Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • United Ways of Texas and OneStar launch nonprofit support site

    United Ways of Texas (UWT) and OneStar have partnered to elevate the power and impact of the nonprofit sector via a platform that is now live.

    The new resource, Texas Nonprofit Strong, aims to help nonprofits across Texas learn, connect and advocate for the charitable sector. The collaboration between UWT and OneStar will help create a unified voice to amplify the benefit of nonprofits to local communities, increase their value to the state’s economy, and enhance their critical role in civil society.

    The platform offers capacity-building resources, an advocacy tool kit, policy updates and action items, access to research studies, news updates, event listings and other tools.

    As part of the initiative, a premier statewide nonprofit conference will be held Feb. 27-March 1. The 2023 Texas Nonprofit Summit, offers opportunities for nonprofit workers to learn, network and collaborate with others from across the state. The three-day conference will culminate with Texas Nonprofit Strong Day at the State Capital, where attendees will champion the impact and value of the nonprofit sector to state leaders.

    More information is available online.

  • The Dallas Foundation celebrates NTX Giving Day with $250k in prizes

    The Dallas Foundation celebrates NTX Giving Day with $250k in prizes

    The Dallas Foundation in partnership with Lyda Hill Philanthropies gave away over $250,000 on September 22 as part of a NTX Giving Day celebration.

    The funds were distributed at the Foundation’s Pegasus Park offices to nonprofit organizations in the building. The following organizations were randomly drawn to receive the prizes:

    $30,000 – The Commit Partnership

    $20,000 – Aspire (USA)

    $20,000 – City Year

    $10,000 – Lone Star Justice Alliance

    The Foundation also conducted voting in the building and awarded the following organizations:

    $5,000 – ChildCareGroup

    $5,000 – The Nature Conservancy

    NTX Giving Day is a project of Communities Foundation of Texas. The 18-hour online giving event is designed to empower every person to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and causes they care about in one platform. The event also helps build awareness and support for nonprofits.

    In 2022, $62.6 million was raised through 94,385 donors benefiting 3,210 local nonprofits, bringing the thirteen-year total to over $503 million. NTX Giving Day is the largest community-wide giving event in the nation.

  • North Texas nonprofits launch inaugural TX Trans Pride event

    Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) has partnered with Arttitude and Transgender Pride of Dallas to present the inaugural TX Trans Pride event from 7 p.m.-4 a.m. on Sept. 30. The event will be held at Station 4 on the Cedar Springs Strip.

    The free event will include entertainment in Station 4’s Rose Room, a resource fair with trans-inclusive resources and services, free HIV and STI testing, and an Affirmation Station with free gender affirming items and products. Performances will include entertainers of Trans experience from Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, and Kerri Colby of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 fame.

    “We often see that events or holidays for the trans community are usually in observance, remembrance, or visibility, but never wholly a celebration,” said Brandon Corpus, Behavioral Intervention Specialist. “In establishing this inaugural event, we hope to create a space that is both informative and fun, with information about resources and services available and representation from world-class entertainers of the same experience and backgrounds.” 

    In addition to the entertainment portions of the event, there will be food trucks serving snacks.

    “This event is more than just a show or a resource fair,” Corpus said. “This is an opportunity to come together as a community and uplift our trans siblings, in addition to connecting with those who may need vital resources and services available through Prism Health North Texas and other local agencies. We will have gender affirming items and products, information about healthcare and behavioral health services access, and plenty of joy to share with attendees.” 

    PHNTX connects people living with HIV to care and services in the area. Arttitude is an LGBTQ Arts organization dedicated to supporting diverse LGBTQ+ and allied artists.

    To encourage regular STI and HIV testing, tickets to a meet and greet with Kerri Colby will be available on a first come, first served basis at various free testing operations this month. Details are available online.

  • City of Fort Worth pledges $15M to National Juneteenth Museum project

    The Fort Worth City Council unanimously approved a resolution pledging $15 million to the development of the National Juneteenth Museum in the city’s Historic Southside neighborhood.

    Jarred Howard, principal with Sable Brands, the project’s developer, said the museum was designed by the New York office of Denmark-based Bjarke Ingels Group. It is the same architecture firm that designed Google’s Northern California headquarters.

