There are things a community needs to function well, and most of them are not glamorous. Local news organizations that cover city council meetings. Volunteer groups that connect people to civic life. Nonprofits that help residents understand how decisions are made and how to participate in them. These things do not run themselves.

In Dallas, the Communities Foundation of Texas has been working on that problem for more than 70 years. Founded in 1953, CFT is the largest community foundation in Texas, managing charitable donations from individuals, families, and businesses to fund local nonprofits across the region. Most Texans know CFT best as the organization behind North Texas Giving Day, the largest community-wide giving event in the country.

What the 2 Million Covers

The latest round of grants totals $2 million. The first portion, $1.15 million, went to 11 local news and information organizations: Advocate Media, Child Poverty Action Lab, The Dallas Examiner, Dallas Free Press, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas Voice, Fort Worth Report, KERA, Press Forward North Texas, The Stewpot, and the Texas Tribune.

The second portion, $825,000, went to 17 civic engagement nonprofits, including the Better Block Foundation, Dallas Holocaust Museum, Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League, and VolunteerNow.

CFT's president and CEO Wayne White connected the timing to a larger moment: "America's 250th milestone is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate how communities have always relied on local institutions, including local journalism, to stay informed and engaged."

Why Local News Funding Matters Now

Local news has been under financial pressure for years. Advertising revenue that once funded city hall reporters and high school sports coverage has shifted to national platforms. The organizations on CFT's grant list are doing work that fills those gaps. KERA covers government and public health across North Texas. The Fort Worth Report focuses on accountability journalism in Tarrant County. The Dallas Free Press centers communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream coverage.

For residents, this matters in a practical way. When a city council considers a major rezoning, or a school district decides on a budget, or a county changes how it handles public records, local news organizations are often the ones who show up to report it. Without them, those decisions happen in a quieter room.

CFT's Longer Commitment

The $2 million in civic grants is part of a larger institutional direction at CFT. The foundation has also announced a new five-year, $50 million commitment to investing in neighborhoods and housing across the region, a signal that CFT is thinking about community infrastructure as broadly as possible.

At 5500 Caruth Haven Lane in Dallas, the Communities Foundation of Texas has quietly been one of North Texas's most important civic partners. This grant cycle makes that role more visible. Visit CFT's website to learn more about the grant recipients and find out how to support civic engagement efforts in your community.