CFT and Lyda Hill Philanthropies Grant $1M to 34 Small Local Nonprofits

The nonprofit grantees selected for this capacity building effort are high-performing organizations with annual operating budgets under $3 million that stand out as essential leaders in the Dallas nonprofit sector. The grantees include organizations that support a range of cause areas, including the arts, economic mobility, education, health, youth, and more. 

“We have teamed up with CFT to expand our Nonprofit Empowerment Fund program and welcome a new group of small but mighty organizations,” shared Lyda Hill, Founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies (LHP). “Too often, funders restrict dollars to programs. This fund does the opposite. It champions the health and capacity of each organization.” 

Half of each gift will be designated for general operating expenses, while the other half supports expenses in one or more of these categories:  

• Investments in human capital to improve employee recruitment, professional development, organizational culture, and retention. 

• Capital expenses or physical assets that improve the organization’s ability to deliver its mission. 

• Third-party technical assistance to augment teams with the right experts at the right time.  

“Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ vision and commitment to our community’s nonprofits is inspiring,” said Robert Kent, CFT’s Chief Philanthropy Officer. “We admire the resilience and innovation the nonprofit grantees exhibit while meeting the needs of our region. Our recent survey data showed that nonprofits are navigating an increasingly challenging funding environment, and when we surprised these organizations with the grants, there were cheers and tears of joy.”  

The Nonprofit Empowerment Fund is an extension of LHP’s history of investing in the nonprofit sector’s human capital and infrastructure, rooted in the belief that investing in the people and equipment needed to do the work effectively should never be a luxury. Over the past three years, Lyda Hill Philanthropies has invested more than $14 million in empowerment funding to support a network of agencies in Dallas and Colorado Springs. The initiative grew out of candid conversations with nonprofit CEOs who often face the difficult choice between investing in their staff and infrastructure or directing every dollar to programs.       

“We know strong programs require strong organizations,” said Margaret Black, Managing Director at Lyda Hill Philanthropies. “The organizations in this cohort consistently deliver outsized impact, and this fund backs the people, tools, and expertise to keep pace with the growing needs of the sector.” 

“Capacity building is about more than equipment or systems. It’s about strengthening the heart of an organization. Grants like this are extremely rare, and the flexibility to invest in non-program expenses is truly transformative for nonprofits like ours,” said Joy Hinkelman, Executive Director of grantee, Wellness Center for Older Adults. 

“This investment in capacity building represents a profound commitment to the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Strengthening our capacity means expanding our impact and making a better world possible—and thanks to partners like Lyda Hill Philanthropies, we can continue to grow sustainably and reach even more lives,” said Aideé Granados, Founder and Executive Leader of grantee, SuperVive (formerly Rosa Es Rojo, Inc.) 

“This grant is an investment in our people, our systems, and our future. It gives us the capacity to keep showing up for our students and parents, helping them believe that college and opportunity are truly within reach,” said Janet Morrison-Lane, Executive Director of grantee, Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation.