Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • DFW501c.news seeks Nonprofit Advisory Council members

    DFW501c.news seeks to be the premier nonprofit news source for North Texas nonprofit professionals. With the success of its first five years of reporting nonprofit news in North Texas, DFW501c.news is seeking members of the North Texas nonprofit community to serve on a Nonprofit Advisory Council.

    The Nonprofit Advisory Council will meet virtually four times annually and provide perspective, ideas and opinions to the DFW501c.news team. The Nonprofit Advisory Council helps our team provide greater value to the DFW-area nonprofit sector.

    Any individual professionally working in the nonprofit sector in North Texas is eligible to apply. To express an interest in serving, please email your interest and a link to your Linked In page to the DFW501c.news team at info@DFW501.com.

  • Report alleges IRS is behind on releasing nonprofit 990 data

    ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power, published a report in December alleging that the IRS is behind on releasing data for tax-exempt organizations.

    ProPublica performed a review of public IRS data and determined that nearly half a million FORM 990’s have not been released. Long seen as a charity regulation and donor evaluation tool, this backlog can affect the entire sector.

    Cumulative industry data reports for 2020 and 2021 will be incomplete and the sector will not have a full picture of how it fared during the pandemic and subsequent economic challenges.

    The House of Representatives voted yesterday to rescind funding for 87,000 IRS employees needed to fill vacancies and a retiring workforce over the next ten years. While this bill will likely be rejected by the Senate, the IRS has a number of well-documented issues it’s battling including this one.

    One thing nonprofit organizations can do is to not relay on third-party websites such as Charity Navigator and Guide Star to publish their financial data for the public. Self-publishing audits and IRS 990’s is an industry best practice.

  • DFW Nonprofit Resource Group announces Volunteers of the Year and new board

    The DFW Nonprofit Resource Group recently gathered to celebrate the organization’s 4th anniversary of connecting mission-friendly business and service professionals to organizations within the community. The Resource Group promotes nonprofits, large and small, and works behind the scenes to ensure that nonprofits can access businesses and services that understand the challenges and opportunities of running a nonprofit organization.

    Founded in 2019 by Eric Zarko, Vice President of Development with RoundTable Technology, the Resource Group’s purpose is to provide meaningful connections—which appears in many different forms. Each month the Resource Group hosts online meetings with local nonprofits to have them promote their missions and share what support and resources they need beyond monetary donations. In 2022, the Resource Group held 23 meetings to hear from local nonprofits across the metroplex.

    The Resource Group also leverages connections with businesses with a surplus of items. In the past year, nonprofits have benefitted from six events, which the Resource Group calls “Share the Love” events, that distribute surplus from local companies that include new items such as holiday décor, furniture, food, and more. In 2022, over $250,000 in surplus items were distributed to local agencies.

    During the Resource Group’s holiday happy hour, Zarko announced the annual Volunteer of the Year awards which were given to Jessica Gruber of Buzzworks Creations, a company that designs nonprofits website that makes a difference, and Dr. Colton Strawser of Colton Strawser Consulting, a consulting firm that supports nonprofits in developing the data, funding, and leadership skills necessary to create change.

    In a recent planning meeting, the Resource Group elected its new board officers for 2023, which include:

    President – Eric Zarko | RoundTable Technology
    Vice President – Colton Strawser | Colton Strawser Consulting
    Treasurer – Melanie Kirton | The Financial Affairs
    Secretary – Jessica Gruber | Buzzworks Creations

    A list of current members of the DFW Nonprofit Resource Group can be found online at: https://directory.dfwnonprofitresourcegroup.com/. Businesses that are interested in participating in the group, or distributing surplus items, are encouraged to reach out to eric@dfwnonprofitresourcegroup.com.

  • United Way of Tarrant County announces $100M capacity campaign

    United Way of Tarrant County (UWTC) has launched the Get United campaign to honor its 100th birthday and a century of service to local communities. Funds will be used to support progress and initiatives to create a more vibrant and stable community for all. County President and CEO Leah M. King issued a challenge to Tarrant County residents: Join United Way’s Get United campaign to support progress and initiatives that will create a more vibrant and stable community for all.

    The campaign was announced during a community event held on the steps of Globe Life Field in Arlington. UWTC President and CEO Leah M. King led the occasion. Community leaders— including Ms. Opal Lee, the honorable Jeff Williams, Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington, President – Tarrant Region at Frost Bank, Hadley Woerner, and longtime Texas Rangers public address announcer Chuck Morgan — announced the vision, focus areas, and fundraising goals for the Get United campaign. The campaign aims to engage the public, businesses, and philanthropists in achieving a more prosperous and equitable future in Tarrant County. 