    The design also draws on the design of the Juneteenth Star featured on the official Juneteenth flag, Howard said.

    In the making for several years, the project was formally announced in December 2021. The museum will be on the second level of a two-story building. The lower level will feature a restaurant, business incubator, 250-seat amphitheater and storefronts. Three adjacent residential buildings will have 55 residences.

    “Literally and figuratively, it was designed to be a beacon of light in an area that has been dark for a very long time,” said Howard, who grew up in Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood. “It’s time for the revitalization of the Historic Southside. Our hope is that the city will embrace it.”

    Construction could begin by year’s end or in the first quarter of 2023. A grand opening is planned for mid-2025.

    Fort Worth resident and activist Opal Lee is the impetus behind the Juneteenth federal holiday, which serves as recognition of the two and a half years that enslaved Black Texans were denied notification that Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery on Jan. 1, 1863.

  • PR firm serving nonprofits adds former Texas Monthly editor to its senior leadership team

    Genuine Article, a Texas-based independent public relations and integrated communications firm, has added its first senior leadership talent since launching in 2021. The agency serves clients throughout North American, including nonprofits in North Texas.

    Brian Sweany joins the firm as a principal. Sweany spent more than two decades rising in the ranks of city and state magazines, as well as in posts teaching university-level journalism and directing communications for state agencies and national nonprofit organizations. In his new role, Sweany will oversee Genuine Article’s staff and book of clients.

    Sweany spent more than 18 years at Texas Monthly magazine, serving as editor-in-chief from 2014 until 2016 when he was named to the Folio 100 as an “Up and Coming Trailblazer.” That same year, Texas Monthly won the award for General Excellence, the highest honor given by the City and Regional Magazine Association.

    Over his more than two decades in journalism, Sweany covered a spectrum of topics, including politics, culture, business, and sports. He interviewed a host of prominent state and national figures and covered multiple sessions of the Texas Legislature. Sweany also held stints as a senior editor at D Magazine and as an independent consultant providing brand management, governmental relations, and crisis communications for state agencies and nonprofits. In this role, he began collaborating with Genuine Article founders Stacie Barnett, Elizabeth Clayton, and Greg Miller on various strategic initiatives.

    Genuine Article was established by former PR heads from The Richards Group with the goal of helping brands, causes, and initiatives establish and enhance their national and regional relevance.

    “When we started Genuine Article, we made a promise to align ourselves — internally and externally — with those who have a desire to create fair and balanced conversation through creativity and kindness,” said Clayton. “Brian, often the most likable guy in the room, shares that commitment and masterfully navigates the increasingly choppy waters of public conversations. We know our clients’ reputations, especially among policymakers and journalists, will be strengthened by Brian’s experience and dedication.”

    Originally from Plano, Sweany earned a bachelor’s degree in literature at the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in literature from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He serves on the board of the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas and the advisory board of the Texas Book Festival. He will be based in Genuine Article’s office in Austin, where he lives with his wife of 27 years, their two children, and a golden doodle.

    “I am thrilled to join the talented team at Genuine Article, and I have been in awe of their dedication and professionalism as they have built this brand,” Sweany said. “Their commitment to our clients is unmatched, and with my background in journalism and public policy, I hope to add value to existing clients as well as grow our presence in Austin.”

    Genuine Article has added multiple other staff members in media relations, communications strategy, and account management since the beginning of 2022. The firm’s client roster includes The Salvation Army, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, Discount Tire, and Scottish Rite for Children.

  • United Way of Metro Dallas names Social Innovation Accelerator fellows

    United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has announced the fellows selected to participate in its 2022-2023 Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture.

    The agency’s longest-running social innovation program, United Way Social Innovation Accelerator encourages innovative solutions to social issues by providing entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and community connections to grow their ventures and amplify their impact.

    The 2022-2023 fellows include:

    Since its creation in 2013, the Social Innovation Accelerator has invested nearly $6.6 million and approximately 5,000 mentoring hours in 79 North Texas social entrepreneurs. These startup organizations have gone on to raise an additional $33 million, build more than 850 partnerships, receive national recognition, and impact more than 155,000 North Texans over the last nine years.

    The Social Innovation Accelerator fellows go through an intensive bootcamp with expert instruction that helps them refine their business plans and set important organizational milestone goals. They are also receive one-on-one mentoring and coaching from a team of Social Innovation Accelerator mentors.

    Early next year, five of the 10 fellows will be selected to participate in The Pitch. In this annual social innovation competition, participants compete for tens of thousands of dollars in additional seed funding.

  • Huckabee donates services for new school in partnership with Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation

    A North Texas-based architecture firm is among donors from across the state collaborating to construct a new elementary campus in Uvalde following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School earlier this year.

    Huckabee, which specializes in public schools, joins other lead donors for the project by waiving the fees for its architectural work. The Butte Family and H-E-B have committed a combined $10 million in funding to build the new school. Another Texas firm, Joeris, will contribute construction services. Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation has been established to collect funding for the initiative.

    “Public schools are the foundation of a community,” said Chris Huckabee, CEO of Huckabee. “Our team is honored to partner with Joeris Construction, the Butt family, H-E-B, and so many others to design a new facility that will honor Uvalde and serve its future generations.”

    Built-in the 1960s, Robb Elementary School serves nearly 550 students in grades second through fourth. The school has been permanently closed. While a timeline hasn’t been determined, plans are in place for the school to be razed, ensuring students and staff will not have to return to the building at the site of the tragedy.

    Since planning for the new school is in the beginning stages, the location and design of the new campus have not been determined. As part of the process, the foundation will work in tandem with the school district, the Uvalde community, donors, and other stakeholders to solicit ideas and gather feedback for the elementary campus and any future projects.

    The direction for the new campus includes significantly enhancing educational offerings, and implementing state-of-the-art safety and security measures, and infrastructure to support the availability of new technology. No plans have been made on which grade levels the new elementary campus will service when it becomes operational.

    Constructing a new school is viewed as a means to help the children, families, staff and Uvalde CISD community move forward.

    “We will never forget those who were senselessly taken from us on that tragic day, and we want to honor their legacy as we work to build our future,” said Dr. Hal Harrell, Uvalde CISD Superintendent. “Along with the entire Uvalde community, we are immensely grateful for the extreme generosity from our amazing donors, and we look forward to collaborating on this exciting new campus. Thank you to everyone for the unyielding support our community continues to receive from across Texas, the nation, and world.”

    Contributions to help fund the new elementary campus are being accepted. All funds donated to the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation will initially go toward building the new campus. Any remaining funds not used on the completion of the new campus will support the ongoing future maintenance and operations of the new school, and other needs and initiatives of the district, consistent with the foundation’s mission.


  • Taste Project plans expansion with second location in Arlington

    The Arlington City Council recently approved a 10-year lease agreement to bring the nonprofit Taste Project‘s pay-what-you-can community restaurant concept to the heart of Downtown Arlington. Amon G. Carter Foundation has provided funding for the project.

    Taste Project, an organization designed to help feed, educate and serve Tarrant County’s food insecure residents, opened its first Taste Community Restaurant in Fort Worth in 2017. Since then, it has served more than 125,000 diners. The nonprofit is now working to open a second location on Cooper Street, just north of The University of Texas at Arlington, by early 2024.

    Taste Project plans to renovate the building for its new location, which was formerly used by the Water Utilities Department and the Arlington Public Library. It will be transformed into a 3,000 square-foot, 100-plus seat full-service restaurant that includes a 1,500 square-foot production kitchen, culinary classroom and headquarter office.

    Taste Project received a $100,000 lead gift from the Amon G. Carter Foundation to begin transforming the industrial building. Project costs are estimated between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.

    “The Carter Foundation remains aware of the significant issue in regard to food insecurity and commends Taste Project’s commitment to feeding, educating, and serving Tarrant County residents,” says John Robinson, executive vice president at the Amon G. Carter Foundation.  “Based on Taste Project’s success at its Fort Worth location, we applaud the organization’s achievement in securing a significant commitment from the City of Arlington.”

    The future Arlington restaurant will offer meals made from local seasonal ingredients. Diners are asked to pay what they can afford, pay what they would typically pay, or pay what they would typically pay plus a little extra to help a neighbor in need.

    Additionally, Taste Project will offer its farm and garden program and its culinary job training programs that will provide paid work experience for low-income adults and adults with barriers to employment.

