This article was originally authored by Communities Foundation of Texas.
If asked the question, “What matters most to you?” How would you respond?
At Communities Foundation of Texas what matters most is thriving communities for all. It drives their actions, influences their decision-making, informs their programming, inspires their grants, and more.
Thriving communities matter to CFT, and they matter to you, too, because you’ve given your time, talent, and treasure to help the Collin County community thrive.
Although CFT has served this region for nearly 70 years, in 2017, a deep commitment was made to further focus and invest in the Collin County community. The Fund for Collin County was established to provide support for local nonprofit organizations addressing the most pressing needs and promising opportunities in Collin County, and opened a CFT office at Hall Park in Frisco.
Less than five years later, CFT has mobilized and distributed $24 million to Collin County nonprofits through the Fund for Collin County, North Texas Cares and CFT’s North Texas Giving Day!
At the heart of CFT’s vision to create a thriving and equitable community for all is the deeply held belief that entire communities can’t thrive if every individual isn’t thriving. This belief is their guiding light as they actively work to make giving back easier for you and for the betterment of the communities in which you live and work. Without the incredible generosity of donors, fund holders, and corporate partners, CFT’s impact would not be as far-reaching.
Help in a Crisis
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, CFT raised and distributed funds to help Collin County nonprofits weather the storm of the pandemic through the support and partnership of our incredible donors, corporate partners, and charitable fund holders. On North Texas Giving Day 2020, Collin County residents collectively donated $5.5 million to 410 Collin County nonprofits!
North Texas Cares was launched in March 2020 to assist nonprofits with immediate needs so that they could support individuals and families in the focus areas of health, economic security, safety and wellbeing, education, and social justice. With 30+ local collaborative funders – nearly $400,000 was distributed to Collin County nonprofits.
Additionally, CFT commissioned the Collin County Economic Opportunity Assessment in partnership with Every Texan and JPMorgan Chase to outline strengths and challenges for Collin County and to catalyze conversations about equity, access, and needs across the community.