para nuestras hijas y también a las madres que sin importar de donde venimos, el idioma que hablamos, podemos lograr los sueños.” (“The program is an excellent empowerment opportunity for our daughters and also for mothers that regardless of where we come from [or]
the language we speak, we can achieve dreams.”)