HIGH-IMPACT GRANTMAKING

The Foundation’s new High-Impact Grantmaking will help address some of Houston’s most pressing social and economic challenges. It will bring together the best minds, hearts, ideas, and evidence to make a collective community investment that leads to a lasting impact. This innovative annual grantmaking opportunity will be led by a committee of diverse experts consisting of some of Houston’s philanthropic, nonprofit, civic, and business leaders who bring a unique perspective on a pressing community need, allowing our

Foundation donors and partners to invest in solutions with catalytic impact.

On the next page are key findings about the three issue areas under consideration for the first round of High-Impact Grantmaking which were selected after interviewing almost 100 voices throughout Houston. A diverse committee is exploring these issues in more detail, and our initial issue area for High-Impact Grantmaking will be identified by the end of 2023. All data is sourced from UnderstandingHouston.org

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Early childhood is a critical window of opportunity to shape a child’s life trajectory and build a foundation for their future. The period from birth to three is paramount for brain development as more than one million neural connections are formed each second – a never-repeated pace. Research shows that comprehensive, high-quality education programs have a 13% return on investment and, produce better outcomes in education, health, sociability, economic productivity, and crime reduction among low-income children. However, 90% of low-income children live in a quality childcare desert; for every three children from low-income families, only one subsidized childcare seat is available. Additionally, Pre-K enrollment in Harris County has plummeted. We are exploring ways to strengthen and/or scale existing work for children during this pivotal period of life.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY

Children who have lived in poverty for half their childhoods are nearly 90% more likely than their peers who never lived in poverty to enter their 20s without completing high school. Nearly 300,000 children under 18 in Harris County live in poverty, about one in four (24%), much higher than the national rate of 17%. Harris County – the most populous County in Texas – has the second highest child poverty rate in the state (following El Paso). The problem is worse for single mothers with children under 18 in Harris County, with 41% of such households living in poverty in 2021. We are exploring an initiative to transform access to public assistance programs primarily focused on families with children living in poverty, and other opportunities for targeted impact.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Nearly half of Texas high school students report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and more than one in five seriously considers attempting suicide. Locally, one out of six young people report having had a major depressive episode. If mental illness in childhood and adolescence goes untreated, individuals are more likely to experience adverse outcomes as adults, such as unemployment, poverty, lower educational attainment, and worse health outcomes. We are exploring ways to support current mental health needs among youth who are not getting sufficient attention.