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Community Impact

Building thriving communities

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Building strength, growing giving and catalyzing change

BUILDING THRIVING COMMUNITIES FOR ALL

At Communities Foundation of Texas, we believe a thriving community is one where all people have equal access to good jobs, strong relationships, transformational educational opportunities, quality health care and safe neighborhoods. 

Economic Security: Issue at-a-Glance

44%
of Dallas County households don't have enough savings to replace poverty-level income for three months
1 in 4
Dallas County households have no assets or owe more than they own
30%
of consumers in Dallas County have subprime credit scores

Economic Security

We believe all Texans deserve the opportunity to engage in meaningful work and to acquire assets that help their families support themselves and advance economically.

Yet North Texas’ poverty is higher than the national average — two out of five households couldn’t stay above the federal poverty level for three full months should they lose their main source of income. Unfortunately, financial insecurity not only destabilizes families, it also erodes the vitality of our region. We are focused on changing that.

5,500

individuals have received employment, financial coaching and/or supportive services through the Working Families Success Network of North Texas

80%

average increase in savings among individuals served through the Working Families Success Network of North Texas

33%

average increase in monthly income among individuals served through the Working Families Success Network of North Texas

Education: Issue at-a-Glance

47%
of Dallas County kindergarteners failed district assessments conducted within the first 60 days of the start of the school year
16.5%
of 8th-grade students from Dallas County in 2006 graduated from a Texas college or university with a degree or credential by 2017
73%
of students in Dallas County public schools are economically disadvantaged

Education

We are committed to ensuring that all Texas students are prepared to be successful in school, work and life.

More than 5 million school-aged Texans are enrolled in the state’s public schools, and an additional 1.6 million are enrolled in our higher education system – growing up to become citizens with hopes to realize, dreams to fulfill, families to support, careers to lead and lives to live. Our goal is to make a positive impact on at least 20 percent of all public school students in the state by 2020.

Goal: 275,000

high school students prepared for postsecondary success by 2020

Goal: 64,000

teachers and principals served through effective teaching programs by 2020

Goal: 1.5MM

total students reached through CFT-supported programs by 2020

Goal: 320,000

students complete a postsecondary degree by 2020

Health: Issue At-A-Glance

21%
of Dallas County residents lack health insurance
23%
of children lack access to sufficient food in Dallas County
3X
Maternal mortality is 3X higher for Black mothers than for White or Hispanic mothers

Health

Your own personal health scare, a friend or family member’s battle with a disease, or a positive treatment and recovery experience may drive your passion to support health causes in our community.

North Texas is home to several nationally recognized nonprofit hospitals and health care systems. However, not everyone in our community can access the high-quality care they offer. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 4.5 million Texans are still uninsured — the highest uninsured rate of all 50 states. When needing emergency care, uninsured or underinsured families are dependent on charitable care through Parkland Hospital or nonprofit clinics. In addition to basic care and emergency services for the uninsured, mental health services are also in great need.

Public Safety: Issue At-A-Glance

1.4B
violent crimes in the Dallas metro area incurred estimated direct costs of $363 million and indirect costs of $1.4 billion in 2010
66%
Nationally, 2/3 of all state prison inmates lack a high school diploma or equivalent
5,847
children who were confirmed victims of child abuse in Dallas County in 2015

Public Safety

We believe thriving communities are also safe communities, where individuals are free to live and work without fear of violence, abuse or neglect.

While crime rates have significantly declined in North Texas over the past two decades, still too many of our neighbors reside in areas where crime and violence are present and growth opportunities are limited. CFT seeks to make headway on this large issue through a holistic approach that includes both responsive (diversion programs, homeless supports) and preventative approaches (police-community relations, trauma-informed care, behavioral health services). 

Racial Equity & Inclusion: issue At-A-Glance

3X
White-owned homes are worth three times more than Black or Latino-owned homes
2X
median household income is more than twice as high for White households than Black or Latino households in Dallas
88%
projected share of Dallas County’s population that will be people of color in 2050

Racial Equity & Inclusion

As we continue to support work towards thriving communities, we see the disparate gaps in opportunities, access and economic stability across our Latino, African-American, Asian-American and White neighbors.

Dallas continues to face many obstacles and barriers that limit the upward mobility of our residents. Because access to quality schools, health care, well-paying jobs and safe neighborhoods are increasingly interrelated, it is more and more difficult for individuals, especially from communities of color, to overcome barriers to opportunities on their own. CFT seeks to support work that fosters important community conversations as well as creative solutions and strategies needed to help our community move forward together.

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Disaster Relief & Recovery: Issue At-A-Glance

#1
Dallas-Fort Worth is considered the highest risk city for experiencing natural disasters out of 379 metro areas
900K
individuals and families required assistance from FEMA after Hurricane Harvey
13
major disasters that CFT has coordinated philanthropic responses to, including hurricanes, tornadoes and the Dallas police shootings

Disaster Relief and Recovery

An effective response, regardless of where a natural disaster occurs, requires sustained involvement on behalf of donors, responding organizations and myriad other actors.

The bulk of disaster dollars are often allocated during the emergency humanitarian relief phase (with a focus on emergency food, shelter, water, sanitation and health care). Emergency relief is vital. Still, experts agree that disaster relief dollars are insufficient to meet the medium- and long-term needs of disaster-affected communities. CFT allocates its resources to the complete timeline of the disaster management effort: from immediate relief and recovery to reconstruction and rebuilding.

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Collin County Impact Fund

Learn more about how you, your family, or your company can address Collin County’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities. Support the Collin County Impact Fund or establish your own fund at Communities Foundation of Texas.

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NTX Giving Day

NTX Giving Day

Communities Foundation of Texas’ NTX Giving Day is an 18-hour online giving event designed to empower every person to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and causes they care about in one easy-to-use platform.

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Other Ways We're Making an Impact

The health of our community does not stop at the above focus areas. At Communities Foundation of Texas, we work side by side with caring donors, committed nonprofits, charitably minded businesses and civic leaders to help build communities that thrive for all. We're here to be a partner to individuals, families, companies, peer funders and nonprofits in their giving.

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Grant Impact Stories

The Science of Giving

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Want to learn more about how CFT builds thriving communities for all?

At Communities Foundation of Texas, we are deeply committed to building thriving communities by helping more people gain access to good jobs, strong relationships, transformational educational opportunities, quality healthcare and safe neighborhoods. If you have questions about our work, or would like to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact us.

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