AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 14, 2023) – Austin Community Foundation (ACF) announced today $1.5 million in grant funding to organizations working to improve the economic mobility of Central Texans. The Foundation’s three strategic programs—The Black Fund, Hispanic Impact Fund, and Women’s Fund—each awarded $500,000 in unrestricted, general operating support to a total of 53 local nonprofits. This is the highest amount of funding awarded from ACF’s Community Impact programs.
“Austin Community Foundation’s strategic programs are data-driven and community-led, ensuring our efforts are not only well-informed but also deeply connected to the realities of the people we seek to serve,” said Elizabeth Peña, Director of Community Impact, Austin Community Foundation. “Through this grants process, we’re committed to equitable, transparent, and trust-based giving—building real opportunities for everyone who calls Central Texas home.”
The Black Fund granted to 25 Black-led and Black-serving nonprofits working to support the growth, economic mobility and wellness of Black people across five impact areas:
- Arts, culture and preservation
- Education
- Health and wellness
- Power building, organizing and advocacy
- Wealth building
The Hispanic Impact Fund granted to 16 Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits working to support the economic mobility and advancement of Hispanic Central Texans across four impact areas:
- Early childhood education
- Health and wellness
- Job skills and entrepreneurship
- Leadership development
The Women’s Fund granted to 15 nonprofits working to support the economic mobility of women and children in Central Texas across five impact areas:
- Childcare
- Education
- Housing
- Unplanned pregnancy prevention
- Women’s health
The Black Fund, Hispanic Impact Fund and Women’s Fund operate as collective giving networks led by community members who share responsibility for the vision, fundraising, and grantmaking. Approximately 175 individuals, including people with lived experience, participated in the grant selection process and thoughtfully vetted more than 255 applications.
A priority of the 2023 grants cycle was to provide a streamlined process by offering nonprofits the ability to apply to all three funds through one single grant application. Among the nonprofits applying for funding, 30% of organizations were first-time applicants and 38% applied to multiple funds. Among the organizations selected for funding, 62% are led by individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).
Special thanks to Google, PIMCO, Q2 Holdings, Inc., and St. David’s Foundation for generously supporting ACF’s economic mobility work.
Learn more about the Foundation’s programs at austincf.org.
Full list of 2023 grant partners:
The Black Fund
Austin Legal Access – $40,000*
Building Promise USA – $40,000*
Delivering Unto You – $40,000
Origin Studio House – $40,000*
Round Rock Black Parents Association – $40,000*
Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas – $25,000
Ladders for Leaders – $25,000
The Bakari Foundation – $25,000
The Giving Rose Foundation ATX – $25,000
Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation – $25,000
Black Girl Ventures – $15,000
Black Men’s Health Clinic – $15,000
Code2College – $15,000
Little Bit of Good – $15,000
P.E.A.C.E. Program – $15,000
RE-CLAIM – $15,000
Real Queens Fix Each Other’s Crowns – $15,000
SCD Enrichment Program – $15,000
Torch Literary Arts – $15,000
We Can Now – $15,000
Ballet Afrique – $5,000
Frofessionals – $5,000
Hungry Hill Foundation – $5,000
Huston-Tillotson University – $5,000
Black Professional Alliance – $5,000
Hispanic Impact Fund
Amhiga Hispana – $50,000*
AVANCE – Austin – $50,000*
Luz de Atabey Midwifery Project – $50,000*
Todos Juntos Learning Center – $50,000*
Austin Achieve Public Schools – $35,000*
Economic Growth Business Incubator – $35,000*
Explore Austin – $35,000*
Manos de Cristo – $35,000*
Austin Urban Technology Movement – $20,000
Breakthrough Central Texas – $20,000
El Buen Samaritano – $20,000
Literacy First – $20,000
Mariposa Family Learning Center – $20,000
People’s Community Clinic – $20,000
Seedling – $20,000
Workers Defense Project – $20,000
The Women’s Fund
Any Baby Can of Austin – $55,000*
Empowering Women Out of Prison – $55,000*
LifeWorks – $55,000*
Lilith Fund – $55,000*
Todos Juntos Learning Center – $55,000*
Asian Family Support Services of Austin – $30,000
AVANCE – Austin – $30,000
Center for Survivors of Torture – $30,000
Jeremiah Program – $30,000
Lirios Pediatrics – $30,000
Andy Roddick Foundation – $15,000
Healthy Futures of Texas – $15,000
Ladies Let’s Talk – $15,000
People’s Community Clinic – $15,000
Saint Louise House – $15,000
*asterisk denotes an organization receiving funding over two years
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About Austin Community Foundation
Austin Community Foundation mobilizes ideas and resources to strengthen Central Texas. The Foundation is focused on advancing economic mobility and affordable housing, and it uses varied tools – data, convening and philanthropic dollars – to implement this strategy. In 2022, the Foundation granted nearly $53 million to the community, mostly through donor advised funds. Founded in 1977, the Foundation is the third largest charitable Foundation in Central Texas with $447 million in total assets under management. Learn more at austincf.org.
