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North Texas Community Foundation announced on Thursday that it would disperse $477,000 in funding to 17 organizations through the Fund to Advance Racial Equity.
The latest round of grants brings the fund’s cumulative grantmaking to more than $1.8 million.
The Fund to Advance Racial Equity, or FARE, was established to provide grants for nonprofits and municipal entities working to achieve a more equitable community. Funding for this year’s grant cycle is provided by North Texas Community Foundation fundholders and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation.
“North Texas Community Foundation is committed to creating a community where everyone can thrive,” said North Texas Community Foundation President and CEO Rose Bradshaw. “The latest round of funding deepens our relationships and investments in nonprofits that are working hard to provide equitable opportunities for residents in every zip code.”
Funded projects fall into one of FARE’s three priority areas: building understanding across racial lines, strengthening community leadership, and developing trust between residents and law enforcement.
North Texas Community Foundation has $455 million in assets and made grants totaling approximately $44 million in 2022, according to a press release.
In addition to receiving funding, grantees were invited to participate in a cohort for networking and capacity building opportunities.
“The Fund to Advance Racial Equity provides two key ingredients that are critical to a nonprofit’s success: resources and relationships,” said Garrett March, North Texas Community Foundation associate director of community impact. “Our goal is to create space to connect, collaborate and elevate approaches to advancing racial equity in our community.”
The FARE grants committee — including Ben Crawford, Juan Daniel Garcia, Lisa Goodwin, Heather Guidry, Officer Nestor Martinez, Marcus Morris, Horatio Porter, Rev. Ryon Price, Myra Savage and Angela White — reviews all proposals and allocates funding on behalf of the Community Foundation. Additionally, an advisory council comprised of about 18 diverse community members informs the fund’s work, keeps the fund accountable to its goals, champions the effort, and helps connect grantees to decision makers.
The 2023 grantees include:
Building Understanding
Arts Fort Worth: For the Soy de Tejas ("I'm From Texas") exhibition connecting Latinx artists across the state in an expansive display designed to represent the diversity of Latinx art and artists.
BarbaraCares: For the Mammograms Matter Health Initiative that addresses at-risk individuals, cancer patients, cancer survivors, and caregivers within communities of color in Tarrant County.
Black Heart Association: To increase health equity by providing healthcare and health education for Black youth and adults.
Children at Risk: To support the Texas Racial Equity Collaborative and raise awareness of the State of Inequity: Dreams Deferred report to community partners, policymakers and other stakeholders.
Community Frontline: To support the salaries of the Racial Equity Coordinator and the PoliceCommunity Relations Coordinator
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History: For two exhibits, The Bias Inside Us and Mexican Roots, which will be available through summer of 2024.
Fort Worth Opera: To support the Opera’s racial equity impact programming during the 2023- 2024 season.
March to the Polls: For programming to increase voter turnout and cultivate civic engagement from historically underrepresented communities in Tarrant County.
National Juneteenth Museum: To retain a museum strategist to continue museum design and curatorial planning.
National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum: To support the Youth Cultural Heritage Workshop program, which broadens perspectives by showcasing the diverse people that contributed to the history of the American West.
Improving Neighborhood-Police Trust
LVTRise: To support programming for Las Vegas Trail residents, which include facilitating activities that build trust and understanding between residents and police officers.
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization: To support youth programming, specifically the conflict resolution program that teaches youth de-escalation techniques.
Northside Inter-Community Agency: To support the renovation of a youth center that will serve a number of purposes, including creating a safe space to host discussions with police.
Supporting Community Leadership
BoardBuild: To support empowering nonprofit boards by focusing recruitment efforts on people of color and on boards demonstrating gaps in racial and ethnic diversity
Jolt Initiative: For continued engagement of young Latinos in Tarrant County to become leaders through voter registration, leadership development and civic education.
Leadership Fort Worth: For the 2024 cohorts of the LeadershipClass and LeadingEdge programs that teach participants to work with decision-makers to address inequities.
Leadership ISD: To support the Civic Voices Fellowship program that will train twenty Tarrant County leaders to become changemakers.