September 27, 2023 This Couple Just Won One of Conservative Philanthropy’s Top Prizes. What Are They Into? September 27, 2023/ Philip Rojc A passion for private education and entrepreneurship drives the giving of Laura and Jeff Sandefer, who won the 2023 Simon-DeVos Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. Here’s a look at what they back and what they’ve founded.Read More
September 21, 2023 How the Meadows Foundation Supports the People (and Animals) of Texas September 21, 2023/ Wendy Paris Animal welfare is one of many causes championed by the Meadows Foundation, a 75-year-old family funder that gives in its home state of Texas. Here’s a look at how Meadows works and what it’s prioritizing right now.Read More
September 19, 2023 Why This Texas Billionaire Is Giving Big for Biodiversity Science in the Lone Star State September 19, 2023/ Paul Karon Low-key philanthropist Stephen Winn, a Dallas-based investor and tech businessman, and his family have committed $50 million to help the University of Texas at Austin sharply expand ecology and climate research in the state.Read More
September 06, 2023 Five Texas Funders Supporting Rural Communities in the Lone Star State September 06, 2023/ Martha Ramirez Texas has the largest rural population in the United States. As part of our series on regional rural funders, these are just some of the grantmakers supporting rural communities there.Read More
August 07, 2023 "Your Agenda Is Making Houston Better." How the Houston Endowment Backs Its Home City August 07, 2023/ Wendy Paris We take an on-the-ground look at the Houston Endowment, which has been engaged in local giving for nearly a century. From the arts and parks to successes in reducing homelessness, its influence spans the city.Read More
May 03, 2023 Two Years In, Climate Justice Pledge Sees Results on the Ground, But Still Too Many Holdouts May 03, 2023/ Michael Kavate A campaign asking funders to support more BIPOC-led climate action is seeing real impacts among participating funders and the groups they’re backing. The amount pledged is growing, but progress remains hard fought.Read More
April 03, 2023 “Moving the Needle.” A Look at the Dallas Foundation’s Approach to Place-Based Giving April 03, 2023/ Mike Scutari As the oldest community foundation in Texas, the Dallas Foundation has built out an extensive grantmaking and partnership footprint across the region. President and CEO Matthew Randazzo walks us through its work.Read More
March 15, 2023 Roku Founder Anthony Wood Is a Billionaire Donor to Watch. Here's an Overview March 15, 2023/ Philip Rojc Serial entrepreneur Anthony Wood helped usher in the current dominance of streaming TV. Now, he’s also ramping up his philanthropy with a DAF-centric approach and interests across a range of causes.Read More
February 23, 2023 “Aligning to a North Star of Health Equity.” Five Things to Know About Texas’ St. David’s Foundation February 23, 2023/ Mike Scutari This Central Texas foundation is a prime example of a regional health funder doubling down on equity as it serves booming Austin and several rural communities. Here are a few noteworthy steps it’s taking.Read More
February 14, 2023 This Community Foundation Went All In on Trust-Based Philanthropy. Here’s What It Has Learned February 14, 2023/ Mike Scutari Beginning in 2018, Patricia Mejia oversaw the San Antonio Area Foundation’s adoption of trust-based philanthropy practices. It wasn’t always easy, but the move is paying off for grantees and the foundation. Read More
May 19, 2022 This Texas Billionaire Is a Major K-12 Donor. Here are Four Things to Know About His Foundation May 19, 2022/ Connie Matthiessen Texas billionaire Charles Butt is a significant donor to education in the state and beyond, with an emphasis on supporting public schools. Here’s a crash course on his foundation, which gives millions to the cause annually.Read More
April 21, 2022 Funder Spotlight: Five Things to Know About the Moody Foundation, One of the Largest in Texas April 21, 2022/ Mike Scutari The Galveston, Texas-based Moody Foundation is a pivotal player in a state full of deep-pocketed grantmakers. We take a deep dive into its history, funding priorities, and how nonprofits can access support.Read More
November 01, 2021 Getting to Know the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country November 01, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs Since 1982, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has been providing a 10-county region of Texas with grants and scholarships. Here’s what local nonprofits should know about this funder.Read More
October 18, 2021 How Philanthropy Fell Short in Protecting Abortion Rights—and What It Can Do Now October 18, 2021/ Dawn Wolfe While a handful of funders have been champions of abortion rights and access, philanthropy has failed to back the movement sufficiently, according to advocates and grantmakers we spoke with. Here’s how it can improve.Read More
September 21, 2021 How the Katherine C. Carmody Charitable Trust Awards Grants Locally in Texas September 21, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs The Katherine C. Carmody Charitable Trust is a Texas-specific grantmaker that welcomes unsolicited grant applications from local nonprofits. It supports education, reducing juvenile incarceration, and other human services work. Read More
September 09, 2021 "It’s Been a Windfall For Us." Donors Rush Funding to Protect Texans’ Access to Abortion September 09, 2021/ Dawn Wolfe A Texas law banning abortion beyond six weeks into a pregnancy has sparked a wave of outrage—and donations. Individuals and institutions are responding, and some are sharpening their analysis of the nature of such laws.Read More
June 02, 2021 A Texas Couple Gives Big for Mental Health, Including in the Wake of Disaster June 02, 2021/ Ade Adeniji Maureen and Jim Hackett support mental health and other issues in the Lone Star State, with one big gift responding to trauma caused by Hurricane Harvey. We talk to Maureen Hackett about how the family engages in philanthropy.Read More
April 20, 2021 How the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley Gives in Texas April 20, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs With recent increases in giving, now is a good time to get to know the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley and how it gives within a seven-county region in Texas.Read More
March 16, 2021 “Non-Negotiable.” What an Alumni Revolt Tells Us About the State of Higher Ed Fundraising March 16, 2021/ Mike Scutari University of Texas-Austin alumni threatened to withhold donations if administrators failed to support its controversial alma mater song. We explore how student demands are colliding with the sensibilities of affluent donors.Read More
March 01, 2021 Three Things Texas Nonprofits Should Know About the Community Foundation of Brazoria County March 01, 2021/ Alyssa Ochs The Community Foundation of Brazoria County is based in Angleton, Texas and funds a variety of causes throughout the area. Here are three things to know about this funder.Read More