Leader
About Leader
Leader offers information and updates on The Dallas Foundation’s strategic priorities, highlights nonprofit and donor partners deeply engaged in the work alongside us, and showcases our leadership, expertise, and catalytic investments.
About the Foundation
The Dallas Foundation brings together people, ideas, and investments in Greater Dallas so individuals and families can reach their full potential.
Working closely with our donor partners, we share our expertise, leadership, and the opportunity to co-invest in solutions that match their interests and make a meaningful difference.
We also support programs that benefit children ages birth to 3 as well as those that advance equity and inclusion, ensure community and economic resilience, and enhance our community’s nonprofit ecosystem, prioritizing partnerships that reduce intergenerational poverty and meet today’s pressing needs while positioning Greater Dallas for a brighter, more equitable tomorrow.
#HereforGood
Leader is published by
The Dallas Foundation. © 2024
Editorial Dawn Townsend
Creative Direction
Sydney Brucker
Contributing Writers
Mackenzie Causey
Photography
Jason Janik
Photography
Kim Leeson Photography
Contents
An overview of the Foundation’s team and board members and how the foundation is growing to best suit the needs of the community.
Read about how two donors have taken inspiration from the past to make strides towards a brighter future.
Three Dallas Foundation investments igniting additional and significant funds to address some of Dallas’ most complex social challenges.
Mackenzie Causey, the Foundation’s Director of Strategic Partnerships & Donor Engagement, provides insight on how to engage the next generation in philanthropy.
Educational opportunities to inform and inspire your philanthropic journey. Upcoming Events
Leading Off
A Letter from Julie Diaz
Friends,
Philanthropy, at its core, is about more than donating money and making grants. It's about having a vision for the future and investing in tomorrow's promise, nurturing innovation, and building a foundation for sustainable progress to have an immediate and lasting impact.
I was thrilled to recently announce the formation of the J.J. “Book” Wilson Fund of The Dallas Foundation, the largest endowed fund in the Foundation’s history and one that will essentially double the Foundation’s board-directed grant making in the areas of food insecurity, essential services, and parks, recreation and the beautification of public green spaces.
While John Jonathan “Book” Wilson died in 1933—the same year The Dallas Foundation made our first grant to the West Dallas Community Center—his legacy, and that of his family, will live in perpetuity because of an estate gift to The Dallas Foundation from a visionary family member who named the fund in the patriarch’s honor. We are honored to have been entrusted with the legacy of “Book” Wilson and his family through this generous and transformational investment in the future of Greater Dallas.
Gifts such as these fuel the work of the Foundation, allowing us to respond to evolving community needs for generations to come. The cover article of this edition of Leader explores one of the many ways The Dallas Foundation can respond to those needs: Putting our philanthropic capital to work and serving as a spark for sustainable change and development. “The Power of Philanthropy to Catalyze Funding” demonstrates through three recent grants how philanthropy can leverage resources to amplify the reach and effectiveness of projects, yielding outsized returns on the original investment.
For nearly a century, The Dallas Foundation has harnessed the immense power of philanthropy to research, elevate, and actively pursue solutions to issues facing this community. By investing locally and alongside our fundholders, we are making a difference today and shaping the future of Greater Dallas for generations to come.
Your partnership is central to our mission, and we are eager to collaborate with you as we move forward together.
My best,
Julie Diaz President & CEO
Leadership
President & CEO
Julie Diaz
Chief Financial Officer
Torrey Littleton
Chief Partnerships Officer
Jessica Watts
VP, Marketing & Communications
Dawn Townsend
Senior Director of Administration
Liz Vickers
Board of Governors
Chairman of the Board
Lydia Addy
Vice Chair
Chris Luna
Secretary of the Board
Bobby Bisor
Jaimee Eddington
Steffen Fuchs
Tim C. Hafer
Bridget Moreno Lopez
Rev. Dr. Lael Melville
Mark Okada
Elizabeth Phillips
Trevor Rees-Jones, III
Susan Salka
Amber Scanlan
Joe Schloesser
Jeremy Smith
Courtney Underwood
The Dallas Foundation
3000 Pegasus Park Drive, Ste. 930
Dallas, TX 75247
Web
dallasfoundation.org
Phone
214-741-9898
info@dallasfoundation.org
LinkedIn /the-dallas-foundation
TDF People
The Dallas Foundation’s staff continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the organization and provide the highest levels of service to our fundholders and partners. We are excited to celebrate the newest members of our team, as well as the talent and expertise that they bring to TDF.
