Search Through Water Grants in Texas in the U.S.

Mission

The Dixon Water Foundation promotes healthy watersheds through sustainable land management to ensure that future generations have the water resources they need.

Grants

We fund annual grants that support our mission of promoting watershed health through sustainable land management. Many of our grants support projects that make use of Dixon Ranches and other properties managed by the foundation.

For example, the foundation has funded long-term research on grazing management on our ranches, as well as education programs that use our ranches as laboratories for learning about land stewardship and water conservation.

Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP)

The EDAP provides financial assistance in the form of grants and loans for water and wastewater projects in economically distressed areas where service is unavailable or is inadequate to meet state standards.

Projects must be located in counties that are enforcing adopted Model Subdivision Rules. Through Fiscal Year 2020, the program has committed approximately $839 million for projects across Texas. In November 2019, Texas voters approved a proposition authorizing the TWDB to issue additional general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $200 million for EDAP projects. Individual bond issuances are dependent on biennial legislative appropriations.

The TWDB is also currently working to implement other changes to the EDAP program resulting from the 86th Legislative Session and anticipates accepting applications for financial assistance after all changes are finalized. 

What can the program do for you?

The Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP) provides financial assistance for projects serving economically distressed areas where water or sewer services do not exist or systems do not meet minimum state standards.

Who can borrow?

Eligible EDAP applicants include cities, counties, water districts, nonprofit water supply corporations, and all other political subdivisions. The city or county where the project is located must adopt and enforce Model Subdivision Rules for the regulation of subdivisions prior to application for financial assistance. Projects must also be located in an economically distressed area where the median household income is not greater than 75 percent of the median state household income.

What types of projects can I use the loan funding for?

EDAP assistance may be utilized for:

• planning;
• land acquisition;
• design, and
• construction of first-time service or improvements to water supply and wastewater collection and treatment works

Does EDAP provide both grants and loans?

Yes. A typical EDAP funding commitment includes both a grant and a loan. The ratio is determined by a calculation that considers the median household income for the proposed project area and the political subdivision’s ability to repay the financial assistance. A public health nuisance determination from the Texas Department of State Health Services is required for grant funding greater than 50 percent.

How does TWDB determine which projects receive funding?

The TWDB originally funded EDAP projects on a first-come, first-served basis; however, for State Fiscal Year 2018, the TWDB used a prioritization process to identify projects to be funded from the final $53 million in bonding authority. Legislation passed in 2019 will require formal prioritization criteria for projects in areas that address public health and safety and for projects in areas under enforcement actions.

How much funding is available?

Constitutional bonding authority is the primary mechanism for EDAP funding. In November 2019, Texas voters approved a proposition authorizing the TWDB to issue additional general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $200 million for EDAP projects. 

What other changes have been made recently to EDAP?

Other significant changes include the following:

• Political subdivisions are required to show they are enforcing Model Subdivision Rules;
• Additional application requirements for proposed water quality enhancement projects;
• The TWDB will develop and implement a formal prioritization system for EDAP applications;
• The total amount of grants may not exceed 70 percent of EDAP’s total amount of financial assistance at any time;
• The TWDB is allowed to use EDAP bond proceeds to support public-private partnerships; and
• New program reporting requirements will be established.

• October 17, 2025 - February 10, 2026, will be reviewed in March
• February 11, 2026 - June 30, 2026, will be reviewed in July
• July 1, 2026 - October 15, 2026, will be reviewed early November

The Lubrizol Foundation

In 1952, Lubrizol established The Lubrizol Foundation, which is dedicated to providing financial support to nonprofit organizations and charities within our local communities. Through the Foundation, we continuously strive to make a meaningful impact and foster sustainable growth in the areas we call home.

Grants will be prioritized for organizations whose missions align with Lubrizol’s community investment priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14, and 15. These priorities focus on quality education, reducing hunger to promote healthy lives, and creating sustainable communities.

Lubrizol’s Corporate Community Engagement Priorities

In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to organizations whose missions align with Lubrizol's Corporate Community Investment Pillars. At Lubrizol, we are committed to investing in education, championing sustainability initiatives, and enhancing the well-being of individuals in the communities where we live and work. Our investment pillars are strategically aligned with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs):

• Quality Education – aligned with UN SDG 4
• Zero Hunger and Good Health and Well-Being – aligned with UN SDG 2 and 3
• Protecting, preserving and enriching the natural environment – aligned with:
• UN SDG 11 – Creating Sustainable Cities and Communities
• UN SDG 13 – Climate Change
• UN SDG 14 – Life under Water
• UN SDG 15 – Life on Land 

The McKesson Foundation 

Founded in 1943, the McKesson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporate foundation dedicated to advancing health outcomes for all. The Foundation’s mission is to remove barriers to quality healthcare across North America, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities.

Strategic Giving Pillars and Areas of Focus

The McKesson Foundation champions health equity by partnering with nonprofit organizations to advance efforts aligned with three strategic giving pillars and corresponding areas of focus:

Reducing the Burden of Cancer

The American Cancer Society states that one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. These cancer diagnoses often create both a health and financial crisis for patients and their families. Studies show factors including race/ethnicity, health insurance status and income can affect the timing of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, as well as their survival and financial impact. Working with our partners, we aim to reduce the risk of getting cancer and address socioeconomic barriers to care.

• Prevention
  • provide education and services to encourage people to adopt healthy diets, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and protect their skin.
• Screening and Treatment
  • increase awareness of the importance of screenings, early detection and timely treatment among vulnerable populations; provide free health screenings for patients and connect them to care.
• Financial/Logistical Assistance
  • connect uninsured and underinsured patients to programs providing low or no-cost co-pays and social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions, e.g., transportation, childcare, healthy food, home meal delivery; reduce the economic burden of low-income patients with emergency funds for rent, utilities and other household expenses.

