Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
/OVERVIEW: This funder supports work in Kerr County, Texas, and the communities of Fredericksburg, Harper, Stonewall, Comfort, Bandera, and Medina. Funding interests include arts and heritage, basic human needs, environment, and youth development.
IP TAKE: This community funder has a wider service area than many in Texas. Grants here are not necessarily huge, but it offers an accessible application process that’s worth learning about.
PROFILE: Established in 1982, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country (CFTHC) is based in Kerrville, Texas. It seeks to “foster a thriving Hill Country, inspire greater giving, celebrate legacy and heritage, and steward charitable resources for today and tomorrow.” Philanthropist Alma Dietert gave the first $5,000, and now the foundation has assets of over $17 million. It formerly served only the Kerrville area, but since 2000 has addressed a larger Hill Country region that includes Fredericksburg, Comfort, Medina, Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and Center Point. There are over 137 funds at CFTHC that have provided millions of dollars to groups in the counties it covers. Grantmaking areas of interest are arts and heritage, basic human needs, environment, and youth development.
Grants for Arts and Culture, Public Health and Access, and Community Development
Historically, the largest number of CFTHC grants have come from designated and donor-advised funds. Based on interest area, the majority of grants have gone to education and youth. This category is followed by community service, civic and cultural, and family and wellness. The six types of funds held here are: unrestricted funds, donor advised funds, field of interest funds, designated funds, agency endowment funds, and scholarship funds. Yet the best opportunities for funding are with the Community Impact Fund. These grants are made as part of a responsive, open, and competitive process to provide general operating support and program support. These funds do not support capital campaigns, sponsorships, or professional development opportunities. In addition to grants, the foundation also awards scholarships and offers an annual training event for nonprofit professionals. Sisterhood for Good is an affiliated women’s giving circle with two location focuses: Fredericksburg and Kerrville. There is also the Create a Smile Fund, which aims to improve dental care for local kids.
Grants are for up to $25,000. The funder does not have an online grants database on its website. Grants are typically restricted to the communities of Fredericksburg, Harper, Stonewall, Comfort, Bandera, and Medina, as well as the outlying areas of these communities.
Important Grant Details
The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from local nonprofits. In the past, grant applications have been made available in early April and due on the first of June. From there, the foundation approves grants by early August. Download the application and guidelines from the funder’s website. Direct general questions to the staff via online form or by phone at 830-896-8811.
PEOPLE:
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