According to a report recently released by Arts Fort Worth, nonprofit arts and culture have more than a half of billion dollar impact in Fort Worth. Arts Fort Worth advocates for the arts by partnering with community members, stakeholders and other advocacy organizations to ensure that Fort Worth is a thriving place for the arts.
The report was conducted by Arts Fort Worth in partnership with Americans for the Arts to show the impact that nonprofit arts and culture industries have on the national and local economy.
Nationally, the sector generated $151.7 billion of economic activity in 2022—$73.3 billion in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $78.4 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences. What was the impact of this economic activity? It supported 2.6 million jobs, provided $101 billion in personal income to residents, and generated $29.1 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments.
Locally, Fort Worth nonprofit arts and cultural organizations provide over $300M in employment wages to more than 7,000 individuals. With nearly 6M attendees to in-person events totaling more than $258M in spending. On average attendees spend $43.98 per person per event beyond the cost of admission to the event.
“When we think about nonprofit arts organizations—ballet companies, galleries, children’s musical theater, glass-blowing studios, poetry collectives, film societies, just to name a few examples—the first thoughts that come to mind are usually feelings of joy, togetherness, curiosity, accomplishment, awe.
In fact, Arts Fort Worth recently found through the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study that 92% of the Fort Worth residents surveyed felt pride in their neighborhood or community because of a specific nonprofit arts and culture event or venue. That same study showed us something else we don’t normally consider: these nonprofit businesses are also a major driver of our local economy, creating jobs, generating tax revenue and keeping hard-earned dollars in the hands of Fort Worth residents longer than many other industries, said Wesley Gentle, Executive Director of Arts Fort Worth.
In an email last Friday, Lena Pope CEO Ashley Elgin, Ph.D. announced the closure of Chapel Hill Academy citing changes in the educational landscape.
“Today, the educational needs of our community are different than when we opened CHA 16 years ago. The rise of numerous quality charter schools has added new options for families, coinciding with CHA’s enrollment numbers beginning to decline in 2019. This, paired with shifts in educational funding, has posed significant challenges. In response, Lena Pope’s leadership and advisors have conducted thorough evaluations and sought various remedies to sustain operations at CHA. Despite these extensive efforts, it has become clear that Lena Pope must make the incredibly tough decision to close CHA effective August 31, 2024,” wrote Elgin.
Elgin also shared that the organization is assisting its current students and families in making alternative educational arrangements for the next academic year as well as assisting current Chapel Hill Academy staff with “career progression, whether through an open position at Lena Pope or offering resources for new opportunities.”
Elgin indicated Lena Pope’s intention to concentrate its efforts on counseling services, early learning and behavioral intervention services, writing ” We are entering a phase where our resources and expertise in these services areas need to be expanded, and we remain financially solvent and capable of investing in high demand services as we enter this transition.”
Unlike other firms, YPTC specializes in nonprofit accounting and supporting your accounting needs onsite or remotely. Depending on your level of need, Your Part-Time Controller can serve as your organization’s bookkeeper, accountant, controller and/or Chief Financial Officer.
YPTC launched its North Texas office in 2022 and currently has teams in 11 major geographic markets across the country. The North Texas team is lead by veteran accountant, Eric Wilson, CPA. A graduate of Texas Tech University, Eric started his career in nonprofit audits and joined the Houston team of Your Part-Time Controller in 2017. Eric personally supports the arts, animal rescue and STEAM education organizations.
Eric Wilson, CPA
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As a free-to-the-consumer publication, DFW501c.news sponsors are essential to our ability to get you the news and information that connects and propels the local nonprofit sector.
The North Texas Nonprofit Institute (NTXNPI) announced the release of its annual State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report, a comprehensive overview of the trends and economic impacts within the nonprofit sector across the sixteen North Texas counties. The Institute released a regional report in September, but has recently added individual county reports, providing communities with valuable insights into their unique landscapes.
Dr. Colton Strawser, the Executive Director of the Institute, underscored the significance of nonprofits as powerful economic drivers within communities, asserting that they play a crucial role in fostering societal well-being and prosperity. “Our county-level reports aim to bring the spotlight onto the extraordinary impact nonprofits have on the economic fabric of North Texas. These organizations are not just providers of essential services; they are catalysts for positive change, creating jobs, spurring innovation, and enhancing the overall quality of life in our communities.”
The report highlights key metrics within each county, demonstrating the nonprofit sector’s resilience and adaptability, even in challenging times. It showcases the sector’s ability to stimulate economic growth, attract investments, and build partnerships that strengthen the social fabric. Dr. Strawser further states, “Nonprofits are not just responders to societal needs; they are proactive contributors to community development. By understanding the trends and economic impacts, we empower local leaders, policymakers, and citizens to collaboratively shape a thriving future.”