    Community members, staff, nonprofit organizations, and civic and corporate leaders gathered for the birthday party, which featured the reveal of a 30-foot mural painted by Texas artist Jon McKenzie who grew up in Arlington and attended Tarrant County College. The mural illustrates people from a community as diverse as Tarrant County coming together to get united. It will remain on display to the public at Globe Life Field — next to Arlington Backyard — through the holiday season. In 2023, United Way of Tarrant County will bring the mural and additional community celebrations to neighborhoods across the county. 

    United Way of Tarrant County’s centennial birthday was celebrated countywide by official proclamation of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court as well as in the cities of Arlington, Euless, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, Mansfield, and Saginaw that each formally recognized Nov. 17, 2022, as GET UNITED DAY. Also recognizing GET UNITED DAY were Texas first lady Cecilia Abbott and Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell, Texas Sen. Jane Nelson, Texas Sen. Kelly Hancock, Texas Sen. Beverly Powell, the entire Texas House of Representatives, and the Mayors Council of Tarrant County.

    “United Way is committed to providing leadership, harnessing public and private resources, and developing programs to address the toughest challenges and issues facing Tarrant County,” said King. “GET UNITED DAY is a celebration of the work still to be done and an invitation to community ambassadors, civic leaders, partner agencies, businesses, foundations, donors, and each and every individual here in Tarrant County to join us in making our communities stronger for generations to come.”

    The Get United campaign identifies four focus areas for near- and long-term support: 

    ·       Community response — providing the basics for daily needs, disaster relief, and military and veteran families.

    ·       Community health — ensuring a community where everyone can be safe and healthy, with a particular focus on underserved neighbors, women, children, older adults, and those with disabilities. 

    ·       Financial empowerment — equipping individuals with the tools for independence, from financial literacy to stable housing and transportation.

    ·       Education and learning — preparing the current and future workforce to contribute to their own success and to their community.

    At its GET UNITED DAY event, United Way of Tarrant County and campaign leaders challenged 100,000 residents to lend their voices and sign up to learn about the Get United campaign in the next 100 days. Individuals can learn about the issues facing Tarrant County and how to contribute or volunteer at getunitedtarrant.org. 

    Karen and Jeff Williams, former mayor of Arlington, will co-chair the Get United campaign, which United Way of Tarrant County anticipates will represent the organization’s largest fundraising effort in its 100-year history. 

    “We know the magic of United Way is twofold: identifying and understanding the needs of Tarrant County and building trust in programs to address tough problems facing our region, from food insecurity to youth gun violence to maternal health outcomes and more,” said Jeff Williams. “Through Get United, we can grow the role of a convener in bringing resources to the table and truly become 64 ZIP codes working to not only fix problems but also to tackle the reasons they exist in the first place.”

    Early contributors to Get United, including GM Financial, BNSF Railway, and Rainwater Charitable Foundation, joined Williams, King, Woerner, and Lee onstage at the GET UNITED DAY event for a solemn moment of reflection as attendees pulled hundreds of magnets labeled with facts of need in Tarrant County.

    “Get United is about drawing the public’s attention to what their neighbors need and sharing the vision with private and corporate contributors of what it will take to make positive, transformational change in Tarrant County,” said Woerner, who also serves as chair of the United Way board of directors. 

  • JCPenney donates $2.4M in goods to the Salvation Army

    JCPenney, headquartered in Plano, is working with the Salvation Army to contribute 130,000 units of new homewares and clothing to help families across the 60-miles of Florida coastline impacted by Hurricane Ian. The gift, which aims to relieve those struggling with the burden of recovery, is worth $2.4M.

    “The loss many Floridians have sustained from Hurricane Ian has proven even more challenging as children are left without clothes or supplies for school, and parents are trying to prepare for the holidays with finances stretched thin,” said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander of The Salvation Army. “We are proud to partner with JCPenney in providing new clothing and household items to these families in need and hope our efforts will help ease the burden as they continue to recover.”

    The Salvation Army’s initial relief efforts in response to Hurricane Ian have focused on meeting immediate needs through meals, shelter, emotional and spiritual care and other emergency services to survivors and first responders. To date, nearly 10,000 cleanup kits and 36,000 infant supplies have been distributed, and nearly 400,000 meals have been served in feeding locations throughout Florida. However, this in-kind donation from JCPenney will allow The Salvation Army to provide long-term hope that goes beyond the initial feeding and cleanup.

    The goods will be donated through a multipart delivery and distribution effort throughout Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Myers, Tampa and Naples, and will help survivors physically and emotionally recover from the challenges Hurricane Ian has brought. Deliveries begin this week and will continue through the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Shipping costs have also been covered by JCPenney, and The Salvation Army’s local teams will distribute the items to families in need throughout the affected areas.

    “JCPenney’s founding principles are rooted in building strong, vibrant communities,” said JCPenney Chief Executive Officer Marc Rosen. “We are committed to upholding this legacy and are honored to partner with The Salvation Army to provide resources for families in Florida as they rebuild their communities in the wake of Hurricane Ian.”

