The Austin Community Foundation (ACF) awarded $1 million in grant funding to 31 local nonprofits throughout Central Texas, according to a foundation news release.

 

The ACF works to close the racial and gender wealth gap by increasing opportunities for economic mobility and wealth-building, especially for women and Black and Latino communities.

 

The foundation’s strategic programs—the Hispanic Impact Fund and Women’s Fund—each awarded $500,000 in unrestricted, general operating support to nonprofits focused on advocating for improved health and wellness, education, housing, women’s health and more. These programs operate as collective giving networks led by community leaders who believe in a better future for underserved Texans.

 

The Hispanic Impact Fund, which invests in and supports the economic mobility and advancement of Latinos in Central Texans, awarded grants to 16 Latino-led or Latino-serving nonprofits. These organizations focus on early childhood education, health and wellness, job skills and entrepreneurship and leadership development.

 

For example, Catch the Next is a nonprofit organization that received $20,000 in grant funding. This nonprofit is dedicated to closing the opportunity gap in higher education for underserved students. It offers students educational resources and professional mentor networks including scholar mentors, community leadership mentors and more.

 

VELA is another nonprofit that was selected to receive $50,000 in grant funding. For almost 15 years, VELA has supported families of children with disabilities using an equity-centered approach. The nonprofit support families who are navigating the education, healthcare and community systems.

 

Other nonprofits that received funding include Austin Youth River Watch ($50,000), Latinitas ($50,000), Lirios Pediatrics ($35,000) and Austin Child Guidance Center ($20,000).

 

The Women’s Fund granted funding to 15 nonprofits that support women and children across Central Texas through childcare, education, housing, unplanned pregnancy prevention and women’s overall health.

 

The nonprofit Con Mi MADRE (Mothers And Daughters Raising Expectations) empowers the next generation of Latinas and their mothers through education and support services that increase preparedness, participation and success in higher education. By partnering with school districts to deliver a social-emotional learning and college readiness curriculum to students starting from 6th grade and through undergraduate college years.

 

Additional nonprofits supported by the grant include Asian Family Support Services ($30,000), El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission ($30,000), Ladies Let’s Talk ($30,000) and Hope Medical Clinic ($15,000).

 

“Austin Community Foundation is proud to support 31 incredible nonprofits through $1 million in grant funding, advancing efforts that create meaningful change across Central Texas,” ACF vice president of community impact, Meagan Anderson Longley, said in the news release. “Through our commitment to trust-based philanthropy and equitable grantmaking, we aim to build stronger partnerships and ensure that resources reach organizations making the greatest impact in our communities.”

 

For a list of all selected nonprofits, go here. Learn more about ACF programs at austincf.org/economic-mobility.

 

To read more, click #Grant or #Health Equity. There, you’ll find headlines such as “$2.8M Grant to Expand Educational Opportunities for Latino Students,” “Almost One Third of U.S. Pharmacies Have Closed Since 2010” and “Program Targets Poverty to Improve Childhood Cancer Treatment.”