Preparing Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce

• Patients report that they feel more heard and are more compliant with medical guidance when they share race/ethnicity with their healthcare practitioner. Nearly a third of the U.S. population is Black or Hispanic, yet the combined Black and Hispanic representation among oncologists is 8 percent and the combined Black, Indigenous and Hispanic representation among pharmacists is 10.7 percent. Closing the gap between diverse representation among the general population and among healthcare practitioners will improve health equity and patient outcomes.
• Oncology Professionals
  • increase underrepresented in medicine (URiM) student recruitment and retention;
  • increase all health professionals’ cultural competency to better serve a diverse patient population.
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians 
  • increase URiM recruitment and retention;
  • prepare students for broader pharmacist roles;
  • leverage pharmacists’ extensive training, community presence and public trust to serve vulnerable and rural patient populations.
• Student Engagement
  • increase students’ awareness of STEM careers;
  • support students’ financial literacy;
  • help prepare middle and high school students for higher education.

Accelerating Crisis Response

With the increased frequency and intensity of climate events, more people across North America need temporary or extended shelter, as well as food and medications, during and in the aftermath of crises. And with 10 percent of the population in both Canada and the U.S. living in food insecure households, programs to provide regular, nutritious meals to children, families and seniors can reduce chronic disease and improve long-term health.

• Preparedness
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to prepare for forecasted as well as unforeseen emergencies;
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to help people become Red Cross Ready.
• Disaster Relief and Recovery
  • mobilize resources to provide acute services, such as water, food, shelter, comfort kits, medicines, and healthcare for people affected by natural disasters or crises;
  • help families return to normalcy after a disaster.
• Medicine and Food
  • assist vulnerable individuals and communities by supporting acute and chronic care services that provide medicines and food.

We are a private family foundation on a mission to improve the quality and circumstances of life for the people of Texas now and in the future.

What We Fund: Our Program Areas

Texas is diverse. So is our giving.

We provide grants throughout Texas within our program areas and also our initiatives in education, environment, homelessness, and mental health.

Arts and Culture

Our founders were passionate about the arts’ ability to illuminate and reflect our communities, reimagine conversations, promote public engagement, and preserve memories. We support organizations throughout the state that provide opportunities for all Texans to experience and benefit from the arts. Our most significant partner is Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum.

Civic and Public Affairs

Communities thrive when effective civic leadership and healthy public systems are supported by a strong network of nonprofit organizations. We assist communities in developing leadership talent, promoting civic and public collaboration, supporting nonprofits through management and capacity-building, and improving processes and infrastructures for delivery of services to all residents. We also recognize the importance of animals and the role they have in many people’s lives. We fund projects that improve their welfare and enhance the human-animal connection.

Education

The link between quality of education and quality of life is undeniable. Knowledge empowers choices that influence our social and family environment, health and mental well-being, home and community, and career and income. Each additional year of schooling increases earnings by 8-10%. In addition, early reading, high-quality instructors, access to resources, and high expectations for all students improve life-long study skills and academic achievements.

Environment

With our population in Texas expected to increase by 73% to 51.5 million people in 2070, the impacts on our environment will be significant. We focus on preserving our rich ecological and biological resources for future generations while meeting our growing needs.

Health

Access to quality health care is essential. Health and mental health programs that offer a chance to rethink what can be accomplished with new knowledge and technology ultimately lead to Texans living healthier lives. We invest in programs and initiatives that promote innovation in services and delivery and strengthen the ecosystem of health and mental health care.

Human Services

In communities across Texas, people face overwhelming challenges and times of personal or family crisis. We support programs and agencies that thoughtfully weave compassion and respect into the support systems that improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable Texans. We also place emphasis on supporting efforts that reduce homelessness in the Dallas area.

What We Fund: Initiatives 

Five initiatives are linked to our long-term goals, and requests in these areas receive additional consideration in the review process.

Postsecondary Completion

The changing economic landscape requires a shift in the kind of preparation offered to connect Texans to jobs, career paths, livable wages, and economic and social mobility. By 2030, 60% of the Texas workforce will need a postsecondary credential to be gainfully employed, a driving factor for the state’s higher education plan. We aim to ensure that awarded postsecondary degrees, credentials, and certificates align to real-time labor needs, are affordable for all Texans, and offer value to students and society. We are working with our partners to increase postsecondary completion rates beyond current projections to meet current and future workforce demands.

Educator Preparation

Quality teachers are consistently identified as the most important school-based factor in student achievement. On average, a high-performing teacher increases student learning by 50% more than expected growth over the course of a school year. Texas has hundreds of educator preparation programs of varying quality and varying levels of accessibility to aspiring teachers. The teacher pipeline must be robust to meet the needs of a growing state with a growing student population. We are working with our partners to define, build, and scale models of high-quality educator preparation. 

Water Conservation

Texas has grown rapidly, and the state’s population is projected to expand by 70% from 2020 to 2070. While this growth can fuel robust economic development, ensuring the vitality of Texas’ cities, industries, and agriculture while also protecting natural resources will require careful water management. As water demand increases, state water supplies will drop by 18%. The state water plan suggests that water conservation strategies could meet 30% of future water supplies. 

While conservation success can be determined in part by policies, everyday water users are the conservation decision makers, and how they value water is the most crucial element of achieving an overall demand reduction. We are working with our partners to advance water conservation, with the goal of reducing the planned use of water by 30% by 2030.

Depression

Depression is the most common mental illness in the U.S. In North Texas alone, 300,000 adults and children experience depression annually. We know that mental health treatment works: two-thirds of individuals who receive evidence-based, measurement-based care get better. However, less than one in 10 receive this type of care. 

With appropriate training and support, primary care physicians can screen, identify, and provide effective behavioral and mental health treatment and referrals to their patients, which could fill this gap in care. In fact, at least 80% of individuals diagnosed with depression can be treated by their primary care physician. We are working with our partners to integrate evidence-based practices into primary care at large healthcare systems, with the goal of ending untreated depression in North Texas by 2030.