To learn more about us, visit: dallasfoundation.org/who-we-are/team
Staff Updates
Jessica Shepard Watts, Ph.D., was welcomed to TDF in May as Chief Partnerships Officer. In this role, Jessica focuses on directing our work with current and prospective donor partners, and leading the Philanthropic Partnerships team.
In April, TDF welcomed Erin Osenbaugh as the new Manager of Donor Services. Erin serves as the point-of-contact for fundholders across grantmaking, gift recognition, and donor stewardship.
Board Updates
The Dallas Foundation is proud to welcome six dynamic North Texas leaders to the Board of Governors. Their expertise and insights will help drive our mission and support our Greater Dallas community.
Freddie Garcia joined TDF in March as Senior Analyst of Systems and Data. Through his new role, Freddie supports our suite of software applications and data related to strategic goals.
Michelle Schneider, was recently promoted to Vice President of Information Technology to provide strategic leadership for all aspects of information system operations.
C. Hafer
Power of Connection
The Margaret Jordan Scholarship Fund at Georgetown University
Margaret Jordan is well known in Dallas as a leader in the healthcare industry and a person whose deep commitment to public health has left a lasting impact on this community. Her professional career, which included executive positions at hospitals and healthcare-focused organizations, is as remarkable as her civic leadership. Margaret co-founded the National Black Nurses Association, served on the boards of the AT&T Performing Art Center and the Dallas Museum of Art, and was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. She received the DFW Hospital Council’s Distinguished Health Service Award, the Dallas County Medical Society Health Award, and the Dallas Historical Society’s Community Service Award.
And, while Margaret chose Dallas as her home for many years, her journey did not begin here. A Washington, D.C.-native, she attended college locally and, in doing so became Georgetown University’s first African American nursing school graduate when she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1964.
In recognition of her leadership in Dallas, her deep commitment to community and the healthcare industry, and the lasting imprint of her dedication to Dallas, Dallas Foundation Fundholders and fellow Georgetown Alumnus Andrew Dunigan and his mother—and Margaret’s close friend—Anne Dunigan-Wilson have established the Margaret Jordan, NHS ’64, Endowed Scholarship Fund at Georgetown.
“Margaret Jordan is an extraordinary woman and we wanted to recognize her leadership, not only in the field of nursing but across the health sciences,” said Andy Dunigan. “Her commitment both to healthcare and to Dallas inspired us to support Georgetown University students from the Dallas-Fort Worth area who want to pursue a career in a health-related field but have financial constraints, to have access to such a highlyregarded university.”
Margaret is particularly pleased that the scholarship will expand the reach of a degree program that is rooted in Jesuit principals and ethics.
“My nursing degree was foundational to my career and to my success, and the ethical framework on which that degree was built served me well during my tenure as a leader in the healthcare industry,” said Margaret. “I’m thrilled that more of our future healthcare professionals, particularly students of color, will have an opportunity to attend Georgetown, which is a very special place to me.”
"Margaret was and continues to be a trailblazer and inspiration for all students motivating others to follow her strong drive and motivation to make a difference in the life of others. This endowed undergraduate scholarship named in her honor will ensure her legacy lives on and most importantly helps ensure that a student wishing to enter the health field has the financial resources to do so," said Dean and Chief Nursing Officer Roberta Waite, Ed.D., School of Nursing, Georgetown University.
The Ferraro Foundation Takes an Entrepreneurial Approach to Giving Back
Alex Ferraro’s passion for social impact is palpable. So, when he moved to Dallas and began looking for ways to give back, connecting with The Dallas Foundation was a natural next step for the young entrepreneur whose plans to establish a nonprofit organization were set aside when he realized his talents could be better used providing resources to organizations already making a difference.
Fast forward a year later to when Alex became one of the Foundation’s youngest donor-advised fundholders after he founded The Ferraro Foundation at The Dallas Foundation.
The Ferraro Foundation serves as a microcosm of The Dallas Foundation, offering a platform for Alex and his colleagues to unite in their philanthropic endeavors. To Alex, The Ferraro Foundation
(Continued on p. 6)
represents more than just a chance to give back; it's an avenue for fostering connections, pooling resources from both individuals and corporations, and directing funds towards nonprofits actively making a difference in people's lives on a broader scale.
