Thank you for your generosity and for believing in the Greater Houston Community Foundation’s role as a trusted partner rooted in our community and committed to bringing people and resources together to create lasting, meaningful change.
Grounded in data and a deep understanding of Houston’s unique challenges and opportunities, our Community Impact now focuses on two pressing priorities: disaster resilience and economic mobility. Together with our donors and community partners, we are driving meaningful, measurable change helping more families gain the tools to climb the economic ladder and the resources to weather life's storms.
The Community Impact Fund is a natural extension of our mission complementing the donor-led impact at the heart of the Foundation and convening people and ideas to address our community’s most urgent needs. It reflects our purpose: to inspire and create meaningful and positive change with our donors and for our community. This update highlights the impact you ’ ve made possible across the Fund’s three pillars: Understanding Houston, Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, and High-Impact Grantmaking.
As we celebrate three decades of service to the Houston region, we believe this is a pivotal moment for reflection and bold planning. That’s why we are launching a strategic and sustainability planning initiative to strengthen our Community Impact work ensuring we have the strategy framework and financial model to drive positive change for decades to come. This process will center on engaging you, our donors, alongside our Governing Board, so we can grow as a trusted leader and convener while amplifying the reach and results of your philanthropy.
At its heart, community impact is about people donors, neighbors, and partners coming together to address challenges that require shared commitment, innovation, and persistence. We believe that by working side by side, we can build stronger, more resilient communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
With gratitude,
Steve Maislin President & CEO
Diana Zarzuelo Vice President of Community Impact
Understanding Houston
Launched in 2019, Understanding Houston is a data indicator initiative created in partnership with Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research to help us understand the key quality of life issues across Houston’s three most populous counties: Fort Bend, Harris, and Montgomery This central resource empowers donors, nonprofits, community leaders, and more to take informed action–individually and collectively–to build a region where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
300,000 website users in 2025 year-to-date with 20% being return users
98%
“I would absolutely recommend that all donors consider attending Topic Briefings by Understanding Houston. Even as a native Houstonian, I often find myself surprised at what I have to learn about our constantly changing city… access to this knowledge has allowed me to be more thoughtful, deliberate, and confident in my giving”
Kaylen
Burke MacDonald Community Foundation Donor & Next Gen Giving Circle Participant
say Understanding Houston informs their giving, leadership, strategy, and decisions.
98%
of attendees said a data presentation deepened their knowledge of the region or its issues.
"The experience was informative, interactive, and engaging for everyone who attended. Understanding Houston is an incredible resource for both long-time and new Houstonians looking to learn about the city's footprint, strengths, needs and avenues for engagement "
Greater Houston Disaster Alliance
With over 35 years of combined experience leading disaster recovery efforts, the Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston formed the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance in 2023 to ensure the region has the systems and networks in place to accelerate recovery rapidly and effectively in times of disaster.
Through the initial investment from Enbridge and Phillips 66, the Disaster Alliance catalyzes public and private partnerships and brings a year-round focus to disaster preparedness and resilience to reduce the harm caused by disaster on our most vulnerable residents.
Additionally, the Disaster Alliance improve its grantmaking and grantee processes, empower organizations to inhance or create emergency or business continuity plans, and continue to align on preparedness priorities.
3 Nonprofit Convenings
200+ Staff Attendees from nearly
100 Nonprofit Partners
Houston is no stranger to severe weather events and it’s a critical to be prepared. For resources and insights, visit www disasteralliance org read the Derecho and Beryl Impact Reports
Thank You!
In times of crisis, Houston shines. Thanks to your extraordinary generosity, families facing unthinkable loss are receiving the critical support they need. Your giving rooted in care, community, and compassion sends a powerful message: no one stands alone.
Together, Community Foundation donors have contributed more than $2.7 million to aid relief and recovery from the devastating flooding across Central Texas. These gifts are already making a tangible difference providing immediate relief, supporting grieving families, and laying the foundation for long-term recovery. You have responded with urgency and heart, and we are deeply grateful.
High-Impact Grantmaking
The High-Impact Grantmaking initiative, the newest Community Impact pillar, gives our donors and partners the ability to partner with the Community Foundation and invest, together, in innovative solutions with catalytic impact focused on Houston's most pressing challenges In Fall 2023, our Governing Board, with consensus from donors and key stakeholders, selected economic mobility as a priority and paramount concern for Houston. A complex and multi-faceted issue in need of greater shared understanding, collective action, and strategic philanthropic investment.
Year One Update
In 2024, our Governing Board approved $500,000 in grants to three organizations that are implementing proven, promising, and/or innovative solutions that advance economic mobility and address intergenerational poverty for children and families in Harris County A Community Grants Advisory Committee comprised of 14 community leaders with diverse personal and professional experiences brought unique perspectives and insights, recommending our three inaugural grantees for funding
We continue to support our inaugural grant partners, while simultaneously facilitating the grantmaking process for our next round of grantees We streamlined the process in 2025, reducing the burden on both nonprofits, our staff, and our volunteers.
A highlight of this was replacing last year ’ s letter of interest with a streamlined Good Fit Assessment, allowing nonprofits to clarify eligibility and have instant access to the full application if they were deemed a “good fit ”
Last Year vs. This Year
140 Good Fit Assessments 80 Full Applications 10 Site Visits (projected) 3 Finalists
1-3 Grantees
Community Impact Fund Donor Opportunities
If you are interested in participating in the following opportunities, please contact your Philanthropic Advisor or reach out to Diana Zarzuelo, Vice President of Community Impact, at dzarzuelo@ghcf.org.
Year Two Site Visits
Join the Community Grants Advisory Committee on Year Two site visits in October of 2025!
Attend a Webinar
Attend a webinar on November 13, 2025, to learn firsthand about the impact from our inaugural grantees and opportunities for co-investment.
Save the Date!
Join us on January 29, 2026, for the High-Impact Grantmaking Finalist Presentations.
Thank You!
COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND FOUNDING SUPPORTERS
We are deeply grateful to these donors for their support of our Community Impact Fund. Since its inception in 2023, the Community Impact Fund has raised more than $6.2 million to date, thanks to the generosity of:
Lenni & Bill Burke
Ken Bohan
Jerry C Dearing Family Foundation
Dovetail Impact Foundation
Ebel Family Foundation
Elkins Foundation
Eugenia Elliott
Enbridge Patti, Richard & Jenny Everett
Ann & Peter Fluor
Lacey & Matt Goossen
Annie & Bob Graham
Vicki & Bob Harvey
Sara & Phil Hawk
Holly & Josh Hudley / Linda & Phil Lewis
Jill & Dunham Jewett
Carla Knobloch
Manne McGregor Family Foundation
Lauren & Brad Morgan
Cullen K. Geiselman Muse Phillips 66
Beth Robertson Shell
Lyn & Carl Schmulen Fund / Caren & Rob Sweetland Fund
