As America commemorates its 250th anniversary and celebrates our nation’s history, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), the largest community foundation in Texas, is uplifting and investing in civic engagement initiatives that expand access to information, strengthen community connections and community leadership, and help residents engage with one another in the issues shaping North Texas.
“Our local communities continue to shape our future. America’s 250th milestone is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate how communities have always relied on local institutions, including local journalism, to stay informed and engaged,” said Wayne White, president and CEO at Communities Foundation of Texas.
CFT has recently awarded $2 million to strengthen civic engagement across the region through grants to nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, and local media organizations. The $2 million in investments support a broad range of activities, including local news and information sharing, civic education, leadership development, advocacy, volunteerism, community planning, and public engagement.
Together, these grants reflect CFT’s commitment to helping North Texans access information, participate in civic life, and work collaboratively to address community challenges and opportunities.
Local News and Information Grants Overview: $1.15 million
Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has awarded $1.15 million in grants to 11 local news and information organizations working to expand access to community-centered information across North Texas.
CFT’s 2026 Local News and Information grant recipients include: Advocate Media, Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL), The Dallas Examiner, Dallas Free Press, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas Voice, Fort Worth Report, KERA, Press Forward North Texas, The Stewpot, and Texas Tribune. (chart with grant details available on p.3)
CFT’s Local News and Information grant funding supports efforts that help residents better understand the issues, decisions, resources, and events shaping daily life in their communities.
Local news organizations continue to navigate changing business models, reduced advertising revenue, fragmented information channels, and growing demand for community-centered reporting. CFT’s investment is designed to help strengthen the local information ecosystem so residents can have greater access to reporting, better understand local systems, and engage more fully in their communities.
“Together, these grants reflect a range of approaches to strengthen local information across North Texas, from hyperlocal neighborhood reporting and public media coverage to community-led storytelling, audience engagement, and newsroom sustainability,” said Alexander Haj, program officer at Communities Foundation of Texas. “Strong communities depend on residents having access to relevant, community-centered information that helps them understand local issues, connect with one another, and participate in shaping their future. These grants support organizations that are working to reach residents more directly, expand access to local information, and strengthen connections between news organizations and the communities they serve. By investing in local news providers, we are investing in a stronger, more connected North Texas.”
CFT’s latest local news investments were further complemented by support from CFT fundholders, reflecting broader philanthropic interest in strengthening North Texas’ local information ecosystem. Several CFT fundholders recommended an additional $40,000 in total grants to support local news organizations and related initiatives.*
Additional Civic Engagement focused grants – $825,000
CFT has also granted a total of $825,000 across 17 additional nonprofit organizations that are advancing civic engagement by encouraging sustained, collective participation in community and public life across North Texas to shape decisions, solve problems, and strengthen institutions. Grants for these projects range from $25,000 to $250,000.
Grantees include: American Legion Post 111, Better Block Foundation: Better Block University, Community Council of Greater Dallas, Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, Dallas Holocaust Museum, Dallas Innovation Alliance, Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League, Global Health Corps, Our Community Law, Project Unity, Southern Methodist University: Dallas County Food Plan, Southern Methodist University: First Amendment Clinic, Texas Women’s Foundation: Women’s Leadership Institute, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas: Hamilton Park Thrives, VolunteerNow, Young Leaders Strong City, and Youth Revive.
“CFT’s vision is a thriving community for all, and thriving communities depend on people having opportunities to engage in the decisions that shape their health, education, public safety, and civic life,” said Robert Kent, chief philanthropy officer at Communities Foundation of Texas. “Collectively, these investments support civic education, leadership development, community planning, and collaborative solutions to community challenges, helping residents actively participate in working together to build a stronger North Texas.”
The following summary provides a full list of CFT’s local news and information grantees, and what CFT’s funding will support:
Grants of $100,000 or more:
| Organization | Grant Purpose |
|---|---|
|
Dallas Free Press |
To strengthen communication infrastructure, expand direct reach of community news, further Dallas Documenters’ work to share crucial civic information, and deepen collaboration with other news organizations. |
|
The Dallas Morning News |
Trust in Local News initiative, Education Lab, and Future of North Texas Initiative: To support listening sessions, pop-up newsrooms, news literacy workshops, community events, and other trust-building strategies that connect journalists directly with residents; and to support Education Lab reporting and Future of North Texas reporting |
|
KERA / North Texas Public Broadcasting |
To expand reporting capacity and community engagement in underserved communities in southern Dallas County; and to support the KERA Arts Access reporting partnership with The Dallas Morning News. CFT also contributed a $500,000 grant to KERA’s capital campaign earlier this year. |
|
The Texas Tribune |
To expand public service journalism access and increase audience engagement in North Texas by connecting state policy issues to local concerns, including elections, water, energy, data centers, health, education, and the Texas legislature. |
Grants ranging from $10,000 – $75,000:
| Organization | Grant Purpose |
|---|---|
|
Advocate Media |
To expand hyperlocal reporting in underrepresented Dallas neighborhoods, with coverage focused on issues such as zoning, development, housing, education, and cost of living. |
|
Child Poverty Action Lab / The Lab Report Dallas |
To support The Lab Report’s data-driven journalism and storytelling on the issues shaping economic mobility and family well-being by examining what’s working in Dallas, what isn’t, and for whom. |
|
Dallas Voice / OUT North Texas |
To expand direct access to LGBTQ-focused local news and information through reporting, newsletters, and community partnerships. |
|
Fort Worth Report |
To expand local reporting and engagement across underserved and fast-growing areas of Tarrant County, including communities with limited access to consistent local news. |
|
Press Forward North Texas |
To support the coordination, shared learning, and collaboration among funders, media partners, and other key stakeholders who are working towards strengthening the North Texas news ecosystem so communities stay informed, connected and engaged. |
|
The Stewpot / STREETZine |
To expand STREETZine into a broader journalism platform focused on homelessness, poverty, lived experience, and data-informed reporting. |
|
The Dallas Examiner (Vision Team) |
To support The Dallas County Blueprint, a recurring journalism and community engagement project focused on elevating resident voices and local perspectives in Southern Dallas County. |
*CFT fundholders who also supported some of these organizations with grants include: Courtney Brooks, Kelley Burks, Sun’s Gonna Shine Fund, Kristina Boxer and anonymous (2).