    “I have always known God’s plans for Taste Project are bigger than Fort Worth,” said Jeff Williams, founder and executive director of Taste Project.  “We could not have asked for a more perfect partner than the City of Arlington to feed, educate, and serve even more people in our community.”

    Addressing food insecurity for Arlington residents is a top priority. According to the 2020-2024 HUD Consolidated Plan for the City of Arlington, low and moderate-income individuals and households typically do not have regular access to healthy food because they lack adequate transportation and affordable healthy food choices.

    The future Arlington restaurant is located within walking distance of UTA, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, and numerous Downtown homes and businesses. The location is also easily accessible through Arlington’s affordable citywide on-demand public transportation service, Via Rideshare.

    “We are excited to partner with Taste Project to ensure good food for everyone,” said Mayor Jim Ross. “The organization’s unique approach to helping those in need, while building community, makes it a great fit for the City of Arlington.”

    Taste Project offers culinary training programs where its graduates receive job placement at $15 an hour on average. According to the Department of Labor, entry level food service positions, typically in fast food, start between minimum wage and $11 per hour. But adults with certified training can obtain living wage positions in full-service and fine dining restaurants, and production kitchens—which is an expanding marketplace and a growing need for Arlington businesses, Taste Project leaders say.

    Taste Project enlisted Coeval Studio based in Dallas to design and layout the building renovations for its 200 N. Cooper Street location. Lead designers Miguel Vicens and Joh Paul Valverde completed the design work for Taste Project’s Fort Worth location and the duo will look to create the same warm and inviting atmosphere in Arlington.

    Taste Project’s agreement with the City of Arlington includes two five-year options to renew.

  • CDFI Friendly Fort Worth appoints founding board

    CDFI Friendly Fort Worth has announced nine Fort Worth community leaders to its founding board of directors.

    In January, City of Fort Worth officials launched an initiative to increase financing for minority-owned businesses, affordable homeownership, rental housing and commercial real estate locally. Known as CDFI Friendly Fort Worth, the City has committed $3 million towards the effort.

    CDFIs are “community development financial institutions.” They offer flexible financial capital in culturally-appropriate ways to address gaps in historically under-served communities. CDFI Friendly Fort Worth will work as a go-between, matching CDFI’s to residents, entreprenuers and nonprofits in Fort Worth.

    As CDFI Friendly Fort Worth is in formation, the founding board will guide it through the legal and operational startup steps. The founding board of directors includes:

    • Javier Balderrama, Alband, Lane & Balderrama
    • Joe Cordova, Edward Jones
    • Glenn Forbes, Financial Professional
    • Michelle Green-Ford, Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce
    • Jazmin Gutierrez, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
    • Cristal Hernandez-Galvan, Hernandez Grants & Consulting LLC
    • Grace McDermott, US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
    • Willie Rankin, Childcare Associates
    • Andy Williams, Rehab Warriors

    “To govern the new nonprofit that is being set up, this board has the right experience and skills to ensure that it is rooted in the communities it will serve,” said Robert Sturns, director of the City of Fort Worth’s Department of Economic Development. “This is a private-sector board because CDFI Friendly Fort Worth is an independent, nongovernmental effort.”

    Sturns’ department is overseeing the city’s contract to develop and establish CDFI Friendly Fort Worth. The CDFI Friendly Fort Worth Board will oversee the next steps in the organization’s strategy – including business planning, hiring an executive director and facilitating more financing by the 18 CDFIs now working in the city.

    In 2022, CDFIs from across the nation have invested more than $7.3 million in Fort Worth.

  • Goodwill Dallas increases capacity in Denton

    Goodwill Industries of Dallas has expanded its ability to accept donations and its sales square-footage in Denton with the opening of a new location last month.

    At 29,000 square feet of space, the new facility is double the size of its previous location. The new site, at 2231 S. Loop 288, is the organization’s largest. To process donations on-site rather than shipping them to a Dallas location, ten employees have been added to staff the store.

    The store’s grand opening was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and giveaways.

    Goodwill Industries of Dallas helps people build skills, find jobs, and grow their careers through a donated goods business, workforce development services and other social enterprise models. The agency operates 18 retail stores in North Texas with proceeds benefiting Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro, Rains and Rockwall counties.