“My parents are first-generation college graduates, and while I do not come from wealth, I do come from a family that is passionate about giving back to the community,” said Alex. “Community foundations such as The Dallas Foundation play a crucial role in democratizing philanthropy, opening doors for young donors like myself, as well as individuals with more modest resources, to engage meaningfully in giving back to our communities.”
Initially, he focused his grantmaking on one cause and one organization: the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation and their lifesaving and preventative programs related to domestic violence.
“When I began this journey, I focused on one of my many interests, but as I began looking at the bigger picture and considering the ways that the Ferraro Foundation can impact more lives, I relied on The Dallas Foundation’s knowledge and expertise to connect me with other organizations that matched my interests,” said Alex.
Since that time, Alex has made a grant to Family Gateway after touring their new shelter, and Harvest Project Food Rescue, where he has volunteered in support of their mission to provide fresh produce to families in need at no cost.
His goal for The Ferraro Foundation is to not only harness support for positive human outcomes and community impact, but also to demonstrate, particularly for young professionals who want to support their community, that working with a partner such as The Dallas Foundation offers support and resources to empower donors on all stages of their philanthropic journey.
Spotlight: TDF Service Day at North Texas Food Bank
Guided by The Dallas Foundation's organizational values of community connection, purpose, and collaboration, our TDF team completed a day of service at North Texas Food Bank earlier this year, packaging meal boxes for seniors and school programs.
North Texas Food Bank aims to close the hunger gap in North Texas throughout the thirteen counties it serves. The North Texas Food Bank provides an estimated 144 million meals to children, seniors, and families in need each year.
Photos courtesy of Alex Ferraro..
Unlocking Potential:
The Power of Philanthropy to Catalyze Funding
By Dawn Townsend, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
The Dallas Foundation’s brand is one rooted in relationships and at the heart of the Foundation’s mission lies our ability to connect: Donors to charitable vehicles and causes; nonprofits to financial resources and capacity building opportunities; and today’s Dallas to a future where all of our neighbors have access to a well-resourced and opportunity-rich community.
Our long history has taught us that reaching that North Star will require transformational change. Such change has the greatest chance for success when we join with other funders and nonprofit partners to fuel the work of those on the front lines of advocating for a better Dallas. But philanthropic capital alone is never enough to move entire systems. Real change occurs when public funds are guided by learning and insights gained from private funding. This enables local, state, and federal resources to support effective solutions, significantly increasing their impact.
Three recent investments demonstrate how The Dallas Foundation’s support is catalyzing additional—and in some cases significant— funding resources to address some of Dallas’ most complex social challenges to create lasting, positive change within this community.
Opportunity 2040: A Community Investment Plan for Greater Dallas
Opportunity 2040 is a comprehensive strategic initiative led by The Commit Partnership and the Child Poverty Action Lab aimed at shaping the future of Dallas County by placing 150,000 students on a path to upward economic mobility by 2040. Breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and accelerating educational and economic opportunity in what is the nation’s 7th largest county in terms of the number of residents living in poverty is an ambitious but attainable goal which requires doubling living wage attainment rates for young adults ages 25-34 in Dallas County while concurrently cutting in half the region’s childhood poverty rates.
The strategy focuses on substantially improving the effectiveness of Dallas County’s public systems to address underlying root causes by tapping into better data insights to inform decisions made about the use of public dollars. The estimated cost for implementing such a plan relative to the County’s scale and challenges is substantial—$13 billion—and will take many years
to carry out. These costs will principally be financed by unlocking available but underused public resources, influencing existing public funding to more effectively and productively advance outcomes, and influencing new local public funding commitments created by the demand Opportunity 2040 generates.
The plan was developed with the intent to use significant philanthropic capital from both national funders as well as local investors to help unlock and reallocate public funding to pilot and expand initiatives that will accelerate student success, living wage attainment, and greater equity across Dallas County’s overall ecosystem.
Therefore, when Commit and CPAL sought $50M in matching dollars to unlock an equivalent investment from Blue Meridian Partners, a national partnership of results-oriented philanthropists, The Dallas Foundation stepped forward with $5M in support. The gift was comprised of $500K in grant funding payable over
(Continued on p.8)
5 years, and aligning $4.5M of our board-directed grantmaking with Opportunity 2040’s interventions across a number of areas. The Foundation’s investment combined with those from other institutional and individual funders secured the matching funds, allowing for a substantial amount of philanthropic capital to be deployed across a set of near-term initiatives over the next five years, including early learning, holistic student support, and housing. The significant overlap between the Foundation’s strategic priorities, most notably ensuring a Strong & Healthy Start for Children, ensures that The Dallas Foundation’s Board of Governors retains sole discretion on the allocation of these grant dollars while contributing to the success of Opportunity 2040.
