The Dallas Foundation, the state’s first community foundation, has announced the recipients of the Mary M. Jalonick Women’s Philanthropy Institute 2022 grants. A total of $300,000 has been awarded to four nonprofit organizations that have made a significant impact throughout North Texas during 2022.
Along with New Friends New Life, which received the lead grant of $150,000, three other nonprofits each received a grant of $50,000, including Braswell Child Development Center, Community Basket Mobile Farmers Market, and Mosaic Family Services.
“We’re ecstatic to be recipients of the lead grant from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute of The Dallas Foundation,” Bianca Davis, executive director of New Friends New Life, said in a statement. “This impactful grant will help these brave survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation overcome the trauma and roadblocks of their past and achieve their dreams.”
Foundation leaders say the grants invest in the future of the city
From left: Drex Owusu, Chief Impact Officer, The Dallas Foundation; Julie Diaz, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Philanthropic Partnerships, The Dallas Foundation; Bianca Davis, CEO, New Friends New Life, and
Matthew Randazzo, President & CEO, The Dallas Foundation. [Photo: Kim Leeson/Dallas Foundation]
“The Women’s Philanthropy Institute is an essential aspect of The Dallas Foundation’s mission in investing in tomorrow’s Dallas,” Matthew Randazzo, CEO of The Dallas Foundation, said in a statement. “Through this program, women philanthropists have the opportunity to gather, learn about the issues affecting our community, the nonprofits addressing those issues and enact real change with their funds.”
New Friends New Life said it will use the funds to provide critical, basic needs, trauma-informed counseling, and economic empowerment resources to 240 members enrolled in its Women’s Program. Upon graduation from the four-step program, the members are set up to achieve secure housing while leading more emotionally stable and financially self-sufficient lives, New Friends said.
New Friends New Life helps women and their children overcome backgrounds of abuse, addiction, and poverty by creating opportunities and healing services for them, Randazzo says. “This embodies everything the Women’s Philanthropy Institute stands for.”
Raising awareness of an ‘urgent need’
From left: Tori Hobbs, Executive Director, Mosaic Family Services; Murriel Webb, Director, Braswell Child Development Services; Bianca Davis, CEO, New Friends New Life, and Dr. Kelly Varga, Executive Director, Community Basket Mobile Farmers Market [Photo: Dallas Foundation]
The Women’s Philanthropy Institute was established by The Dallas Foundation in response to an expressed interest by women donors who wanted to learn more about their community and its needs, the foundation said. Based on the belief that first-hand observations provide a better view of the community, The Dallas Foundation said it created this program to meet women at every stage of their philanthropic journey, while connecting them with the needs of the community and the organizations addressing those needs.
“The Women’s Philanthropy Institute is thrilled to gift New Friends New Life with these funds to support their work restoring and empowering trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women, and their children. They have done a significant job in raising awareness of the issue and its prevalence in our city, and responding to this urgent need,” Julie Diaz, executive vice president and chief operating officer at The Dallas Foundation, said in a statement. “The members of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute have, through their collaboration and investment, truly helped to advance the important work of all four of this year’s grantees.”
The Women’s Philanthropy Institute said it usually visits four to five nonprofits in the Dallas area each year.
After each visit, members learn how to strategically evaluate a nonprofit, including a review of financial documents and organizational structure, led by The Dallas Foundation’s chief impact officer.
At year’s end, foundation members vote on which agency will receive the largest grant from the Mary M. Jalonick Women’s Philanthropy Institute Fund. Grant money is raised via contributions from members, the foundation said.
In the past 10 years, more than 200 women have participated in Women’s Philanthropy Institute program and activities, granting nearly $1 million to the community through the institute and leveraging over $35 million in personal support from its members.
Want to join the membership-based grant pool? Go here to learn more. In 2021, The Dallas Foundation WPI members granted more than $300,000 to nonprofit organizations in the greater Dallas community, underscoring the power of collective giving.
For foundation funding opportunities, go here. The Dallas Foundation generally offers two funding cycles each year, according to the nonprofit. The organization expects to announce updates for the 2023 grant cycles in January.
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