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Communities Foundation of Texas

Annual Giving
$218.0M
Grant Range
Up to $10.0M00
Decision Time
3mo
0

Communities Foundation of Texas

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $218 million (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $1.044 billion
  • Cumulative Grants Since 1953: $3 billion
  • Grants Awarded Annually: 5,000+
  • Grant Range: Varies by program - from smaller community grants to multi-million dollar transformational projects
  • Geographic Focus: North Texas (20 counties including Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton)

Contact Details

Main Headquarters

Regional Offices

  • Collin County: 2401 Internet Blvd, Suite 101, Hall Park G1, Frisco, TX 75034 | 214-750-4118
  • Austin: 1303 San Antonio St, Suite 830, Austin, TX 78701 | 737-708-8150
  • Rio Grande Valley: 407 N 77 Sunshine Strip, Harlingen, TX 78550

Overview

Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) is the largest community foundation in North Texas, established in 1953. With over 70 years of experience and $1.044 billion in total assets, CFT has distributed $3 billion in cumulative grants since its founding. In fiscal year 2024 alone, the foundation distributed $218 million to nonprofits through more than 5,000 grants.

CFT manages 1,400+ charitable funds and serves as a philanthropic hub for the region. The foundation's mission is to improve lives through investments in health, wealth, living, and learning by growing community giving, expanding community impact, and advancing community equity. Their vision is "thriving communities for all," with core values centered on exemplary service, wise stewardship, and trusted partnership.

Recent strategic initiatives include a $50 million commitment over five years to increase housing access and invest in neighborhoods. CFT also organizes North Texas Giving Day, the nation's largest community-wide giving event, which raised $74.2 million for 3,500 local nonprofits from over 94,000 donors in 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Grants CFT offers various grant opportunities through open application processes. Recent grant cycles have included:

  • Health initiatives: $9.7 million awarded
  • Education and workforce innovation: $7.5 million
  • Maternal health: $455,000
  • Animal welfare: $1.2 million
  • Equity advancement: $1.5 million+ to 41 nonprofits (May 2024)

W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund (Invitation Only)

  • Large-scale transformational grants for health, education, and public safety
  • $268 million awarded over 20 years
  • Supports specific programs/projects, endowments, research programs, and capital projects
  • Does NOT accept unsolicited applications - by invitation only or through advertised RFPs

CFT Impact Funds Special interest funds designed to grow community giving and advance equity:

  • Collin County Impact Fund
  • #IAMPEARL Fund (supporting African American and Black communities)
  • North Texas Giving Day Innovation Fund

Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund Long-term recovery support following natural disasters and tragedies, with emphasis on sustained impact beyond immediate relief.

Donor-Advised Funds Individual donors can establish funds and recommend grants to eligible nonprofits.

Priority Areas

CFT focuses on four key strategic areas:

  1. Education - Ensuring Texas students are equipped for success in school, work, and life through EDUCATE TEXAS initiatives

  2. Economic Security - Supporting North Texas nonprofits helping individuals and families advance economically (10+ year focus)

  3. Housing - $50 million commitment over five years to increase housing access and invest in neighborhoods

  4. Disaster Relief - Immediate relief, recovery, and long-term reconstruction efforts

Cross-cutting themes include advancing community equity, collaborative approaches to systemic challenges, and capacity building for nonprofits.

What They Don't Fund

The W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund specifically excludes:

  • General operations
  • Fundraising events
  • Scholarships
  • Conferences
  • Lobbying efforts
  • Private foundations
  • Commercial businesses
  • Individuals

Governance and Leadership

Based on IRS Form 990 data (FY 2024), key leadership includes:

  • Wayne White, President & CEO
  • James T. Berry, Senior Vice President and CFO

The foundation operates with an Advisory Council and maintains a governance structure emphasizing exemplary service, wise stewardship, and trusted partnership. CFT explicitly commits to ensuring all community members feel welcomed, are treated with dignity, and have equitable access to opportunities.

The foundation emphasizes that "when nonprofits operate with excellence, they can respond more effectively to social challenges and attract more support," reflecting their philosophy of supporting organizational strength alongside programmatic impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Impact Grants & Open Opportunities

General Eligibility Requirements

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the IRS
  • Active tax-exempt status for at least two years
  • At least half of the population served must reside in one of 20 specified North Texas counties (including Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton)

W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund

  • Does NOT accept unsolicited applications
  • Application process is by invitation only
  • CFT identifies most grantees annually and invites them to apply
  • Occasional Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are advertised on their grant portal

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by grant program and cycle. Recent opportunities have shown application deadlines several months in advance of funding decisions, but CFT does not publish standardized decision timeframes on their website.

Success Rates

CFT does not publicly disclose success rates or application-to-award ratios. With 5,000+ grants awarded annually from $218 million in distributions, the foundation maintains an active and substantial grantmaking operation.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly disclosed on the website. Applicants should contact grants@cftexas.org for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Organizational Excellence

CFT emphasizes that "when nonprofits operate with excellence, they can respond more effectively to social challenges and attract more support." This suggests applications should demonstrate:

  • Strong operational effectiveness
  • Financial sustainability planning
  • Leadership capacity
  • Program evaluation capabilities
  • Effective marketing and communications

Strategic Alignment

For disaster relief funding, CFT evaluates partners on four criteria:

  • Experience: Pre-existing presence in the affected location with demonstrated community understanding
  • Comprehensive Planning: Capacity to develop and implement robust recovery plans
  • Sustained Impact: Focus on reducing poverty and improving lives beyond pre-disaster conditions
  • Effective Partnerships: Ability to collaborate across national, international, and community-based networks

These criteria likely apply to other grant programs as well, emphasizing community knowledge, planning capacity, long-term impact, and collaborative approaches.

Transformational Change (W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund)

For invitation-only large-scale funding, CFT seeks projects demonstrating:

  • Potential for transformational change with innovative approaches
  • Collaborative design and execution
  • Detailed sustainability plans
  • Strong impact evaluation capabilities

Equity and Inclusion

CFT explicitly commits to advancing community equity and ensuring all community members have equitable access to opportunities. Applications should demonstrate awareness of and commitment to equity principles.

Capacity Building Focus

Beyond grants, CFT values organizational capacity building in:

  • Revenue diversification and financial planning
  • Leadership development
  • Program evaluation and learning
  • Organizational effectiveness

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Know Your Geography: At least half of your served population must reside in one of 20 North Texas counties. CFT is deeply rooted in regional impact.

  • Demonstrate Operational Excellence: CFT values strong organizational capacity as much as programmatic impact. Highlight your financial sustainability, leadership strength, and evaluation systems.

  • Emphasize Collaboration: CFT explicitly values "effective partnerships" and collaborative approaches to systemic challenges. Show how you work with others.

  • Think Long-Term: CFT seeks "sustained impact" and organizations with "long histories in the affected community." Demonstrate your track record and sustainability plans.

  • Subscribe for Opportunities: CFT posts various grant cycles throughout the year. Stay connected through their grants portal and email notifications.

  • Contact Them Early: With "70+ years of experience" and a team of "knowledgeable experts," CFT encourages nonprofits to reach out for guidance at grants@cftexas.org.

  • For Large Grants, Build Relationships: The W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund operates by invitation only. Build your organizational profile and reputation in the community to be noticed.

  • Align with Strategic Priorities: Education, economic security, housing, and disaster relief are clear priority areas. Connect your work to these themes.

References

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