  • Shelters to Shutters launches in North Texas

    Shelters to Shutters (S2S), a national non-profit that transitions individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness to economic self-sufficiency, is bringing its program to North Texas.

    Robin Head will join the organization as North Texas Executive Director.

    S2S partners directly with the multifamily industry to support people experiencing situational homelessness with career training and opportunities for full time entry-level jobs with discounted housing at the same communities where they work. The program provides each participant with ongoing training, mentoring and access to support services to ensure a successful long-term transition. This model changes the lives of individuals and families while providing quality, motivated employees for a rapidly growing industry in need of talent.

    Head will work alongside the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas (AAGD) and leaders in the business community to launch operations in the new market. In her role, Head will build a network of key stakeholders including nonprofits, workforce development training programs and corporate partnerships to support the mission of Shelters to Shutters. S2S partners with over 40 apartment management companies, such as Bell Partners, Dominium, IRT Living, IMT Residential, Middleburg Communities and Western Wealth Communities,

    Head comes to S2S with more than 30 years of serving in the North Texas non-profit arena. She holds a social work degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, chaired the annual DFW Association of Fundraising Professionals Conference, and served on several local boards and task forces.  Head’s work in this sector includes leadership positions in organizations with missions supporting educational opportunities for first generation students, affordable housing for families and seniors, workforce pathways for homeless veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals, advocacy, and gender equity.

    “It’s such an honor for me to launch this proven social entrepreneurial solution to situational homelessness in our North Texas community,” said Head. “I look forward to providing long term solutions for individuals and families struggling to secure stable living-wage employment and housing.  This S2S model can create a measurable social change in our community.”

    Shelters to Shutters comes to Dallas/Fort Worth with the support of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas. The organization recognized the win-win opportunity to provide their member multifamily companies with a new pipeline of talent for their properties while also changing the lives of individuals and families in their local communities. AAGD’s leadership contributed seed capital needed to bring S2S to the area.

    “We are honored to have the support of AAGD and look forward to partnering closely with them,” said David Williams, CEO of Shelters to Shutters. “Leveraging their expertise in multifamily and their existing community engagement will allow us to hit the ground running in Dallas/Fort Worth and quickly stand up a program that will make a meaningful difference for all involved.”  

    Joining S2S in ensuring the sustainability of program support are nine leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who will serve on the North Texas Advisory Board: Ann-Marie Bomba, President, TAM Residential; Joe Bruce, Senior Vice President, AMLI Development Co.; Steve Cagle, Senior Advisor, Employee Health & Benefits, MarshMcLennan Agency; Janine Jovanovic, Chief Growth Officer, Middleburg Communities; Scotty Landry, North Texas Advisory Board Chair, CEO, HLH Family Foundation; Wade Lowe, Director of Business Development, 5G Studio; Kin Oldham, Executive Director, Apartment Association of Greater Dallas; Zachary Patterson, Head of Multifamily Investing, The Meridian Group; Durell Vieau, Vice President, Talent Acquisition & Retention, Lincoln Property Company.

    “S2S is not only doing important work in the community, but it is providing a solution to a growing problem for our industry, finding and retaining motivated talent,” said Kin Oldham, Executive Director of AAGD. “AAGD represents companies that own and operate over 3,000+ properties. We are always in need of individuals who want to work in our industry. S2S gives us the opportunity to put good people to work for us and give a new lease on life for many who often get overlooked.”

    Shelters to Shutters currently operates in nine major markets: Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Houston, Nashville, the National Capital Region, North Texas Orlando and Phoenix.

  • Girls Inc. of Tarrant County expands services in Crowley

    Girls Inc. of Tarrant County (GITC) has announced it will expand its partnership with Crowley Independent School District (CISD).

    GITC has worked with CISD since 2016 and currently operates at four of its campuses. Starting this fall, services will be expanded to girls in all secondary campuses. The initiative will invest in students students by strengthening their ability to achieve more in the classroom, with their peers, and in their community.

    With the expansion, GITC will serve over 800 girls in CISD with its comprehensive programs during the school day, afterschool and summer.

    GITC serves girls in kindergarten through their freshman year of college. Its programs encourage health, education, career readiness, and independence. The organization reduces barriers that stem from violence, poverty, and inequity that youth encounter at home, at school, in relationships, online, or in their community.

  • The Family Place opens new building to support intervention and prevention

    The Family Place, a nonprofit helping victims of family violence in North Texas, has opened a new building for Faith and Liberty’s Project Battering Intervention and Prevention Program.

    The Family Place empowers survivors of family violence by providing safe housing, counseling, and skills that create independence while building community engagement and advocating for social change to stop family violence.