Homelessness

Thousands of individuals experience homelessness every year in Dallas and Collin counties. Our neighbors face several challenges as they try to exit homelessness, such as affordable housing shortages, increased cost of living, and limited access to resources that help them remain housed. Access to adequate housing provides the safety needed to survive and the stability needed to thrive. We are working with our partners to make homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Our goal is to house 6,000 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness by 2025.

Types of Funding

• Specific programs or projects account for almost 85% of our total giving
• Although not a significant part of our funding, we will consider
  • Capital projects aligned with our initiatives and green building guidelines
  • Program-related investment loans
• Endowment and scholarship grants are rare

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation funds high‐impact projects in the state of Texas at the nexus of environmental protection, social equity, and economic vibrancy.

To accomplish our goals, we develop long-term, strategic guidelines for our grantmaking and make disciplined and intentional funding decisions based on these guidelines. We continually monitor and adjust our strategies to accommodate the evolving accomplishments and opportunities in the areas in which we work.

Current strategic grantmaking programs focus on the following initiatives:

Clean Energy

The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation is committed to clean energy in the state of Texas and supports strategic efforts that ensure that the state’s growing demand for power is both minimized and met with the cleanest and water-leanest sources of electricity possible. Our clean energy program has three areas of focus:

• Enhancing Distributed Energy Resources (DERs); 
• Catalyzing community-scale energy projects; and
• Reducing Industrial emissions.

Land Conservation

Texas possesses an ecologically diverse and biologically significant network of lands, waters, and habitat at a scale that only Alaska rivals. About 95 percent of Texas land is privately owned and managed, which means that private landowners have enormous influence over the long-term health and sustainability of the Texas landscape.

It also means that private land conservation—permanent protection, stewardship, and restoration—plays a critical role in ensuring that future generations of Texans will enjoy and benefit from a broad range of natural resource values provided by these lands. Values associated with healthy land include wildlife habitat and migration corridors, clean water and air, watershed health, soil productivity, recreational access, and so many more.

Subsurace Energy

George P. Mitchell was an early pioneer of shale gas discovery and production and is credited for making shale development commercially viable. He was considered an elder statesman in the industry, taking a leadership role in addressing the challenges of shale production.

At the same time, George had a long history of supporting his keen interests in science and sustainability. Because of George's position in the oil and gas industry, the environmental community, and science circles, the foundation is able to lend its voice to the ongoing dialogue and debate about shale development. 

Sustainability Education

Significant gifts from the Mitchells to the National Academy of Sciences in 1996 and 2001 to study the scientific merit of sustainability helped launch a new field of academic endeavor: Sustainability Science.

The sustainability science approach to solving complex environmental and social problems aims to bring together scholarship and practice, global and local perspectives, and disciplines across natural and social sciences.

Water

Water is the most important natural resource in Texas. Ensuring sufficient, clean water is intrinsically tied to a sustainable future. The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation envisions a future with ample and healthy waters above and below ground that sustain rich, diverse ecosystems while minimizing effects of infrastructure on water quantity and quality throughout Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Texas of tomorrow will be very different than the Texas of the past - planning for an uncertain future is one of the greatest water challenges we face.

Background

Pentair believes it is our responsibility to make a positive impact on people and the planet – through our solutions, communities, and operations - as reflected in our Win Right Values. Since 1998, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation have contributed more than $80 million to philanthropic causes strengthening the communities in which we operate. The mission of the Pentair Foundation is to support and advance inclusive and sustainable communities by investing in the availability, quality, and enjoyment of water and by increasing the participation of youth and young adults in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Program Areas

In support of this mission, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation engage in giving across these key program areas:

Water

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water by reducing water stress and building ecological resilience; improving the quality of drinking water; improving access to cleaner and safer water; and increasing water-related safety and well-being.

The Pentair Foundation focuses on programs that help to:

• Move: Reduce water stress and build ecological resilience
• Improve: Improve water quality and reduce single use plastic water bottles
• Enjoy: Increase swim safety and promote water-related well-being

Education

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to help build the workforce of the future by investing in or supporting STEM career pathways, with a particular focus on engineering and manufacturing for youth and young adults.

Community

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to advance vibrant, inclusive communities where we live and work by encouraging employee volunteerism and matching Pentair employee donations.

If you have an initiative you would like Pentair to consider, please contact Pentair. 

State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT)

Affordable, ongoing financial assistance for projects in the state water plan. Passed by the Legislature and approved by Texas voters through a constitutional amendment, the SWIFT program helps communities develop and optimize water supplies at cost-effective rates. The program provides low-interest loans, extended repayment terms, deferral of loan repayments, and incremental repurchase terms for projects with state ownership aspects.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

Eligible SWIFT projects are recommended water management strategy projects with an associated nonzero capital cost in the most recently adopted state water plan at the time abridged applications are due to TWDB for consideration. Alternative water management strategy projects are not eligible unless the regional and state water plans are amended to include them as recommended projects prior to the time abridged applications are due to TWDB for consideration.

Eligible projects include conservation and reuse, desalinating groundwater and seawater, building new pipelines, developing reservoirs and wells fields, purchasing water rights, as well as numerous other strategies. Only the project components specified in the plan are eligible for SWIFT financing. For example, if the project is listed in the plan as "construction of a well field," but does not list a pipeline for delivery of that water, the pipeline would not be eligible for the SWIFT program.

Recognizing the benefit of conservation and the needs of rural Texas, the legislation creating the program encourages SWIFT funding of projects for rural communities, agricultural water conservation, water conservation, and reuse projects.

What type of financing is available?

The SWIFT program offers a variety of loans and terms to support the diversity of strategies recommended through the planning process. Grants are not available in the program. Funds can be used for planning, design, acquisition, and construction costs. In order to qualify for multi-year commitments, a borrower must close on a portion of the commitment in the first year.

The types of SWIFT assistance are found here. Entities may use any or all of these different structures available to finance their projects.

Advancing Sustainable Communities

Since 2002, we’ve been empowering local communities with sustainability solutions. Through nonprofit partnerships and sustainability grants, we’ve delivered projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

Mission

"Choose wisely. It's a small planet." That's how it all started back in 1997, when a crew of like-minded folks in Vermont set out on a mission: to use the power of consumer choice and help change the way power is made. Over 20 years later, we’re proud to be a carbon-neutral company that continues to keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Join us as we help make the planet a cleaner, greener place to be.

Sustainability Grants

If you’re a U.S.-based nonprofit looking to make a positive environmental impact and you want access to a network of sustainability experts, it’s time to plant seeds of sustainability in your community.

Eligible Sustainability Initiatives

In addition to supporting rooftop solar installation projects, we've expanded our mission to support other sustainability initiatives that include but aren't limited to:

• Clean Transportation
• Education and Awareness
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Resource Conservation
• Sustainable Agriculture

We’re open to new, creative ideas from nonprofit organizations interested in utilizing and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Selection Process - Impact Measurement

We measure environmental, social and financial impacts:

• Environmental impact calculations consider how the project is more impactful for the planet than the alternative.
• Examples: CO2 prevented (renewable versus traditional generation methods), miles not driven, gallons of water conserved, green space created, pounds of waste diverted.
• Social impact calculations assess how the project will elicit change in the community.
• Examples: results of an email or newsletter story about the project, number of students impacted through curriculum, attendee numbers on sustainability tours.
• Financial impact calculations assess how the project will save your organization money, and how those savings can further support your mission.
• Example: a solar array would save your organization $2,000 per year, resulting in 100 more meals distributed to the homeless or 30 more children receiving free tuition.

Award Amounts

Donation amounts depend on a number of factors, including evaluation of the environmental, social, and financial impact of the donation. Past donations have ranged from $50,000 to $400,000.

Our Vision

We envision healthy lands, waters, native plants and animals supported with vibrant, thriving ecosystems throughout our beautiful state.

We believe great things happen when organizations and funders work together for the highest good.

We are a donor-advised fund comprised of a fund director, advisory committee, and fund administrator. Established in 2017 by G.P. “Buzz” Avery, in partnership with the Austin Community Foundation, we support nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is preserving natural habitats, especially those that are critically threatened.

The Environmental Fund of Texas: Tier 1 - Grassroots Funds & Classrooms Taking Action

Tier 1 grants are intended for grassroots organizations seeking funding for smaller-scale projects or start-up costs, or for teachers/schools to create on- campus native gardens used in learning, such as pocket prairies.

Funding Priorities

Public Action for the Environment 

We support projects that engage local communities in conservation action.

Projects are undertaken in collaboration with community volunteers, teachers and students, and partnering organizations.

These on-the-ground projects focus on priority areas such as:

Water

Protecting natural water sources—including rivers, aquifers, springs, estuaries, and wetlands—as well as their supporting watersheds.

Natural Areas

Protection, restoration, and stewardship of natural areas and native habitat.

Native wildlife

Protecting and sustaining native, at-risk wildlife.

Our Vision

We envision healthy lands, waters, native plants and animals supported with vibrant, thriving ecosystems throughout our beautiful state.

We believe great things happen when organizations and funders work together for the highest good.

We are a donor-advised fund comprised of a fund director, advisory committee, and fund administrator. Established in 2017 by G.P. “Buzz” Avery, in partnership with the Austin Community Foundation, we support nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is preserving natural habitats, especially those that are critically threatened.

The Environmental Fund of Texas: Tier 2 -EFT Priority Projects

Tier 2 grants are for projects that address threats to natural environments in Texas—in our priority areas of water, natural areas, and native wildlife. This also includes projects that empower public engagement and action, and forge meaningful connections with nature. Most of the grants we fund are Tier 2 grants.Funding priorities​:

• Water:​
  • We support programs aimed at protecting natural water sources, including rivers, streams, lakes, aquifers, and springs, as well as their supporting watersheds.
    • Examples of programs include:
      • Native vegetation restoration in freshwater habitats, along riparian corridors, and in our bays and estuaries.
      • Creation of rain gardens and water conservation demonstration sites in visible areas that aim to reduce water consumption, provide habitat for wildlife and native plants, and educate the public on the value of green infrastructure.
      • Volunteer oyster gardening and reef monitoring project.
      • Landowner engagement focused on protection and sustainable management of groundwater resources.
• Natural areas:​
  • We support the protection and stewardship of ecologically-functional natural areas.
    • Examples of programs include:
      • Protection and restoration of imperiled and native ecosystems and habitats (e.g. Blackland
      • Prairie, Coastal estuaries, Post Oak Savannah).
      • Removal or reduction of invasive and/or non-native species in conjunction with replanting of native species and continued land/habitat management (e.g. brush removal, prescribed fire).
      • Outreach and technical guidance projects to promote land stewardship and restoration for the benefit of the environment and biodiversity.
      • Collaboration with local landowners and communities to develop compatible use plans and a common vision for natural and cultural landscapes.
• Native wildlife:​
  • We support programs which focus on protecting and sustaining native wildlife.
    • Examples of programs include:
      • Implementation of direct actions to help at-risk species and their habitats in Texas (e.g. habitat restoration, threat removal, communications for behavior change or actions needed).
      • Strategic engagement of local communities/audiences in the conservation of threatened and endangered species in Texas.
      • Technical guidance and resource projects for local landowners to conserve at-risk wildlife.
      • Monitoring of threatened or imperiled wildlife species for the purpose of land use planning that facilitates improved habitat quality/connectivity and that demonstrate a direct link to conservation action.
• Public Engagement:​
• We support projects that forge connections with nature and increase public action for the environment.
  • Examples of programs include:
    • Projects that engage volunteers and communities in on-the-ground action for wildlife and habitat.
    • Engaging students/community partners in the creation of pocket prairies/native gardens used in hands-on learning.
    • Field trip to a local natural area to learn about native wildlife and ecology and participate in a stewardship project (e.g. planting trees or wildlife flower seed).
    • Projects that engage local educators on local conservation issues and provide resources and training for how to incorporate in learning settings.
    • Community events that engages local families in a day of wildlife watching or citizen science and includes opportunities to learn how they can help local wildlife.

Our Vision

We envision healthy lands, waters, native plants and animals supported with vibrant, thriving ecosystems throughout our beautiful state.

We believe great things happen when organizations and funders work together for the highest good.

We are a donor-advised fund comprised of a fund director, advisory committee, and fund administrator. Established in 2017 by G.P. “Buzz” Avery, in partnership with the Austin Community Foundation, we support nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is preserving natural habitats, especially those that are critically threatened.

The Environmental Fund of Texas: Tier 3 - Collaborative Initiatives

For Tier 3 we look for organizations partnering with multiple stakeholders to accomplish something larger than an individual organization could do on its own.

Funding priorities​:

• Water: We support projects aimed at protecting natural water sources—including rivers, aquifers, springs, estuaries, and wetlands—as well as their supporting watersheds.
• Natural Areas: We support the protection, restoration, and stewardship of ecologically functional natural areas.
• Native Wildlife: We support projects that focus on protecting and sustaining native, at-risk wildlife.
• Classrooms Taking Action: We support projects that engage local classrooms, teachers, and students in conservation action. Examples of previously approved projects: Teacher/classroom-led efforts to create a school pocket prairie/native pollinator garden used in hands-on learning. Field trip to a local natural area to learn about native wildlife and ecology, and participate in a civic project (e.g., planting native wildflower seeds or native trees)

Our Vision

We envision healthy lands, waters, native plants and animals supported with vibrant, thriving ecosystems throughout our beautiful state.

We believe great things happen when organizations and funders work together for the highest good.

We are a donor-advised fund comprised of a fund director, advisory committee, and fund administrator. Established in 2017 by G.P. “Buzz” Avery, in partnership with the Austin Community Foundation, we support nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is preserving natural habitats, especially those that are critically threatened.

The Environmental Fund of Texas: Tier 4 - Multi-year Grants

Grants from Tiers 2 and 3 may extend up to 3-year commitments pending annual evaluation and reporting compliance. Please designate upon applying that your grant request is for Tier 4 funding no matter which Tier each years funding will fall within (2 or 3).

Funding priorities​:

• Water:​
  • We support programs aimed at protecting natural water sources, including rivers, streams, lakes, aquifers, and springs, as well as their supporting watersheds.
    • Examples of programs include:
      • Strategic and effective preservation of land and native habitats along key waterways
      • Removal of invasive aquatic species from freshwater systems
• Natural areas:​
  • We support the protection and stewardship of ecologically-functional natural areas.
    • Examples of programs include:
      • Protection and restoration of imperiled and native ecosystems and habitats
      • Removal or reduction of invasive, non-native species posing threats or harm to natural communities in conjunction with replanting of native species and continued management
      • Enhanced monitoring and enforcement of existing natural areas
      • Collaboration with local landowners and communities to develop compatible use plans and a common vision for natural and cultural landscapes
• Native wildlife:​
  • We support programs which focus on protecting and sustaining native wildlife.
    • Examples of programs include:
      • Implementation of direct actions to help at-risk species and their habitats in Texas (e.g.habitat restoration, threat removal, communications for behavior change or actions needed).
      • Strategic engagement of local communities/audiences in the conservation of threatened and endangered species in Texas.
      • Technical guidance and resource projects for local landowners to conserve at-risk wildlife.
      • Monitoring of threatened or imperiled wildlife species for the purpose of land use planning that facilitates improved habitat quality/connectivity and that demonstrate a direct link to conservation action.Environmental education and awareness:​
• • The Fund supports projects that raise public awareness of environmental issues, inform and engage citizens, and build a future generation of environmental activists.
  • Special attention is given to projects that provide, encourage and support interactive and hands-on experiences out in nature.
• Public Engagement
• We support projects that forge connections with nature and increase public action for the environment.
• Examples of previously approved projects: 
• Projects that engage volunteers and communities in on-the-ground action for wildlife and habitat.
• Engaging students/community partners in the creation of pocket prairies/native gardens used in hands-on learning.
• Field trip to a local natural area to learn about native wildlife and ecology and participate in a stewardship project (e.g. planting trees or wildlife flower seed).
• Projects that engage local educators on local conservation issues and provide resources and training for how to incorporate in learning settings.
• Community events that engages local families in a day of wildlife watching or citizen science and includes opportunities to learn how they can help local wildlife.

What does this program do?

This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.

How may the funds be used?

Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of:

• Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution
• Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal
• Solid waste collection, disposal and closure
• Storm water collection, transmission and disposal

In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as:

• Legal and engineering fees
• Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment
• Start-up operations and maintenance
• Interest incurred during construction
• Purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service
• Other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project
• See 7 CFR Part 1780.7 and 1780.9 for a complete list

Texas Water Development Fund (DFund)

The DFund is a streamlined state loan program that provides financing for various types of infrastructure projects. This program enables the TWDB to fund projects with multiple purposes (e.g., water and wastewater) in one loan. Through Fiscal Year 2020, the program has committed approximately $2.7 billion for projects across Texas.

What can the program do for you?

The Water Development Fund (DFund) is a state funded loan program that does not receive federal subsidies and is not subject to federal crosscutters. The DFund enables the Board to fund multiple eligible components in one loan to our borrowers, e.g. an application for funding of water and wastewater components can be processed in a single loan.

Who can borrow?

Eligible applicants for the DFund include all political subdivisions of the state (at tax exempt rates) and nonprofit water supply corporations (at taxable rates). Political subdivisions include cities, counties, districts, and river authorities.

What types of projects can I use the loan funding for?

Financial assistance for water supply projects may include planning, design, and construction for:

• wells
• retail distribution and wholesale transmission lines
• system acquisitions
• pumping facilities
• storage reservoirs and tanks
• water treatment plants
• purchase of water rights

Financial assistance for wastewater projects may include planning, design, and construction for:

• sewer treatment plants
• collection systems
• system acquisitions
• nonpoint source pollution abatement
• development of new municipal solid waste disposal facilities

Financial assistance for flood control may include structural and nonstructural flood protection improvements such as:

• construction of storm water retention basins
• enlargement of stream channels
• modification or reconstruction of bridges
• acquisition of floodplain land for use in public open space
• relocation of residents of buildings removed from a floodplain
• public beach re-nourishment
• flood warning systems
• control of coastal erosion
• development of flood management plans

Are loans and grants offered?

Due to statutory limitations, only loans are offered through the DFund. The interest rate on a DFund loan varies depending on market conditions. The lending rate scales are set at approximately the TWDB's borrowing cost. The lending rates are intended to provide reasonable rates for TWDB customers while covering the TWDB's cost of funds and risk exposure. Current interest rates are available.

What project components can I receive funding to complete?

The pre-design funding option is available for most water supply, treatment, and wastewater projects and allows an eligible applicant to receive a loan commitment on the basis of preliminary engineering, environmental, economic, and social information. Funds for completing detailed planning, including environmental studies, are provided at closing, whereas funds for design, preparation of final plans and specifications, and construction are placed in escrow until needed.

If the pre-design funding option is not used, applicants seeking only construction phase funding must develop plans and specifications and have them approved by TWDB staff, obtain all necessary permits, and open bids prior to closing the loan.

How much funding is available?

The TWDB will sell bonds as needed to obtain proceeds for DFund which will be used to fund loans for our applicants.

When can I apply?

The first step in the application process is to schedule a pre-application conference with your Regional Project Implementation Team to discuss the project's eligibility. The purpose of the conference is to discuss the proposed project and receive any needed guidance and assistance. For tax-exempt borrowers, the applicant, the applicant's financial advisor, and the applicant's consulting engineer should attend this conference. Requesting a pre-application conference does not in any way obligate an applicant to continue the process.

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. Since our founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has made more than 800 recoverable grants totaling more than $10 million for impact litigation. We award grants four times per year, most within the range of US$10,000 to US$50,000.

Social Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants and legal support to assist in human and civil rights cases. We have helped to change dozens of laws and win cases to improve the rights of thousands. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Texas and North Carolina, incarcerated people with mental health disabilities are forced to remain in jail despite being found not guilty and unable to proceed with a criminal trial.
• In Orange County, California there are currently 13 gang injunctions under effect, which disproportionately affect young men of color.
• In Chicago, Illinois, the city’s homeless shelter program is inaccessible to people with disabilities.
• In Springfield, Oregon, the city and its police department used excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
• In West Virginia, the state fails to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect. 
• In Montana, voter suppression laws disadvantage young adults and give priority to gun owners.
• In Gary, Indiana, a gun manufacturer negligently marketed and distributed its guns, leading to an epidemic of gun violence in the city. 
• In Vancouver, British Columbia, the police perpetuate systemic discrimination against Indigenous people through bureaucratic measures.

Environmental Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants to support local litigation for environmental justice. These grants are for cases aiming to help people or communities who are affected by environmental harm or who lack access to basic environmental needs, such as clean water, clean air, adequate waste treatment, and green spaces. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Centreville, Illinois, the city’s failure to maintain its sewer system has caused raw sewage to flood peoples’ homes, endangering the property and health of a predominantly Black community.
• In Fresno County, California, the California Department of Transportation approved a highway expansion project that would increase air pollution and traffic in one of the state’s most environmentally burdened communities.
• In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the proposed expansion of a highway would divide the region's Black, Asian, and Latine neighborhoods and cause pollution and ill health.
• In North Dakota, the five-month closure of a highway in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests disproportionately affected the livelihoods and health of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members.
• In Ontario, Canada, mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system causes catastrophic environmental and health impacts for the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• In Sacramento, California, the county government and Sacramento Area Sewer District violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage into nearby rivers.
• In the Eastern Coachella Valley in California, 1,900 residents of the Oasis Mobile Home Park suffer from arsenic-laced drinking water, wastewater contamination, and overcharging for utilities.

Economic Justice

The Impact Fund provides financial and other forms of support to cases fighting for economic justice. From workers' rights to consumer protection for vulnerable populations, impact litigation is a powerful tool to hold corporationss and the government accountable. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Brooklyn, New York, a prominent mortgage lender engaged in predatory practices, leaving homeowners of color at risk of losing their homes. 
• In Washington, live-in caregivers are unconstitutionally excluded from the state’s wage-and-hour protections.
• In Ravalli County, Montana, the county has created a “modern-day debtors’ prison” by incarcerating people unable to afford pre-trial fees. 
• In San Diego, California, vehicle ordinances target unhoused vehicle owners even when no adequate housing alternative exists.
• In New York, a federal immigration detention facility is violating minimum wage and forced labor laws by forcing detainees to work for just a dollar a day. 
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city and county destroy the property of unhoused individuals and conduct forced evictions from public spaces. 
• In Miami, Florida, insurance companies discriminate against a nonprofit community development corporation renting to tenants with Section 8 rental subsidies.

Grantmaking Strategies

Since 1961, the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation has supported the health of our environment, reproductive justice, and the nurture of nature in Texas and Colorado. We are primarily interested in making investments that benefit one or more of the following geographic regions: greater Houston, central Texas and southwestern Colorado, as well as efforts of statewide significance in Texas.

We provide different types of support, including operating, project and capital grants, and are open to providing operating and project grants for terms of up to two years at a time.

Our grantmaking reflects our belief that the well-being of humans and nature are linked. We believe that our support of nature and natural spaces; the dignity, health, worth, and power of people — especially those under threat — is in direct service of the vision for a healthy and harmonious world.

With commitment, focus and a long-term vision, we invest toward environmental justice & conservation, reproductive rights & justice, parks & open space, environmental literacy, and animal care facilities.

Priorities

Environmental Justice & Conservation

The health and well-being of our communities, natural spaces, and critical species are inextricably linked and essential to one another. Key threats in our region include the pace and scale of new development, an expanding industrial footprint and continued reliance on gray infrastructure, all with few regulatory safeguards, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, urban flooding, inadequate water supply, and air and water pollution. Communities of color and those with low incomes are disproportionately burdened by these environmental harms.

The Foundation invests in efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce harmful emissions; protect and steward land and water resources; and improve habitat and recover species of concern. The Foundation supports advocacy initiatives, community organizing, legal strategies and on-the-ground conservation, and values work that centers the vision and voices of those most impacted.

Reproductive Rights & Justice

Everyone should have reproductive autonomy and access to the full spectrum of reproductive care, no matter their income or the place they call home. However, access to reproductive services has become increasingly difficult, especially in Texas, and the lack of comprehensive care leads to unintended pregnancies and births. Unintended pregnancy, including teen pregnancy, is associated with a range of adverse outcomes for pregnant youth, adults, their families, and communities.

The Foundation invests in efforts to advance reproductive justice such as advocacy initiatives, community organizing and legal strategies, and values work that centers the vision and voices of those most burdened by restrictions on reproductive rights.

Parks & Open Space

Parks, trails and open spaces provide places for children, families and communities to connect with nature and each other. Parks provide opportunities for physical activity, support mental well-being and allow people to gain appreciation for the natural world. However, many residents within the Foundation’s geographies of interest do not live within the recommended 10-minute walk of a park, and there are disparities in the quality of local parks across communities.

The Foundation invests in efforts to develop and improve community parks and trail networks in central Texas, greater Houston and southwestern Colorado. The Foundation values park initiatives that benefit neighborhoods with a history of disinvestment, as well as efforts that engage residents in their design and implementation.

Environmental Literacy

Along with building critical thinking skills and improving academic achievement, environmental education enhances connections with nature and encourages future environmental stewardship. Ensuring that all children and youth have access to high-quality environmental education – particularly in the outdoors – will build knowledge, skills and motivation to tackle environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.

The Foundation invests in evidence-based environmental education programs, and values efforts that incorporate experiential learning, highlight local ecosystems, emphasize principles of environmental justice and are designed to benefit youth who have limited access to nature and are contending with environmental harms.

Animal Care Facilities

To maintain a healthy ecological balance, it is vital that we protect and care for animals, both domestic and wild. However, the built environment and human activity present hazards to wildlife within the Foundation’s geographic areas of interest, and challenges related to stray dogs and cats, animal cruelty, and pet ownership are pervasive.

The Foundation invests in organizations within central Texas, greater Houston and southwestern Colorado that rehabilitate ill or injured wildlife, as well as facilities that provide comprehensive, low-cost services for domestic animals. In addition, the Foundation is interested in efforts to create a more coordinated and efficient system of animal care in our communities.

Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) 

The mission of the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is to advance our state economically and culturally by investing in a creative Texas. TCA supports a diverse and innovative arts community in Texas, throughout the nation and internationally by providing resources to enhance economic development, arts education, cultural tourism and artist sustainability initiatives.

Arts Respond Project

This competitive grant program provides project assistance grants on a short-term basis and may include administrative costs directly related to the project.

Projects must address ONE of the following priority areas:

EDUCATION

Intent: Projects that use art to promote innovations in K-12 public education.

Designed for projects that impact Pre-K-12 public school students during the school day. Projects must be aligned with the TEKS and conducted in conjunction with school officials. Projects may occur in a school setting or off-site (field trip). Before and after-school projects are not eligible.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Intent: Projects that use art to improve human health or functioning.

Designed for projects that focus on health related topics, serve specific populations, or occur in a health care or human service setting (hospital, clinic, senior activity center, women’s shelter, homeless shelter, etc).

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Intent: Projects that use art to diversify local economies, generate revenue, and attract visitors and investment.

Designed for projects that focus on job growth or cultural tourism (festivals, gallery walks, art fairs, etc).

PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Intent: Projects that use art to prevent delinquency and recidivism in youth and adults.

Designed for projects that focus on at-risk youth or incarcerated populations (after school program, juvenile detention center, adult prison, alternative learning center).

NATURAL RESOURCES & AGRICULTURE

Intent: Projects that use art to understand and/or improve the ecological and agricultural environment.

Designed for projects that occur in rural counties (festivals, fairs, exhibitions, performances) or focus on natural resources (oil, water, green art, ecological issues).

About

The Preservation Leadership Forum of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is a network of preservation leaders — professionals, students, volunteers, activists, experts — who share the latest ideas, information, and advice, and have access to in-depth preservation resources and training.

Southwest Intervention Fund

Grants from the National Trust’s Southwest Intervention Fund are intended to further preservation efforts of the traditional cultures of the Southwest region, exclusively in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, West Texas (West Texas is defined as the area west of US Route 281 from the Oklahoma border to San Antonio proper and north of US Route 90 from San Antonio proper to Del Rio) and Utah. The Fund provides support for preservation planning efforts and enables prompt responses to emergency threats or opportunities in the eligible states. Local partners, nonprofit organizations and government agencies that have strategic opportunities to save sites or help jumpstart preservation projects are eligible for the fund’s small, catalytic grants. Grants generally range from $2,500 to $10,000.