"As we move forward with Opportunity 2040, our near-term goal is to lay a strong foundation for long-term economic mobility and educational success. By securing a 5-year fund of longer-term, flexible philanthropic capital for initiatives focused on reducing child poverty, strengthening schools and educational attainment, and supporting the transition of our county's graduates into living wage jobs, we are making a substantial investment in the future of Dallas County. This is just the beginning; our commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty and doubling living wage attainment rates will transform lives and build a brighter, more equitable future for all residents," said John McPherson, President of Opportunity 2040 Initiative.
Dallas Housing Coalition: Building Support for Dallas' 2024 Bond
Voters in the City of Dallas recently passed a $1.25B bond package intended to cover a broad range of public investments including streets and transportation, storm drainage and flood control, libraries and arts/culture facilities, public safety needs, parks and trails, and housing and economic development.
As planning for what would eventually become the 2024 bond package began, the Dallas Housing Coalition (DHC) was formed. In 2022, this grassroots, volunteer-powered group of more than 200 organizations committed to advocating for the development and preservation of attainable housing in the city of Dallas, began advocating for the City to allocate up to $200 million for attainable housing and homeless solutions in the bond package. Ultimately, three housing-related propositions totaling about $82 million were placed on the May ballot. But their work did not end there. To cultivate wider community support for housing and eventually
Beyond the immediate impact of these new public resources, we know the ripple effect of this investment will be far-reaching and will have a positive impact on Dallas' economy...
Ashley Brundage Founding Board Chair of the Dallas Housing Coalition, CEO
of Dallas
Area Habitat for Humanity
Photo courtesy of Dallas Housing Coalition.
Propositions G, H, and I, the sections of the bond package that addressed housing and homelessness services, DHC needed resources to develop a communications campaign.
Cue The Dallas Foundation, which joined Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Charles Schwab Bank with a combined $100K investment over two years that allowed the group to engage experts to build the campaign and then go public with their message. The efforts equipped residents across the city with social media tools, a website, t-shirts and other opportunities to demonstrate their support.
That investment, in turn, yielded $82M of bond funding that will be directed toward mixed-income/mixed-use housing ($36.6M), affordable homeownership development opportunities ($26.4M),
Better Block: Creating Proof
and permanent supportive housing and renovations to The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, which is City-owned ($19M).
“The 2024 Bond was Dallas’ first significant public investment in housing through a bond program, and we are so appreciative that The Dallas Foundation prioritized funding to support our outreach efforts,” said Ashley Brundage, founding Board Chair of the Dallas Housing Coalition and CEO of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. “Beyond the immediate impact of these new public resources, we know the ripple effect of this investment will be far-reaching and will have a positive impact on Dallas’ economy by providing attainable housing for our workforce, seniors who want to age in place, and future generations of residents who want to live in Dallas but are not currently able to do so.”
Points for Future Neighborhood
Enhancements
Better Block focuses on educating, equipping, and empowering communities and their leaders to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. In other words, they work alongside residents to bring life to temporary spaces that bring people together. Based in Oak Cliff, the nonprofit organization has worked in communities across Texas and beyond.
The goal is to prove out concepts as to what the community wants to see long-term in the spaces around them. The work is meant to be temporary because the organization finds that temporary erases the fear of permanency and allows for people to be more open and willing to experiment.
So, this year, with $75K in support from The Dallas Foundation, (Continued on p.10)
Photo courtesy of Dallas Housing Coalition.
Rendering by Better Block.
The investment
from The
Dallas Foundation in the Better Block @ Bachman Lake is so incredibly impactful because it allows the community to see action.
Krista Nightengale Executive Director of
Better Block
that is exactly what’s happening in the Bachman Lake neighborhood—experimenting. Bachman Lake Together Family Center, Lumin Education, and Better Block are re-envisioning a parking lot adjacent to the Bachman Lake Together/Lumin Education campus. Starting June 1, the Bachman Lake “pop-up park” has begun to feature seating, shade, art installations, and new opportunities for community gatherings in the neighborhood. The goal is to create a dynamic environment where residents can live, work, and come together while trying ideas, gathering feedback, and integrating community input to shape a more vibrant and inviting space at Bachman Lake.
