The O’Donnell Foundation has made a new $50 million investment in North Texas higher education institutions that will expand opportunity and improve degree completion for Dallas College County students, the Commit Partnership and Dallas College announced. In conjunction with the foundation’s investment of $60 million late last year to the Dallas County Promise, the grants collectively represent one of the largest philanthropic investments ever to grow postsecondary success in the region.

The foundation’s new investment was announced Monday evening at the Commit Partnership’s Economic Mobility Summit, following the release of that organization’s Economic Mobility Report, an evolution of its previous Dallas County Scorecard report highlighting progress toward key educational milestones from Pre-K enrollment all the way to living wage attainment.

“At Dallas College, we’re committed to busting barriers that too often keep students from completing their higher education journey,” Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon said in a statement. “This investment will help ensure all our students—regardless of background—receive the support, guidance, and resources they need to thrive. We are grateful to the O’Donnell Foundation for believing in our students and investing in their futures.”

The new grants will be awarded to the Dallas College Foundation ($20 million), University of North Texas at Dallas ($17 million), The University of Texas at Dallas ($8 million), and Southern Methodist University ($5 million).

Where the funds go

Combined, the foundation said the investments will:

• Expand Success Coaching to provide individualized support to thousands of Pell-eligible students transferring from Dallas College to regional Promise four-year partner institutions as they pursue bachelor’s degrees, ensuring students have personalized coaching throughout their college journey.
• Establish the Dallas County Promise Transfer Success Fund, providing financial assistance toward cost of attendance, including living expenses, for select students transferring from Dallas College to regional Promise four-year universities who agree to sign reverse-transfer credit agreements with Dallas College. The Dallas College Foundation board agreed to substantially augment this Success Fund with a $10 million Foundation allocation, bringing the initial size of the Fund to $30 million.
• Launch and sustain early recruitment programs at SMU, UTD and UNTD targeting Dallas County Promise middle and high school students experiencing economic disadvantage to expose them to the possibilities of higher education and encourage their continued focus on college readiness and enrollment.

“This historic $60 million commitment from both the O’Donnell and Dallas College Foundations underscores the power of collective action,” Commit Partnership CEO Todd Williams said in a statement. “By aligning school districts, higher education institutions, philanthropy, and community partners, we can absolutely change the trajectory for Dallas students and our region. These investments are not just in institutions—they represent investments in the lives of our young people who will fuel the future prosperity of North Texas.”

More on Dallas County Promise

The foundation said the initiative builds on the work of the Dallas County Promise, a coalition of school districts, colleges, universities, foundations, and nonprofits that are committed to expanding postsecondary education access and success for the region’s students.

“The O’Donnell Foundation’s generosity allows us to launch the Dallas County Promise Transfer Success Fund—an unprecedented endowment that will ease the financial burden for thousands of students as they continue their education,” Dallas College Foundation Executive Director Josh Skolnick said in a statement. “This is about more than financial aid; it’s about creating a connected, coherent set of supports that give students the confidence and resources to transfer, thrive and earn a four-year degree.”

The foundation said that the new investment will allow Dallas County Promise students to gain greater financial support, tailored advising, and long-term pathways to success that will strengthen the region’s workforce and economy for years to come.

Since its creation in 1973, the foundation has raised more than $103 million in private donations and distributed more than $71 million in scholarships and grants to support thousands of students at Dallas College.

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