Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • North Texas youth-focused NonProfits weigh in on new Family First Prevention Services Act

    February 2018, United States Congress passed the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) with the goal being to prevent children from entering foster care by allowing federal reimbursement for mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and in-home parenting skill training. It will also seek to improve the well-being of children currently in Foster Care by incentivizing states to reduce placement of children in congregate care.

    With approximately 30,000 children in Foster Care in the state of Texas at any given time, the FFPSA’s plan to shift the focus from treatment, to prevention, has created a buzz of conversation across Dallas and Fort Worth’s non-profit community.

    Dr. Wayne Carson, CEO of ACH Child and Family Services, gave his insight, stating “The intent of the FFPSA is good. It is designed to improve the quality of care provided to abused and neglected children and to promote children being with families. However, the timeline for adaptation is very short and will create a significant shortage of options for youth with more challenging behavioral needs in Texas.  It will be a difficult start if Texas chooses to comply.”

    Additionally, FWD501c was able to speak to Dr. Todd Landry, CEO of Lena Pope, on the changes he is hopeful to see in North Texas. Dr. Landry noted “While there are legitimate concerns with how quickly states will have to comply, I have to say I was in favor of Family First. I believe it is extremely important to begin providing the necessary funds to prevention and early intervention efforts. It is tremendous to now see that funding going into the community to prevent child abuse and neglect.”

    Despite being in its early stages, Texas’ Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is reporting that with the FFPSA, states will be given the option of amending their state plan in order to claim IV-E dollars (without regard to child’s IV-E eligibility) for enhanced front-end services for mental health, substance abuse, and in-home skills based parenting programs for up to 12 months for Foster Care candidates, pregnant and parenting foster youth, as well as parents and kin caregivers of such candidates or foster youth. Services must meet both general and practice requirements, including the requirement to be a promising, supported, or well-supported practice, and to be trauma-informed.

    Although the state will not see the FFPSA implemented until October 1, DFPS states that they are taking measures now to ensure the effects of this law are properly analyzed and that the current quality of safety and care is maintained for the 99,000 children and families that receive services annually. You can read more from DFPS here.

    You can read the Family First Prevention Services Act directly here.

    You can find additional resource for FFPSA information here.

    *The reporter contacted Buckner, Jonathan’s Place, and TexProtects for comment, but staff were unavailable. Vogel Alcove staff declined to comment.

  • United Way Metropolitan Dallas announces its 2019 GroundFloor Fellows

    United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has announced its 2019 GroundFloor Fellows. Launched in 2013, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ GroundFloor is a mentor-driven social innovation fund and impact accelerator program that invests seed funding and resources to support innovators with social ventures focused on solutions that address challenges facing education, financial stability, and health.

    The Fellow organizations were selected through a rigorous and highly competitive process. Each has created a product, service, or technology that is working to achieve our region’s 10 year community goals and improve the lives of people here in North Texas.

    The 2019 GroundFloor Fellows are:

    • Bold Idea is an education non-profit organization that is increasing access and interest in computer science for Dallas area students. Boldidea.org
    • Hand to Hold offers comprehensive in-hospital support for families in the neonatal intensive care unit, including screening and support for post-partum mood disorders. handtohold.org
    • JUST invests in low-income, female entrepreneurs to create more resilient communities. hellojust.com
    • My Possibilities will establish MPact, a Benefit Corporation, as a for-profit sustainability tool focused on providing a clear path to employment for people with disabilities. mypossibilities.org
    • Ntarupt’s public awareness campaign to reduce teen pregnancy will use bold imagery and messaging to raise awareness and change community norms around teen pregnancy and childbearing. ntarupt.org
    • POETIC equips girls who have experienced sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation to find their voices, reclaim their narratives and persist forward. iampoetic.org
    • Through Team Read Coaching, Readers 2 Leaders will provide training and consulting that helps out-of-school-time programs across D/FW change reading outcomes for their kids. readers2leaders.org
    • Rosa es Rojo was born to help Latino women learn and grow from life’s many challenges by assisting them on the front end with making healthier lifestyle choices. rosaesrojo.org
    • Student Success Agency is scaling one-on-one attention in education by allowing students to receive traditional services like, mentoring, tutoring, and advising, anytime anywhere from their cellphones. studentsuccess.co
    • In response to the rapidly increasing number of youth suicides that stem from cyber-bullying, Tacky Box will develop a virtual Tacky Box® to help create a kinder online culture and protect North Texas children. tackybox.com
    • Yoga N Da Hood is dedicated to social-emotional development through the power and practice of yoga and mindfulness. The Mindful School Bus Project will create a physical space for youth to access this power self-regulation tool. yogandahood.org