“This project, while temporary, is exciting for Bachman Lake Together because it will bring together families, partners, supporters, and community to garner excitement for the future growth of our organizations as we begin to plan for opportunities to holistically serve more children and families in the community,” said Olga Martinez Hickman, Executive Director of Bachman Lake Together.
Bachman Lake Together grew out of the Zero to Five Funders Collaborative co-founded by The Dallas Foundation and the Meadows Foundation 18 years ago to ensure young children in the neighborhood enter kindergarten ready to learn. Bachman Lake Together remains committed to centering the voice of the community, and Better Block at Bachman Lake has presented an opportunity to give the community what they asked for.
“The investment from The Dallas Foundation in the Better Block @ Bachman Lake is so incredibly impactful because it allows the community to see action. So often, neighbors are surveyed and then it takes years for them to see anything happen with those responses,” said Krista Nightengale, Executive Director of Better Block. “Because of The Dallas Foundation, we’re able to bring the survey responses to life in 120 days, and the community can touch, feel, and react to the changes. This experience not only fosters a connection with the space—and its potential future—but also gives strangers an opportunity to bump into one another and leave as neighbors.”
Photos courtesy of Bachman Lake Together..
Ask An Expert: Family
Philanthropy
Mackenzie Causey Director of Strategic Partnerships & Donor Engagement
Mackenzie leads the Donor Services Team at The Dallas Foundation, connecting donors and their families to organizations making our community a better place. As a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) and 21/64 Certified Advisor, with 20 years of non-profit management and philanthropy experience, Mackenzie is devoted to engaging, educating, and empowering the next generation of philanthropists.
To learn more about Family Philanthropy or getting involved in Next Gen Philanthropy, contact Mackenzie: mcausey@dallasfoundation.org
I want to get my children more involved in philanthropy, how do I get started?
The Dallas Foundation’s team of experts is here to help! We know each one of our donors and their families is unique, which is why our team of philanthropic advisors is trained to listen and navigate each family’s specific needs and dynamics. We bring together families of all sizes and locations to foster the joy of giving through collaborative and strategic philanthropy. We facilitate impactful discussions to identify and align your family’s values, motivations, and goals, sharing best practices in family philanthropy and legacy planning to ensure your philanthropic legacy continues for generations to come.
When is the best time to engage my children in philanthropy?
Now! It is never too early to engage your children or grandchildren in your philanthropy. The Dallas Foundation can help coordinate age-appropriate volunteer, education, and giving activities that align with your values and the causes you care most about.
Does The Dallas Foundation offer programming for the next generation?
Absolutely! The rising generations are transforming the philanthropic sector in profound ways, and we are here to help them craft their philanthropic identities to make their mark in the most impactful way.
The Dallas Foundation is launching its Next Gen Philanthropy Initiative this Fall. Strategic programming includes collaborative giving and learning opportunities, industryleading speakers, identifying motivations/values, and family volunteer opportunities.
Join us in creating a brighter and more equitable future for Greater Dallas.
Since 1929, The Dallas Foundation has connected people to the causes they care about - improving and making progress you can see across North Texas. Through our Community Impact Fund, we support innovative and scalable solutions to our community’s biggest challenges.
But we cannot do this work alone. Generous, forwardthinking individuals like you know that a gift made today can create meaningful change for generations to come. Together, we can be here for good.
Reach out to one of our team members to discuss how you can make a difference in our community.
Visit dallasfoundation.org to learn more.
Upcoming Events in 2024
Sept 12
Women's Philanthropy Institute Lunch & Learn
Women's & Children's Health
WPI members and guests come together to learn from leading experts in Dallas about the challenges in addressing women's and children's health, as well as the organizations responding to the community's needs.
Communit y Matters
Sept 24
The State of Youth
Mental Health in Dallas
Oct 22
Building a Safer Dallas
Save these dates and watch your email for additional details and event registration.
Dec 11
Women's Philanthropy Institute Grantee Awards Luncheon
WPI members and guests gather together to once again hear from the organizations visited throughout 2024 and to award grants from the WPI Grant Pool.
Visit dallasfoundation.org/connect/events for the latest information on upcoming events and activities.