Center for Transforming Lives (CTL) broke ground last month at the site of its new headquarters in southeast Fort Worth. This project is momentous for the organization in many ways and embodies the drive for mission-impact that we have come to expect from CTL.
Each year, over 3,000 individuals and more than 1,000 families engage with CTL services. Last year, 98% of families remained housed after working through the program, 94% of children who attended the center’s programs were ready for school and 93% of children and adults reported reduced trauma symptoms.
Center for Transforming Lives focuses on poverty-disruption services with mothers with young children, fueled by the fact that one-third of Tarrant County’s single mothers with a child under the age of five are living in poverty. The Center’s programs are extensive, specifically trauma-informed and two-generational, incorporating research-based best practices for long-term success. Integrated services provided by Center for Transforming Lives include housing stability, early childhood education and clinical counseling.
With nearly $2 million in annual maintenance costs, limited space for programs or the 165-member staff, as well as client transportation and access issues, CTL’s ability to expand its impact has been constrained by its current, 33k square-foot 1920’s era facility in downtown Fort Worth.
The new Riverside campus is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication and work and represents only the third major operating location for the organization in its more than 100+ year history in Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
The new Riverside Campus located at 3001 S. Riverside Drive in Fort Worth will be constructed from a repurposed Montgomery Ward building on a 14-acre site at the intersection of South Riverside Drive and East Berry Street, near the Morningside and Glen Crest neighborhoods. The renovations have been developed with a two-generational, trauma-informed lens ensuring that the new headquarters will meet the emotional and functional needs of those it serves. The open land will also incorporate an urban park setting and is located next to a bus stop and a four-line bus transfer station for accessibility.
Riverside Campus is expected to be completed and open for service in November 2024 and precipitate some program changes, additions and closures. Carol Klocek, CEO of Center for Transforming Lives shared that, “it allows us to scale our impact in a way that hasn’t been possible with our current facilities.”
The new 65k square-foot facility will include:
Early Childhood Education Center
Economic Mobility Programming Area
Housing Connections Center
Counseling Center with play Therapy space
Offices
Donation and Distribution Center
Drop-in Childcare
Collaboration Partner Spaces
Carol shared excitement about the potential the new economic mobility center has for disrupting poverty for individuals and the wider community. In addition to coaching and support services, the small business development center will feature audio visual studios, a commercial kitchen, community space and makers spaces.
The free drop-in daycare center will support any client involved in CTL services and improve program participation as individuals are three-times more likely to stay in services and achieve goals with childcare support.
CTL is currently raising $38.5 million in funds from a mixture of sources to support this project including a New Market Tax Credit deal, ARPA funding from the City and County, a congressional allocation and private philanthropy. With nearly $30 million raised to date, CTL is well on its way to full project funding.
This project could be labeled a legacy project for CEO, Carol Klocek, as the first capital project and campaign under her 14-year tenure. But, Carol prefers to see this project as the manifestation of the actual legacy work of first understanding and clarifying the work of the organization and zeroing in on the two-generational approach to poverty disruption that they have implemented programmatically over her tenure.
Commissioners rejected sending state funds to Girls Inc. of Tarrant County Tuesday, after dozens of residents raised concerns about the organization’s support of LGBTQ issues and abortion rights.
“The county government should not be funding, nor should the county government be passing through money from some other source, for an organization that is so deeply ideological and encourages the children that they are teaching to go advocate for social change,” County Judge Tim O’Hare said.
Girls Inc. of Tarrant County offers school-based and community programming for 5- to 18-year-old girls. It was one of five organizations that applied for and were approved to receive grant funding from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Tarrant County administers the request for applications and picks the prospective recipients.
Of $675,000 in state funds, $115,334 was earmarked for Girls Inc. of Tarrant County’s ‘Girl Power!’ program, a two-part program focusing on self-esteem, stress management, healthy relationships and hygiene. Girls Inc. planned to offer that programming to families in the 76106, 76164, 76112 and 76119 ZIP codes.
Commissioners O’Hare, Gary Fickes and Manny Ramirez, all Republicans, voted to reject giving those funds to Girls Inc. of Tarrant County. Commissioners Roy Brooks and Alisa Simmons, both Democrats, voted unsuccessfully to give Girls Inc. the funds.
Residents who spoke in opposition pointed to the organization’s acceptance of transgender girls into their programs, its programming on sexual health and the national arm’s support of abortion rights. Girls Inc. of Tarrant County is part of a larger network of chapters across the U.S. and Canada.
“Girls Inc. is an extremist political indoctrination machine advocating for divisive liberal politics,” Leigh Wambsganss, a Southlake resident who spoke in opposition, said. Wambsganss is chief communications officer of Patriot Mobile.