    You can find out more about United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ GroundFloor program here.

  • D CEO announces finalists for its 2018 Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards

    D CEO has announced the finalists for its 2018 Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, after receiving a record number of nominations.

    The awards are honoring professionals and organizations in the nonprofit world that continue to make a positive impact on the community, often under difficult financial constraints, as well as the efforts of corporations that support local nonprofits, from executives volunteering their time on boards to lending support through financial donations and sponsorships. The awards recognize both equally important groups in the DFW community.

    Of the more than 340 nominations submitted (the highest ever), 64 finalists were chosen by a group of D CEO editorial staff. The 64 finalists will be featured in D CEO’s August issue and recognized on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at an awards event where the winners in each category will be revealed. To learn more and to purchase tickets, click here.

    The finalists are:

    Corporate Citizenship Awards Finalists:

    • In-Kind Services Supporter 
      Deloitte
      DPR Construction
      Texas Health Resources
      The Beck Group
    • Project Collaboration 
      Ericsson North America
      KDC
      NorthPark Center
      PNC
    • Leadership Excellence
      Steve Waldman, IMA Texas
      Barclay Berdan, Texas Health Resources
      Ed Murph, Norma’s Café
      Jim Dunn, ORIX USA Corporation/ORIX Foundation
      Steve Van Amburgh, KDC
    • Corporate Partner of the Year
      Alliance Data
      Driversselect
      Kroger
      Pioneer Natural Resources
      Toyota Motor North America
    • Corporate Social Responsibility
      Capital One
      Hillwood Communities
      McCarthy Building Cos.
      Norma’s Café
      Texas Capital Bank

    Nonprofit Awards Finalists:

    • Social Enterprise 
      Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth
      Project Unity
      ScholarShot
    • Volunteer of the Year
      Jon Hetzel, Deep Ellum Foundation
      Mary Bess Jackson, Manna House
      Jennifer Kuncl, Holy Sews
      Colleen Taylor, Literacy Achieves
      Kern Wildenthal, The Dallas Opera
    • Nonprofit Team of the Year
      Genesis Women’s Shelter, Client Legal Assistance Team
      Sharing Life Community Outreach, The Hub
      The Real Estate Council, Community Fund
      The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Horticulture Team
    • Leadership Excellence 
      Jennifer Bartkowski, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
      Trey Bowles, The Dallas Entrepreneur Center
      Terry Flowers, St. Philip’s School and Community Center
      Florencia Velasco Fortner, The Concilio
      Madeline McClure, TexProtects
      Patti Niles, Southwest Transplant Alliance
      Steven Pace, Access and Information Network
      Kimberly Williams, Interfaith Family Services
      Todd Williams, The Commit Partnership
    • Organization of the Year
      Angel Flight South Central
      Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas
      Carter BloodCare
      Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E.
      Friends of the Dallas Public Library
      Genesis Women’s Shelter
      Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
      In My Shoes
      Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas
      Operation Kindness
      ScholarShot
      Southwest Transplant Alliance
      Texas Trees Foundation
      The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
      The Family Place
      YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
    • Most Successful Fundraising Campaign 
      Cristo Rey Dallas High School
      My Possibilities
      North Texas Food Bank
      Parkinson Voice Project

  • George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Launched June 1

    The George W. Bush Institute and SMU announced they are joining forces to launch the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, which launched on June 1. This effort will combine the existing Economic Growth Initiative of the Bush Institute with the public policy-relevant work of the SMU Department of Economics. The objective is to build the initiative into a globally respected policy voice on the most pressing economic issues of our time.