    In 1978, a group of community volunteers organized The Family Place as one of the first family violence shelters in the state. Today The Family Place is the largest family violence service provider in Texas, with three emergency shelters providing 177 shelter beds each night, including the state’s only shelter for men and children, and three counseling centers. 

    All the agency’s services are free and offered in Spanish and in English.

    Faith and Liberty Battaglia were tragically killed by their father in 2001 as their mother listened through the phone. To honor their lives, The Family Place created Faith and Liberty’s Place in 2003.

    Faith and Liberty’s Place (FLP) was created to provide a safe, neutral environment for supervised visitations or monitored parent exchanges. Parents’ issues stemming from domestic violence, such as divorce or custody battles, often get in the way of a child’s safety. FLP prioritizes the safety of both children and parents to prevent any abusive behavior.

    Most FLP clients are court referrals due to a history of family violence. While clients must reside in Dallas county, they do not have to be clients of The Family Place. FLP is one of the only visitation sites that is free for clients, allowing non-custodial parents to spend time with their children without any financial burdens.

    The visiting and custodial parents park in separate parking lots, enter through separate entrances and arrive at different times to keep both parties safe from interacting with their partner. When the custodial parent arrives, he or she leaves the children with an FLP staff member to facilitate the visit. Once the supervised visitation concludes, the custodial parent leaves with the children and the visiting parent must wait an additional 30 minutes before leaving the premises.

    FLP allows children to maintain relationships with both parents while preventing any further conflict from arising. This one-on-one supervision of visits by an FLP staff member allows families to get the most out of their time together.

    Faith and Liberty’s mother, Mary Jean Pearle, attended the opening of the new building for Faith and Liberty’s Project and Battering Intervention and Prevention Program.

  • $3.8M donation surprises Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

    Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) has received an unexpected $3.8 million gift.

    The contribution was made by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, as the donor continues her pledge to give away at least half of her wealth. It is part of an $84.5M donation to Girl Scouts of the USA and 29 councils across the country, and will help significantly advance the organization’s mission to provide life-changing experiences, mentorship, and programming. 

    “Post-pandemic, GSNETX is in a state of reimagining itself, determining who we need to be to best serve the girls of the future, particularly in communities and with families who we have not engaged in the past,” said Jennifer Bartkowski, Chief Executive Officer for GSNETX. “This gift fuels that work, preparing us to access the resources, human capital, and strategy that will create a place of belonging and a leadership experience for every girl in our community. Without question, this gift is transformational. An investment in girls is an investment in the future of our community and we are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to change the lives of even more girls in North Texas.”

    GSNETX mobilizes a network of more than 8,000 volunteers across a 32-county region to champion girls. Recently, the organization enlisted the partnership of the Monitor Institute with Deloitte to help the organization re-imagine what it needs to be for girls now and into the future. This work included confronting the realities that come with being a 110-year-old institution.

    With a focus on community-centered design and engagement, volunteer and girl diversity, equity, and access and organizational readiness, GSNETX says this gift will allow the organization to make the changes that will ensure it is the girl-serving organization of choice for all families

    “We want Girl Scouts to be a place where every girl sees herself and appreciates herself just as she is, where she finds a place of belonging, and connects with caring adult mentors who can foster her curiosity, and cheer her on as she takes risks, explores opportunities, and develops into the best version of herself,” said Donna Epps, board chair for GSNETX. “This gift will enable us to double down on our work to reach girls in communities where they may not have access and where volunteers have not historically seen themselves represented in our organization.”

    Recent research from Girl Scouts of the USA cites that some of the biggest issues affecting girls today stem from the COVID-19 pandemic, gender and racial inequalities, mental wellbeing, and 21st century skills and the future of work.  Each new investment enables Girl Scouts to become a unifier at the broadest level, harnessing the leadership skills of generations to come and ensuring a future that is inclusive, empathetic, united, and equitable

    “We are so appreciative of MacKenzie Scott’s gift to Girl Scouts,” said Sofia Chang, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “This is a great accelerator for our ongoing efforts to help girls cultivate the skills and connections to lead in their own communities and globally. The support from all our donors, including this generous support from MacKenzie Scott is critical in delivering on our work of reimagination and transformation. We are excited to prove how this investment in girls will change the world – because when one girl succeeds, we all succeed.”

  • Research study seeks responses from nonprofit marketing and comms personnel

    Research is being conducted at the University of Texas at Arlington to measure how job satisfaction of nonprofit marketing and communication personnel is affected by unclear job expectations and multiple interpretations of job expectations.

    Individuals who are currently employed as marketing and communications staff at a nonprofit within the U.S. can participate in the research study. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

    Findings of the research can help non-profit organizations to improve turnover, retention, and job satisfaction in nonprofit marketing/communication teams. An option to receive the findings of the study is provided at the end of the survey for those who provide an email address. Results will be distributed once the research has been finalized.

    The survey includes 42 questions and can be accessed online.