Brittany Christian, board chair of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, speaks to Tarrant County Commissioners Oct. 2. (Matthew Sgroi | Fort Worth Report)
Janet Mattern, vice president of programs for League of Women Voters of Tarrant County, spoke in support of Girls Inc.
“As a young girl, I had low self-esteem and I needed leadership training,” she said. “I know what it’s like to feel like you have low self-worth, and all girls should know they have self-worth … We must lift up our young girls and young women and we must focus on dealing with their circumstances and that their lives have meaning.”
Brittany Christian, board chair of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, sought to draw a firm line between the advocacy done by the national organization and the work done on the local level. The local organization is independent from the national branch and doesn’t share all of their views, Christian said. They are reevaluating their continued affiliation with the national branch.
“Our mission is to inspire all Tarrant County girls to be strong, smart and bold,” she said. “And we do that by tailoring our services with the girls in Tarrant County, and their families, led by people who live in and love Tarrant County.”
Jennifer Limas, CEO of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, seconded Christian. She also stressed that sex education, which some speakers took issue with, was not included in the scope of the grant.
Girls Inc. has received the state grant funds through Tarrant County since 2007. Of the kids the organization serves in Tarrant County, 85% are from low-income households, and nearly 90% are non-white, according to the organization’s website.
Ellen Lopez, a North Richland Hills resident who opposed the contract, called attention to a portion of the contract language that prohibits using the money for partisan causes. Girls Inc. support of various social causes qualifies as partisan and that should be cause for rejecting the contract, Lopez said.
Brooks pushed back on that sentiment. Just about everyone who spoke in opposition to the contract had a political agenda of their own, he said.
“Stop trying to destroy the organization for political reasons,” Brooks said. “And let them get about the business of making strong, smart and bold women who know who they are, what they’re about, and just need a little support from the community that claims to love them.”
Simmons said the work Girls Inc. of Tarrant County does helps a vulnerable population learn vital life skills.
“Learning these skills prevents these students and their family members from placing undue burdens on our public health system and our public safety system,” Simmons said. “It’s preventative health care.”
If the organization is serious about breaking from the national branch, they can change their name and come back next year, O’Hare said.
“The notion that this somehow means there are young girls who are disadvantaged that will receive no programming of any kind unless we approve this is simply false,” O’Hare said. “There are other organizations in this community that can go do the exact same thing that we can award that funding to.”
This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
“As we delve deeper into the 990’s, closely following the pandemic’s aftermath, nonprofits find themselves navigating an unusual landscape marked by profound social divisions, a steadily diminishing middle class, and the looming specter of an economic recession, ” says Colton Strawser, PhD, CFRE, BCC Executive Director of the North Texas Nonprofit Institute.
The report provides an overview on the health of the more than 26,000 North Texas nonprofits and highlights some key findings:
lingering and still looming effects of the pandemic
strong philanthropic giving in North Texas
impact of inflation
employee pay and retention challenges
The report also offers expert reflections and recommendations for nonprofits to consider as a result of these findings.
The newest nonprofit in North Texas is dedicated to fostering the growth and success of nonprofits in the North Texas region. The North Texas Nonprofit Institute (NTX NPI), a nonprofit organization, will focus on building community leaders, impactful organizations, and thriving communities through workshops, resources, and networking programs that empower nonprofits with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to succeed. By fostering collaboration and providing affordable, high-quality programming, NTX NPI strives to create a sustainable and vibrant nonprofit sector throughout the region.
Over the past two years, NTX NPI has conducted an extensive needs assessment with nonprofits and foundations to identify the gaps and challenges nonprofits face in North Texas. This research has guided the development of a comprehensive range of future programs, services, and resources designed to address these needs and empower nonprofits to achieve their full potential.
Dr. Colton Strawser has been named the founding Executive Director of the Institute, having previously worked and trained at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. “When I relocated to Texas in 2020, I found that capacity-building support was limited for many nonprofits. The Institute we are launching is unique since it is an academic research center that focuses on rigorous community research and serves as a mission support organization focused on translating research to practice. Think of us as the equivalent of the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy at Texas A&M or the Center for Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Midwestern State University, but higher education adjacent.”
Dr. Colton Strawser
Dr. Strawser received his Ph.D. in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership from the University of San Diego and studied at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He is a national expert on community philanthropy and nonprofit capacity building, having published and trained extensively on both topics. Strawser owns Colton Strawser Consulting and indicated that his firm and the Institute have similar, yet separate missions. “I’ve always been an educator, which is what I am most passionate about when working with nonprofits. In consulting, I work one-on-one with organizations to solve challenges and pursue opportunities. The Institute role allows me to extend my work as a nonprofit professional while collaborating with other trainers and capacity builders. Our programming will be very diverse and feature numerous local and national experts. I’ve agreed to serve as the Executive Director part-time for the first two years.”
