United Way Gives $205,000 Grant to DIA

THE GRANT WILL GO TO DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE’S OPERATIONAL COSTS, OUTREACH, AND RESEARCH

The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has given a $205,000 social innovation grant to the Dallas Innovation Alliance, the first investment of its kind made by the local United Way.

Dallas Innovation Alliance is a nonprofit that is dedicated to the development and execution on the smart city strategy for Dallas.

“It’s a huge deal, a huge deal,” Jennifer Sanders, executive director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, told me.

“It’s a huge deal, a huge deal.”
Jennifer Sanders

She said the grant showcases the United Way’s approach to social issues. The United Way partners with programs that seek to transform Dallas, and improve the quality of life and services in the city.

UNITED WAY GRANT IS FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES

The United Way money is “very much geared toward operational capital,” Sanders told me.

The funds will be used to support the DIA’s operations — including salaries — in 2016, as well as project management, community engagement, outreach initiatives, and research.

Susan Hoff, chief impact, strategy, and operations officer for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, said the nonprofit decided to provide the funds because of its longstanding relationship with Trey Bowles, co-founder of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, and CEO and co-founder of The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC).

Hoff said Bowles’ advice to the United Way over the years has been very valuable.

Susan Hoff of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

Also, Hoff said the Dallas Innovation Alliance is based near the United Way in Dallas’ historic West End area, the location of the pilot program for the smart city initiative.

“We believe this is going to be an important pilot to take to scale in other parts of the city,” Hoff told me.

In a release, Hoff said the United Way focus is on changing lives in the community and “building a more secure future for Dallas by improving education, access to jobs, and quality health.”

TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR THE CITY

She added: “As these issues become increasingly complex, we must seek innovative solutions. The Dallas Innovation Alliance is a prime example of an organization testing and implementing promising results.”

DIA is focused on ‘advancing a transformative change in the city of Dallas,’ as well as increasing the ‘domestic and global profiles of great innovators and ideas that reside in Dallas.’

DIA is focused on “advancing a transformative change in the city of Dallas,” as well as increasing the “domestic and global profiles of great innovators and ideas that reside in Dallas.”

Among the Dallas Innovation Alliance’s public, private and nonprofit sector members are the City of Dallas, Dallas Regional Chamber, Downtown Dallas Inc., Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), AT&T Inc., Cisco, Ericsson, Current, powered by GE, AECOM, Universal Mind, Dallas 2030 District, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Real Estate Council, and the Texas Research Alliance.

The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas said it raises, invests and leverages more than $50 million a year in community-focused solutions serving Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, and southern Denton counties.

Photo by Michael Samples

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