A Glimmer of Hope Foundation (Glimmer|Austin)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately $1.1 million (2023)
• Success Rate: ~29% (approximately 10 awards from 30-35 applications per cycle)
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: $20,000 - $350,000
• Geographic Focus: Austin and Travis County, Texas
• Total Impact: Over $12 million funded over 20 years

Contact Details

Address: 3103 Bee Caves Rd Suite 201, Austin, TX 78746

Phone: (512) 328-9944

Email: austin@glimmer.org

Grants Manager: Salwa Yordi - salwa@glimmer.org

Website: www.aglimmerofhopeaustin.org / glimmeraustin.org

Overview

A Glimmer of Hope Foundation was established in 2000 by Texas philanthropists Philip and Donna Berber with a $100 million endowment from the sale of Philip Berber's electronic-brokerage company, CyBerCorp, to Charles Schwab for $488 million. While the foundation initially focused on reducing extreme poverty in rural Ethiopia—completing over 10,000 projects and impacting more than 5 million lives—the Berbers launched Glimmer|Austin in 2003 under the leadership of Executive Director David Porter III to address poverty-related issues in their local community.

In 2024, the foundation underwent a significant strategic shift, transitioning from an international NGO model to direct grantmaking. Over the past 20 years, Glimmer|Austin has funded over $12 million in programs benefiting hundreds of thousands of people living in poverty in Austin and Travis County. The foundation has supported over 200 nonprofit organizations. In recent years (the past five years), Glimmer|Austin has evolved its strategy to focus on larger grants to a smaller number of leadership teams and leading nonprofit organizations. In 2010, Philip and Donna Berber were ranked #7 by Barron's in its list of '25 Best Givers' in the world.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Early Stage/Seed Grants: $20,000 (one-year grants)

• Invested in startup and/or early-stage nonprofits showing potential and momentum
• Available for new programs within established organizations
• Designed to help organizations get off the ground or expand

Growth Grants: Amount not specified (standard multi-year)

• For leaders and programs with demonstrated capacity to grow
• Includes professional mentorship opportunities
• May include funding for relevant training and workshops for executives

Strategic Grants: $100,000 - $350,000 (multi-year)

• Less frequent, larger investments
• Typically made in conjunction with Donor Partners who co-fund the grant
• Reserved for established organizations with proven impact

Priority Areas

Glimmer|Austin focuses exclusively on poverty-related issues affecting youth and senior populations in Austin and Travis County:

• Homelessness: Support for navigation centers, housing programs, and wraparound services
• Food Insecurity and Hunger: Emergency food assistance, food banks, meal programs
• Women and Children's Shelters: Safe housing and support services
• Addiction Recovery: Programs addressing substance abuse
• Skills and Job Training: Workforce readiness and employment programs
• Education: After-school programs and educational support
• Health: Healthcare access for underserved populations
• Mentorship: Youth development and mentoring programs

Recent Grant Recipients

Glimmer|Austin has recently funded organizations including:

• Central Texas Food Bank
• Caritas of Austin
• Lifeworks (youth homelessness)
• Meals on Wheels Central Texas
• Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center (largest provider of homeless services in Travis County)
• Community First Village
• Mobile Loaves & Fishes
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Austin
• Street Youth Ministry
• The Other Ones Foundation
• Saint Louis House
• Jeremiah Program
• Casa Marianella
• Hungry Souls (received $20,000 seed grant)
• Keep Austin Fed
• Hope Austin
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Breakthrough Austin
• Ballet Austin
• Creative Action
• Mexic-Arte Museum

What They Don't Fund

• Grants to individuals
• Political causes
• Cultural exchange programs
• Travel or scholarship assistance
• General operating funds (preference for program-specific funding)
• Construction projects
• Hardware upgrades or labs

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Board consists of:

• Philip Berber - Co-Founder
• Donna Berber - Co-Founder
• Ryan Berber - Treasurer (A Glimmer of Hope Austin)
• Shane Berber - Board Member
• Jake Berber - Board Member
• Santiago Montoya - Board Member

Key Staff

David Porter III - Executive Director, Glimmer|Austin

• Joined A Glimmer of Hope Foundation in 2003
• BA in Sociology from UT Austin, MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University at San Antonio
• Previously worked for IBM, UPS, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Austin, Austin ISD, Austin/Travis County Youth Advocate Program, and City of Austin Police Department
• Focuses on grant management and administration, working with various organizations to provide after-school programs and basic services to underprivileged populations

Leadership Philosophy

David Porter's Approach to Grantmaking: "We try to appreciate the people behind the project; whether we choose them or not, we acknowledge the difference they are making. We like out-of-the-box thinking and look for those innovative, grass-roots entrepreneurs. We don't fund projects—we fund people."

Donna Berber's Wisdom: "Incredible wisdom comes from the intersection of your passion, your gifts and what the world needs." She also emphasizes: "It's important for women to respect and follow their instincts."

Foundation Mission Statement: Philip and Donna Berber formed and funded A Glimmer of Hope in 2000 "to help relieve some of the pain and suffering on the planet."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Glimmer|Austin accepts applications from certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations serving Austin and Travis County. The foundation reviews applications on a semi-annual basis (approximately every six months).

Application Contact: Contact Grants Manager Salwa Yordi at salwa@glimmer.org for application information and guidance.