NTX NPI will provide a variety of workshops, a comprehensive resource library, and valuable networking programs to support nonprofits throughout the region. Workshops will cover various topics, including strategic planning, financial management, board governance, fundraising, marketing, and more. These interactive sessions will be facilitated by industry experts, ensuring that participants receive the highest quality instruction and guidance.
In keeping with its commitment to sustainability, NTX NPI is dedicated to offering affordable programming without compromising on quality. The organization firmly believes that all nonprofits, regardless of their size or financial resources, should have access to the tools and knowledge needed to thrive. “It will be very rare to see a full-day training cost more than $100, and any conferences will likely be capped at $150,” Strawser noted. By providing cost-effective solutions, the institute aims to level the playing field and create a stronger, more resilient nonprofit sector in North Texas.
To stay informed about the latest updates from NTX NPI and be notified when its new website is launched, individuals are encouraged to sign up for the group’s email list at www.ntxnonprofits.org. This will allow for timely notifications about upcoming workshops, resource additions, and networking opportunities.
As an official kick-off, the NTX NPI will host the inaugural North Texas Nonprofit Summit on September 29th at the Bob Duncan Center in Arlington. This event will serve as a platform to bring together nonprofit leaders, professionals, and stakeholders from across the region. At the summit, we will unveil the highly anticipated North Texas State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy report. This groundbreaking report highlights the economic and social impact of nonprofits in North Texas, providing valuable insights into their role in driving positive change.
“The launch of the North Texas Nonprofit Institute represents a significant milestone for the nonprofit sector in our region,” said Colton, Executive Director of NTX NPI. “We are excited to offer a diverse range of programs and resources to help nonprofits thrive, and we are committed to promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among organizations. By strengthening nonprofits, we can build stronger communities together.”
Feedspot, the internet’s largest human-curated database of bloggers and podcasts, has named DFW501c.news as one the 60 Best Fort Worth Blogs and Websites – coming in at number 19 on the list.
DFW501c Nonprofit Business Journal’s Founder and Publisher, Barbara Clark-Galupi shared her excitement. “It’s great to be recognized for our contribution to the digital collective! I’m grateful to all of my nonprofit peeps that keep hitting the site for the nonprofit news they can use!”
Feedspot discovers, categorizes and ranks blogs, podcasts and influencers in several niche categories. They have curated over 250,000 popular blogs and categorized them in more than 5,000 niche categories and industries. With millions of blogs on the web, finding influential, authority and trustworthy bloggers in a niche industry is a hard problem to address. They believe that a thoughtful combination of both algorithmic and human editing offers the best means of curation.
There are several ways they discover new feeds.
Publishers submit their blogs, podcasts or youtube channels on Feedspot using the ‘Submit’ form at the top of this page.
They have a research team who does extensive research on google and social media platforms to discover new influencers.
Feedspot has in-house media monitoring tools for discovering bloggers in several niche categories.
Their expert editorial team reviews each blog before adding them to relevant category list.
Ranking is based on
Relevancy
Industry blogs (those not favoring a specific brand) are given higher rank than blogs by individual brands(who often tend to promote their own products).
Blog post frequency(freshness)
Social media follower counts and engagements
Domain authority
Age of a blog
Alexa Web Traffic Rank and many other parameters.
FeedSpot routinely removes inactive blogs and those which are no longer relevant to a given list. List is updated as we receive new blog submissions and re-ranked every few weeks.
In an email to members, KERA President/CEO Nico Leone announced today that KERA News will follow the lead of NPR and leave the Twitter platform.
Rather than paraphrase the announcement, DFW501c.com determined it more impactful to share the entire email:
Dear Charlie and Barbara,
As a member of KERA News, I want to share an update on KERA’s Twitter presence with you.
As you may have seen, last week Twitter labeled NPR as “U.S. state-affiliated media” — a term the platform applies to government-controlled, propaganda outlets in countries without a free press.
This label is unequivocally false.
NPR is a nonprofit, news organization that is free of bias or influence. It exists to serve the public with fact-based news and context that helps us all understand the world around us. KERA is proud to air NPR programming, in addition to our own local news coverage, to bring you and your neighbors the trusted facts and context you need. We’re also proud that 92% of KERA’s funding comes directly from our North Texas community — including incredible members like you.
Twitter’s erroneous label undermines the credibility of NPR, and in turn, its hundreds of member stations that serve millions of people across the country. That’s why NPR has announced it is stepping away from Twitter — and KERA is doing the same.
Of course, there are still many ways you can access KERA’s essential reporting:
