Forever Austin Fund

Meet our 2025 grant partners.

The Forever Austin Fund serves as a permanent community resource focused on meeting Austin’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. Grants provide flexible, mission-building support that enables organizations to focus on what they do best: serve Central Texas.

A closer look at the inaugural year.

In 2025, the Forever Austin Fund aimed to award $2 million. We are proud to announce that we surpassed this goal in an effort to meet more of the immense need, awarding $2.3 million in general operating grants to 99 local nonprofits.

Out of 534 grant proposals reviewed by ACF staff, board members, donors, and community reviewers, organizations were selected across three strategic focus areas—Economic Mobility, Health and Humanities, and Nurturing Our Region. Awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, reflecting our commitment to both emerging community partners and well-established service providers.

These grants were made possible by generous donors who have entrusted their legacy to ACF. Scroll down to explore this year’s grant partners and the 24 funds that supported these awards.

Distribution of Grants by Strategy Area

Economic Mobility

/ $1.15 million awarded

Ensuring paths to economic mobility for Central Texans is a critical strategy in ACF’s focus on closing the opportunity gap. By partnering with and funding organizations that tackle immediate and systemic economic challenges, we aim to eliminate wealth disparities and create lasting change.

    • Austin Community College
    • AES Literacy Institute Incorporated, Viva Benefits
    • Black Mamas Village
    • Foundation Communities
    • JUST Community
    • Todos Juntos Learning Center
    • Walking By Faith Prison Ministry
    • Allure Alliance
    • Austin Ed Fund
    • Austin Film Society
    • AVANCE – Austin
    • Building Promise USA
    • Capital IDEA
    • Good Work Austin
    • Jail to Jobs
    • Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
    • Open Door Preschools
    • RISE Child Development Center
    • Sammy’s House
    • Skillpoint Alliance
    • The Other Ones Foundation
    • Austin Mutual Aid
    • BASTA
    • Black Leaders Collective
    • East Austin Conservancy
    • Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center
    • Hope Alliance
    • Housing Connector
    • Housing Support Services Alliance
    • LifeWorks
    • The SAFE Alliance
    • Saffron Trust Women’s Foundation
    • Saint Louise House
    • Austin Area Urban League
    • Austin Creative Alliance
    • Economic Growth Business Incubator
    • PeopleFund
    • Texas Center for Local Food
    • United Way for Greater Austin

These grants are made possible by the Deborah Ann Scott Foundation Fund, Donald and Betty Ann Cummins Distribution Fund, Donna and Royce Faulkner Endowment Fund, Doris E. Carmichael Fund, Elizabeth Crow Fund for Public Elementary Schools, Georgia B. Lucas Grant Fund, Gus and Jetta Farrar Fund, Hartman-Trull Fund, Joy and Morin Scott Family Fund, Margaret F. and Jack C. Carmichael Fund, Patricia A. Parres Porter Education Fund, Priscilla Pond Flawn Fund, Robert C. Harrington Foundation Fund, Sybil B. Harrington Foundation Fund for the Arts, and the Virginia Roberts Fund.

Health and Humanities

/ $949,500 awarded

The future of our region is inextricably linked to the health of our people and the growth of our creative community.

    • Austin Bat Cave
    • Austin Chamber Music Center
    • Austin Classical Guitar
    • Austin History Center / Austin History Center Association / Travis County Historical Commission*
    • Austin Metro Drug-Free Media Project
    • Austin Opera
    • Austin PBS
    • Austin Public Library Friends Foundation
    • Austin Symphony Orchestra
    • Austin Theatre Alliance
    • Ballet Austin
    • Center for Women & Their Work
    • Creative Action
    • Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action – DAWA
    • Austin Soundwaves
    • Laboratorio Arts
    • Thinkery
    • Torch Literary Arts
    • Zachary Scott Theater Center
    • Zilker Theatre Productions

    *Denotes a collaboration between multiple organizations.

    • Any Baby Can
    • Austin Child Guidance Center
    • Austin Diaper Bank
    • Austin Smiles
    • Austin Speech Labs
    • Delivering Unto You
    • El Buen Samaritano / NAMI Central Texas*
    • Giving Austin Labor Support
    • Half Helen
    • Helping Hand Home
    • Hospice Austin
    • Jane’s Due Process
    • Lirios Pediatrics
    • Luz de Atabey Midwifery Project
    • Manos de Cristo
    • OutYouth
    • People’s Community Clinic
    • Ride on Center for Kids
    • SIMS Foundation
    • Tomorrow’s Promise
    • Urban Roots
    • VELA
    • Volunteer Healthcare Clinic
    • Wonders & Worries

    *Denotes a collaboration between multiple organizations.

These grants are made possible by the Bonnie Cummins Fielder Fund, Donna and Royce Faulkner Endowment Fund, Francis and Janice May Fund, Georgia B. Lucas Grant Fund, Dr. Henry Renfert, Jr. Fund, Ken Wolf Fund to Support Mental Health Services in Travis County, Robert C. Harrington Foundation Fund, and the Sybil B. Harrington Endowment for the Arts Fund.

Nurturing Our Region

/ $249,000 awarded

Preserving and protecting our rich ecosystem ensures generations of Central Texans can live and thrive.

    • Austin Humane Society
    • Austin Pets Alive!
    • Austin Wildlife Rescue
    • Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society
    • Central Texas Pig Rescue
    • Emancipet
    • Etosha Rescue & Adoption Center
    • Every Dog Behavior and Training
    • Friends of Austin Animal Center
    • House Rabbit Resource Network
    • Austin Youth River Watch
    • Candlelight Ranch
    • Environment Texas Research and Policy Center
    • Native Prairies Association of Texas
    • The Trail Conservancy
    • TreeFolks

These grants are made possible by the Austin Park and Beautification Fund, Central Texas Climate Action Network, Crites Town Lake Beautification Fund, David W. Leonard Fund, and the Georgia B. Lucas Fund.

Grant Partner Leadership and Staff Demographics

Learn more about the Forever Austin Fund.

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