    “We have developed a close and successful relationship with SMU since the establishment of the Bush Institute nine years ago, and we are thrilled to partner with SMU on this joint initiative,” said Kenneth Hersh, President and CEO of the Bush Center. “Since its inception, the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative has promoted pro-growth economic policies on issues like trade and immigration. The addition of SMU will add a nationally recognized research partner to our work. Importantly, we will also be able to add expertise to broaden our scope.”

    The Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative will promote policies to support domestic economic growth and strengthen our competitiveness in the global economy. The initiative will also highlight the benefits of continuing American economic leadership, global trade, immigration, and the economic vitality of cities and regions in our country.

    The new combined initiative will be supported by the George W. Bush Presidential Center Endowment at SMU that was established to support joint programming as well as funding from the Bush Institute, thereby enabling its work to begin immediately.

    “As the Bush Center was being developed and constructed, it was crucial to create an endowment that would ensure funding for the University to participate in joint programing,” said R. Gerald Turner, President of SMU. “The SMU Department of Economics and the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative are complementary centers of excellence whose collaboration will create very visible, research-based contributions to the dialogue regarding economic growth in our country and in North America.”

    “The Initiative combines the Bush Institute’s action-oriented approach to policy and its extraordinary convening ability with SMU’s research and academic excellence, particularly in economics,” said Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the Bush Institute and Senior Vice President of the Bush Center.

    Steve Currall, SMU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs said, “The new Initiative will leverage synergies between the Bush Institute’s global visibility on economic policy and world-leading economic analysis by SMU’s Department of Economics and other academic units on our campus such as the Cox School of Business.  SMU’s faculty and students will benefit from the intellectual exchange with the Initiative’s leadership to advance thoughtful analyses and innovative solutions to promote economic growth domestically and globally.”

    The Bush Institute’s Director of Economic Growth, Matthew Rooney, and the Deputy Director, Laura Collins, will be joined in the initiative by Dr. Cullum Clark, Adjunct Professor of Economics at SMU, who will serve as a director.

    ABOUT THE GEORGE W. BUSH INSTITUTE

    Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. The work is achieved through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and the Engagement Agenda – by which the Bush Institute engages the greater community with its important work. Find out more on the organization’s website.

     ABOUT SMU

    For more than 100 years, SMU has shaped minds, explored the frontiers of knowledge and fostered an entrepreneurial spirit in its seven degree-granting schools. Taking advantage of unbridled experiences on the University’s beautiful campuses and SMU’s relationship with Dallas, the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 graduate and undergraduate students become ethical leaders in their professions and communities who change the world. Find out more on the SMU website.

  • North Texas Giving Day Registration is Open

    Nonprofits who wish to register to participate in the 10th Annual North Texas Giving Day on Sep. 20, 2018 can now do so online. Registration closes Aug. 15.

    Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day is an 18-hour online giving event designed to empower every person to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and causes they care about in one easy-to-use platform.

    To participate, a nonprofit must:

    • Have a physical mailing address in one of 20 North Texas Counties (listed on the North Texas Giving Day website, linked below);
    • Be a 501(c)(3), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3)* type I, II, and III functioning integrated, and be in good standing with the state and the IRS and not be in violation of any applicable state or federal law, ordinance or regulation;
    • Acknowledge that 100% of proceeds raised through North Texas Giving Day will go directly towards the organization’s North Texas program/service/community in the 20 North Texas Counties; and
    • Have a completed North Texas Giving Day Profile by August 15, 2018.

    To find out more, visit the North Texas Giving Day website.

    ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

    At Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), our charge is to put giving to work. To take generosity and amplify it. To take passion and focus it. To seed impact and harvest it year after year. We invest in each other. We nourish the best in our cities, our neighbors and our communities. Because we know where giving thrives, communities thrive, too. As one of the largest community foundations in the nation, CFT professionally manages more than 1,000 charitable funds for families, companies, foundations and nonprofits and has awarded more than $1.7 billion in grants since its founding in 1953. Because we believe where giving thrives communities thrive, too. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • AFP Greater Dallas Chapter Announces National Philanthropy Day Award Honorees

    The Greater Dallas Chapter AFP proudly announces its 2018 National Philanthropy Day Award Honorees! Mark your calendar for Friday, November 9th to be part of this most meaningful occasion, celebrating those who give so much to our community.

    Outstanding Philanthropist – Jack D. Furst
    Nominated by Boy Scouts of America

    Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser – Kaki Hopkins
    Nominated by Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden

    Outstanding Fundraising Executive – Luanne Samuel, CFRE
    Nominated by Alcuin School

    Outstanding Foundation – The Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation
    Nominated by Texas Health Resources Foundation

    Outstanding Corporation – Pioneer Natural Resources
    Nominated by Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Dallas CASA

    Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy – Jingle Bell Mistletoe
    Nominated by North Texas Food Bank

    ABOUT AFP

    The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents 30,000 members in 200 chapters in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs.

    AFP believes that to guarantee human freedom and social creativity, people must have the right to freely and voluntarily form organizations to meet perceived needs, advocate causes, and seek funds to support these activities. To guarantee these rights, AFP’s purposes are to:

    • Foster development and growth of fundraising professionals committed to preserving and enhancing philanthropy.
    • Establish a code of ethics and professional practices.
    • Require member adherence to a professional code of ethical standards and practices.
    • Provide training opportunities for fundraising professionals.
    • Implement programs that ensure cultural and social diversity in our membership and leadership.
    • Collect, research, publish, and disseminate historical, managerial, and technical information on philanthropy and philanthropic fundraising.
    • Promote public understanding of philanthropy and philanthropic fundraising.
    • Conduct activities that maintain and develop legislation favorable to philanthropy.
    • Enlist, organize, and support members to achieve our purposes. Foster international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and education among fundraising professionals worldwide.
    • Use all necessary and proper means to accomplish our purposes.
    • Provide a valid and reliable certification program for fundraising professionals.

    Find out more on AFP Greater Dallas Chapter’s website.

  • Communities Foundation of Texas and Dallas Millennial Club to host Philanthropy + Social Impact Discussion May 7

    Communities Foundation of Texas and Dallas Millennial Club will host a discussion around the topic of “Philanthropy and Social Impact: How Local Organizations are Positively Impacting the Community Through Good Work and Service” as part of Dallas Millennial Club’s Debate & Speaker Series May 7.

    The event will take place at Communities Foundation of Texas in Dallas.

    In a post on the event’s Facebook page, the group says “Our goal is always to encourage meaningful interactions between our attendees, panelists and sponsors. The room will be set up in a casual fireside chat format where the audience will contribute to the discussion and topics.”

    Featured Speakers include representatives from Champions of Hope, Genesis Women’s Shelter, and Jade and Clover.

    Admission is $18 and can be purchased prior to the event. Drinks and Appetizers will be served. Tickets can be purchased here.

    ABOUT DALLAS MILLENNIAL CLUB

    A club for leaders who want to SERVE and PROFIT with PURPOSE. “Millennial” is much more than an age. It’s a mindset. Find out more on the organization’s website.

    ABOUT COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

     

  • Trinity River Conservation Corps’ Corporate Day of Service sees more than 250 Volunteers Plant 1,000 Native Species and Clean Up Trash

    The fifth annual Trinity River Conservation Corps’ Corporate Day of Service was held on Friday, Apr. 27 with more than 250 volunteers who helped clean and beautify the Trinity River Corridor. In total, volunteers planted more than 1,000+ native plants and collected trash in the heart of the city. The City of Dallas’ Trinity Watershed Management and Trinity Park Conservancy led efforts to give citizens an opportunity to volunteer in nature.

    The morning kicked off at Trammell Crow Park with a rally and group photo. Trinity Park Conservancy President Brent Brown said, “The Trinity Park Conservancy exists to fulfill the promise of the Trinity River Corridor as the natural gathering place for Dallas and to deepen the connection to one another and nature. The Trinity River Conservation Corps began in 2013 with a gift to create a volunteer program in the Trinity Corridor. Over the years, it has grown, thanks to so many, including the City of Dallas’ Trinity Watershed Management. A big thanks also to Groundwork Dallas and the Trinity River Audubon Center as they are providing canoes and tools to make the pond cleaning possible.”

    Brown also thanked the sponsors:

    • Watershed Sponsor: TXU Energy
    • River Sponsor: Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett and Moser, P.C.
    • Wetland Sponsors: HDR, Inc. and Tenet Health
    • In-Kind Sponsors: Dallas Leadership Foundation, Starbucks, Tom Thumb Trinity Groves, Groundwork Dallas, Trinity River Audubon Center

    Sarah Standifer, Trinity Watershed Management director, City of Dallas, gave a safety talk, and then the teams divided up to volunteer in the corridor at the Pavaho Wetlands in the Dallas Floodway and the Pavaho Pretreatment Pond near Bickers and Borger Streets.

    ABOUT TRINITY PARK CONSERVANCY

    Trinity Park Conservancy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 2004 under the name of The Trinity Trust Foundation, to support and implement the recreational, economic development, and environmental stewardship components within the City of Dallas’ Trinity River Corridor Project. As an organization dedicated to strong urban design for Dallas’ largest public green space and to stewardship of its river environment, we have raised more than $115 million in private philanthropy to support projects such as Margaret Hunt Hill and Margaret McDermott Bridge. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Communities Thrive Challenge offers new funding opportunities for nonprofits providing economic services

    The Rockefeller Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative recently launched the Communities Thrive Challenge – a $10-million funding opportunity to find and support successful, community-driven approaches to expand economic opportunity for low-income and financially insecure people and communities across the U.S. Through a roughly six-month, nationwide search, the Challenge will identify up to 80 accomplished organizations with a proven track record, and provide up to 10 with $1 million grants, tailored technical assistance, and an opportunity to share their stories on the national stage.

    The Communities Thrive Challenge hopes to fund, strengthen, and grow community-driven approaches that help low-income and financially insecure people find and retain well-paid and meaningful work and achieve financial security or build economically vibrant neighborhoods.

    Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria may apply:

    • Organizations must be an entity incorporated in and maintaining a primary place of business in the United States or United States Territory.
    • Applicant organizations must have an annual operating budget of greater than $200,000 in fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2017.
    • Applicant organizations cannot have received funding from The Rockefeller Foundation or the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in the past ten years.
    • All applicants must meet IRS guidelines for charitability.

    You can find out more on the Communities Thrive Challenge website. Applications are due Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 5:00 PM Pacific.

  • D CEO announces new NonProfit and Corporate Citizenship Awards

    D CEO is honoring professionals and organizations in the nonprofit world that continue to make a positive impact on the community, often under difficult financial constraints. The organization is also honoring the efforts of the corporations that support the nonprofit community, from executives volunteering their time on boards to lending support through financial donations and sponsorships. These awards recognize both equally important groups.

    To nominate for D CEO‘s 2018 Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, click here.

    Nonprofit Award Categories:

    • Social Enterprise
    • Volunteer of the Year
    • Nonprofit Team of the Year
    • Leadership Excellence
    • Organization of the Year
    • Most Successful Capital Campaign

    Corporate Citizenship Award Categories:

    • In Kind Services Supporter
    • Project Collaboration
    • Leadership Excellence
    • Corporate Partner of the Year
    • Corporate Social Responsibility

    Nominations are due by Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 5 p.m., and all entries must be made online. If you have any questions, please contact Payton Parker at Payton.Parker@dmagazine.com