This month, The Village Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation granted a “record” $260,000 to organizations supporting the African American community.

“Galvanizing African American women philanthropists to ensure our communities can grasp the American dream through access to resources, support, and information will continue to be our North Star,” Lisa Montgomery, co-chair and founding officer of The Village Giving Circle, said in a statement.

The $260,000 in grants will be spread among 16 nonprofit organizations with missions to support the Black community in North Texas. The collective philanthropic effort has broken records, according to Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president and CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation.

Grant recipients include:

At Last Inc. (operational support for residential scholar programs)
Big Thought (arts-as-workforce intervention program)
Bonton Farms (urban farm providing fresh food options and support to residents)
Bridges Safehouse Inc. (trauma-informed parenting classes)
Dallas Black Dance Theatre (scholarships for students)
GEMS Camp (online and in-person camps and after-school programs)
Golf 3:16 (golf mentorship program)
HOPE Farm (young men’s leadership development program)
Mercy Street (mentoring program)
Promise House (maternity group home program for teen moms)
The Senior Source (senior companion program)
St. Philip’s School and Community Center (early childhood program)
The Compelling Why (seminars and leadership programming for middle and high school Black students)
Under 1 Roof (funds for homeless families and individuals)
Werthing Foundation Inc. (Girl Power Academy program)
Youth Revive Inc. (Ignite Me Action Civics empowerment program)

The Village Giving Circle was organized in 2017 to honor, sustain, and expand the legacy of African American women’s philanthropy by funding organizations and initiatives that positively impact the Black community in North Texas.

One of the world’s largest women’s foundations, the Texas Women’s Foundation (TWF) recognized the need for like-minded African American women to form connections to enhance their civic leadership activities. TWF says it wanted to provide opportunities for that connection and “harness the collective giving power and influence of female African American philanthropists.” Beyond financial support to selected organizations, The Village membership aims to elevate awareness of issues, initiatives, and efforts that affect or support African Americans living and working in North Texas.

Founding officers of The Village include former TWF board chair A. Shonn Brown; TWF board members Lisa Montgomery and Cheryl Alston; Christa Brown-Sanford; Annika Cail; Frances Cudjoe-Waters; Vera Ingram; former board member Diane Reeves; and Shawn Wills.

“Being a key part of the infrastructure that helps shape the legacy and success of so many organizations in North Texas continues to inspire us,” Mongomery said in a statement.

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