Application Volume: The foundation receives approximately 30-35 applications every six months.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
• Must serve populations in Austin and Travis County
• Must focus on poverty-related issues affecting youth and/or senior populations
• Programs should address exclusion, social injustice, neglect, abandonment, or educational disadvantages

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a semi-annual review cycle, with approximately 30-35 applications reviewed every six months.

Success Rates

Based on available data, Glimmer|Austin has a success rate of approximately 29%:

• Approximately 30-35 applications received per six-month cycle
• Approximately 10 awards made per cycle (up to $20,000 each for seed grants)
• In 2023: 15 total awards made
• In 2022: 66 total awards made (note: this represents a shift toward larger grants to fewer organizations)

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

What Glimmer|Austin Values

1. People Over Projects: Executive Director David Porter explicitly states, "We don't fund projects—we fund people." The foundation prioritizes investing in the people and leadership teams behind initiatives rather than just funding programs.

2. Innovation and Out-of-the-Box Thinking: Porter emphasizes, "We like out-of-the-box thinking and look for those innovative, grass-roots entrepreneurs." The foundation seeks creative approaches to addressing poverty-related challenges.

3. Demonstrated Potential and Momentum: For seed grants, the foundation looks for startups and early-stage nonprofits that have "shown potential and momentum" and need funding to get off the ground or expand.

4. Capacity to Grow: For growth grants, Glimmer|Austin identifies "leaders and programs that have the capacity to grow and need resources to do so."

5. Established Track Record: For strategic grants ($100,000-$350,000), organizations should demonstrate proven impact and the ability to manage larger, multi-year investments.

Strategic Positioning

Early-Stage Organizations: Glimmer|Austin has historically been supportive of early-stage nonprofits and innovative programs within established agencies. The foundation understands the challenges of getting started and provides seed funding to help organizations gain traction.

Recent Strategic Shift: Be aware that over the past five years, the foundation has evolved its approach to focus on "larger grants to a smaller number of leadership teams and leading nonprofit organizations." This means competition has increased, but award sizes have grown for selected organizations.

Alignment with Priority Areas: Ensure your program directly addresses one or more of the foundation's core focus areas: homelessness, food insecurity, women and children's shelters, addiction recovery, skills/job training, education, health, or mentorship.

Application Tips

1. Highlight Your Leadership: Given the foundation's emphasis on funding people, make sure to showcase the qualifications, passion, and vision of your leadership team.

2. Demonstrate Innovation: Explain what makes your approach unique or different from traditional solutions to poverty-related challenges.

3. Show Momentum: For seed grants, provide evidence of early traction, community support, or pilot program success.

4. Be Specific About Impact: Focus on how your program will improve lives in measurable ways for youth or seniors suffering from exclusion, injustice, or neglect.

5. Geographic Alignment: Clearly demonstrate that your program serves populations in Austin and Travis County.

6. Respectful Engagement: The foundation values acknowledging all applicants. Porter notes, "We try to appreciate the people behind the project; whether we choose them or not, we acknowledge the difference they are making."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• People-centered philanthropy: Glimmer|Austin funds people, not just projects. Emphasize your leadership team's vision, passion, and qualifications.

• Innovation wins: The foundation explicitly seeks "out-of-the-box thinking" and "innovative, grass-roots entrepreneurs." Highlight what makes your approach unique.

• Strong track record of supporting startups: With dedicated seed grants of $20,000, early-stage organizations have a clear pathway to funding if they can demonstrate potential and momentum.

• Success rates are competitive but reasonable: At approximately 29%, your chances are better than many foundations, but competition is real. Make your application stand out.

• Strategic grants require partnership: The largest grants ($100,000-$350,000) are typically co-funded with Donor Partners, suggesting the foundation values collaborative funding approaches.

• Geographic focus is strict: You must serve Austin and Travis County populations. National or state-wide programs without clear local impact are unlikely to be funded.

• Recent strategic evolution: The foundation has shifted toward fewer, larger grants in recent years. Established organizations with proven capacity may have an advantage for growth and strategic grants, while innovative startups should pursue seed funding.

References

• A Glimmer of Hope Foundation official website: glimmeraustin.org and aglimmerofhopeaustin.org (accessed February 2026)
• A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Glimmer_of_Hope_Foundation (accessed February 2026)
• Community Impact article: "A Glimmer of Hope" (February 2014): https://communityimpact.com/austin/news/2014/02/11/a-glimmer-of-hope-2/
• Nonprofit Austin profile: "David Porter III – Executive Director at A Glimmer of Hope Foundation": https://nonprofitaustin.org/project/david-porter-iii-executive-director-at-a-glimmer-of-hope-foundation/
• Mobile Loaves & Fishes: "Saying Yes to Life: Donna Berber's Powerful Glimmer of a Story": https://mlf.org/saying-yes-to-life-donna-berbers-powerful-glimmer-of-a-story/
• GuideStar Profile (EIN 20-0733502): https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-0733502 (accessed February 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory profile: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=AGLI002 (accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/200733502 (accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/a-glimmer-of-hope-foundation-austin-16878922-7fd2-4b43-8b4d-e1d7ac9656e0 (accessed February 2026)
• FundsforNGOs: "Glimmer Austin's Grant Program to tackle Community relates Issues (Texas)": https://us.fundsforngos.org/type-of-eligible-entity/organizations/nonprofits-with-501c3/glimmer-austins-grant-to-tackle-community-related-issues-texas/ (accessed February 2026)