Communities Foundation of Texas

Dallas has a lot going for it—its can-do spirit, business-friendly environment, and relatively low cost of living are all frequently cited as strengths. Another advantage that doesn’t get mentioned as much is the region’s thriving nonprofit community. In recognition of the important role arts, education, healthcare, social, and other organizations play in our local economy and quality of life, the editors of D CEO are launching Greater Good, a digital publication that covers the intersection of business and nonprofits in North Texas. We believe it perfectly aligns with our mission of connecting C-Suite executives—and using our megaphone wisely. Distributed every other Friday, content includes profiles of nonprofit leaders and organizations, features on area executives and their volunteer activities, gala recaps and photo galleries, news briefs, fundraising reports, a calendar of top upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more. Greater Good builds on the success of our Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards. This year, the program attracted nearly 800 nominations. It’s a testament to the influence and impact of regional nonprofits—and the companies and leaders who support them. Today’s edition of Greater Good features a story on the winners of our 2024 program, which was held last night, along with a report on a headquarters deal involving The Stewpot and CitySquare (and what’s ahead for both organizations), a feature on 2024 Dallas Symphony Orchestra gala chairs Laura Harris-Means and Patrick Means, a conversation with The Family Place’s new CEO Tiffany Tate (McDaniel), LCSW-S, a calendar of upcoming events, and more. Nonprofit organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth are supported by one of the most giving business communities in the nation. Don’t take my word for it; listen to Wayne White, president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “The philanthropic scene here in Dallas is truly amazing,” he says. “There isn’t another city I’m aware of where there is this level of generosity—and the nonprofits benefit. I love the way vision and effort come together here; it really speaks to the synergies that exist.” Those synergies are what inspired us to launch Greater Good. We’re looking forward to sharing more news about the intersection of business and nonprofits in North Texas—and hope you will be a part of it. There’s no cost to subscribe to Greater Good. Just sign up here: https://lnkd.in/esgJhmg7. We’d love to hear your story ideas, too. Please send your suggestions and news tips to [email protected]. (That’s also the email address to use if you’re interested in securing one of the limited sponsorship opportunities.)

We are beyond inspired after last night’s sixth annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards! We're proud to co-present this program in partnership with D CEO to celebrate and uplift our nonprofit community and the companies that support their efforts. This year’s program received a record number of nominations, with 135 organizations and leaders honored for their work last night. 👏 View the full list of winners and finalists from D CEO: https://lnkd.in/gTkwH3SD Wayne White, Gillea Allison, Calvert Collins-Bratton, Christine Perez

We're partnering with Deep Vellum Publishing for a Cause-Minded Conversation series: "We are One City: Elevating the Story of Dallas!” The series centers on four major historical events and corresponding books published by Deep Vellum. 📚 The first book talk of this series, “Exploring the Legacy of the Civil Rights Era in Dallas with Ernest McMillan featuring Rev. Peter Johnson,” is next Tuesday, July 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at CFT. You're invited to join this engaging panel discussion. Learn more and register for free at: cftexas.org/CMC-McMillan

We were thrilled for our staff to hear from TACA - The Arts Community Alliance as we celebrate over a decade of impactful collaboration in support of arts and culture. TACA's Chief Executive Officer, Maura Sheffler, emphasized, "Our mission is to invest in the vibrancy and resilience of a diverse Dallas arts community. The arts are a vital part of our city's culture and identity, and through our partnership with CFT, we've been able to grow our work." Our funding and partnership with TACA has bolstered their grantmaking and capacity-building initiatives, empowering arts nonprofits across Dallas County. CFT recently expanded our funding to support TACA's new Arts Accelerator program, a 10-month cohort-based initiative designed to enhance organizational capacity, foster leadership skills, and build collaborative networks. Together, we continue to make a meaningful impact on the arts community in North Texas. Read more about TACA’s latest work: bit.ly/TACADallasNews

We're thrilled to share that two local giving circles, Orchid Giving Circle and The Village Giving Circle, have joined hands with Communities Foundation of Texas to build thriving communities. In celebration of this new and expanded partnership, and to welcome them to CFT, we are offering an opportunity for new donors and new members to the Orchid Giving Circle and Village Giving Circle to earn matching dollars for each giving circle - $25,000 is available for each! Read more on our blog at https://lnkd.in/gJfm6siy

This morning, Communities Foundation of Texas CEO Wayne White spoke at the Preston Center Rotary Club discussing community engagement and upcoming North Texas Giving Day on Thursday, September 19th. Pictured Left to Right: Dan Bailey, YES Founder & CEO, Calvert Collins-Bratton, CFT Chief Relationships Officer, Sam Leake, Preston Center Rotary Club President, Wayne White, CFT CEO Rotary International Dan Bailey

Congratulations to CFT fund holders Ashlee Kleinert and Chris Kleinert, honorees of the 2024 J. Erik Jonsson Ethics Award! Southern Methodist University’s Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility's J. Erik Jonsson Ethics Award is presented to those who embody a spirit of leadership and public virtue. Both Ashlee and Chris volunteer on several nonprofit boards and with many local causes. Chris served on CFT's Board of Trustees for a decade and recently just completed his board term. Ashlee's food truck, Ruthie's Fueled by Good provides employment opportunities and supports local nonprofits, and Good Foundation, founded by the Kleinerts in 2017, uplifts businesses for education, women and children, housing, social justice reform, and more. In 2022, The Good Foundation formed an innovative partnership with Dallas Doing Good, a digital media platform sharing stories about good community work in North Texas. CFT is thrilled to partner with Dallas Doing Good to uplift local nonprofits and generosity, especially through CFT's North Texas Giving Day. Read more about how the Kleinerts make a lasting impact from MySweetCharity: https://lnkd.in/g7q2uX-r

You're invited to join our growing team of experts! Communities Foundation of Texas is looking for talented people to support our mission of building thriving communities for all. We have 3 open positions: 🌟 Director, CFT for Business 🌟 Network Systems Administrator 🌟 Operations Manager, Kaleidoscope Park View career opportunities or help us find our next new colleague. Job descriptions applications are at: bit.ly/CFTRecruitment

Our President and CEO, Wayne White, was named in D CEO's #Dallas500 list! D CEO's signature special publication, the Dallas 500, features profiles of the most influential North Texas executives in more than 50 industry categories. You can find Wayne under "newcomers" in the C-Suite section of the list. Please join us in congratulating him. We're grateful to have his expertise and leadership here at CFT - this month marks one year since he joined to lead our organization! Find D CEO's 2024 publication at: https://lnkd.in/g36PCbjr

🦋 Kaleidoscope Park’s centerpiece, “Butterfly Rest Stop,” is up!   🌷 Created by world-renowned artist Janet Echelman, Butterfly Rest Stop explores the interconnectedness of humans and nature. The butterfly theme highlights the Park as an important corridor for the monarch butterfly’s migration.   🦋 See the stunning outdoor sculpture during Kaleidoscope Park’s Grand Opening this fall and read more on our blog at https://lnkd.in/gHRKVjqF