The Fund can support assistance for a single prehistoric or historic place or actions affecting an entire state or part of a state, or several states, so long as all of the states are among the five designated states. Actions aimed at direct intervention to save historic and cultural sites and at capacity building are eligible.

The decision to pursue project funding through the Southwest Intervention Fund must be made in consultation with the National Trust grants office. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your project.  

Recreation Grants has been assisting hundreds of communities across Texas with their outdoor recreation needs since 1965 through our grant assistance and outreach programs. From the largest metropolis to the smallest rural community these programs help to build new parks, conserve natural resources, provide access to water bodies, develop educational programs for youth, and much more. Providing grants to communities across Texas helps build access to outdoor experiences and encourages a connection with nature that is vital for promoting conservation and good environmental stewardship among Texans young and old.

Through our programs we build long-term partnerships that assist TPWD in our mission to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Recreational Trails Grants

TPWD administers the National Recreational Trails Fund in Texas under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This federally funded program receives its funding from a portion of federal gas taxes paid on fuel used in non-highway recreational vehicles.

The reimbursable grants can be up to 80% of project cost with a maximum of $200,000 for non-motorized trail grants and a maximum award of $400,000 for motorized (off-highway vehicle) trail grants.

Funds can be spent on both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects such as:

• the construction of new recreational trails,
• to improve existing trails,
• to develop trailheads or trailside facilities, and
• to acquire trail corridors. 

The Texas Sea Grant College Program supports integrated research and extension projects that improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas’ coastal and marine resources, from inland areas connected to watersheds to the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The overarching goals of Texas Sea Grant’s research program are to support outcome-oriented research that spans broad areas of natural, physical, social, behavioral and economic sciences and engineering, and to make research investments that will generate substantial long-term impacts in Texas, and has an end user identified. Outcome-oriented research is defined as research that provides quantifiable evidence for short-term (learning: awareness, knowledge, skills, motivations), medium-term (action: behavior, practice, decisions, policies), and/or long-term (consequences:social, economic, environmental) impacts in Texas.

Research Priorities

Texas Sea Grant is seeking proposals that address the following research priorities:

• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture:
  • Oyster aquaculture
  • Aquaculture of new marine species
  • Shark depredation impacts and mitigation in commercial and recreational fisheries
• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems:
  • Oyster reef harvest, restoration, and management
  • Disease outbreak at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
  • Resistance, recovery and resilience of the reef ecosystem at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Clean Water State Revolving Fund

The CWSRF assists communities by providing low-cost financing for a wide range of wastewater, stormwater, reuse, and other pollution control projects. Recent streamlining of the program provides year-round funding as projects are included in the CWSRF Intended Use Plan. Through Fiscal Year 2020, the program has committed approximately $10 billion for projects across Texas.

What can the program do for you?

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund, authorized by the Clean Water Act, provides low-cost financial assistance for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of wastewater, reuse, and stormwater infrastructure.

What types of projects can I use the loan funding for?

Financial assistance from the CWSRF can be utilized for:

• Create or improve wastewater treatment facilities, reuse/recycle facilities, and collection systems
• Purchase existing wastewater treatment plants
• Purchase land necessary for construction of an eligible project
• Manage, reduce, treat, or recapture stormwater or subsurface drainage water
• Nonpoint source pollution control projects
• Estuary management projects
• Implement green projects (pursuant to EPA guidance)
• Develop and implement watershed pilot projects
• Disaster recovery
• Increase the security of POTWs
• Water meters as a water conservation measure
• Pay for other costs necessary to secure and issue debt

Are loans or grants offered?

Below market interest rate loans, 0% loans and principal forgiveness (similar to grants) are offered in the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Intended Use Plan (IUP).

The interest rate on loans will be a percentage reduction from the Thomson Reuters Municipal Market Data (MMD) rate adjusted for yield to maturity that is applicable to the entity's rating, with non-rated entities using the Baa rate, as follows:

• Equivalency projects: 35% reduction
• Non-Equivalency projects: 30% reduction

0% loans are available on a limited basis to eligible small/rural disadvantaged communities, urgent need projects and for preparation of Asset Management Plans.

Principal forgiveness is available on a limited basis to eligible applicants.

• Disadvantaged communities: The amount of principal forgiveness for a regular disadvantaged project (up to 70%) is dependent on the annual median household income (AMHI) and household cost factor (HCF) for the project area.
• Small/rural disadvantaged communities: Entities qualified as a disadvantaged community and that additionally meet the definition of either a small community (serve a population of 10,000 or fewer) or a rural project (see definition in the IUP) are eligible for up to 100% principal forgiveness ($1,000,000 maximum).
• Very small systems: Projects that serve a population of 1,000 or fewer are eligible for up to 100% principal forgiveness ($400,000 maximum).
• Green projects: Entities may receive subsidized green funding (up to 15% forgiveness) if their project has eligible components that total 30% of the project's total cost.
• Urgent need projects: If a project is determined to be of urgent need, the applicant may qualify for 100% principal forgiveness ($500,000 maximum unless a disadvantaged community, then up to $800,000 maximum). The project must not be for replacement of facilities that have failed because they exceeded their useful life or failed due to lack of adequate maintenance.

What phases of the project are eligible for funding?

The CWSRF provides financial assistance for planning, acquisition, design and construction of your wastewater, reuse, and/or stormwater project.

How much funding is available?

Whether you are seeking financial assistance for smaller projects or large-scale capital improvement projects, the CWSRF program is an excellent fit for your system's needs. For State Fiscal Year 2024, at least $460 Million is available under the CWSRF program for all financing options including $55 Million in principal forgiveness. This funding consists of the annual appropriations from the CWSRF capitalization grant funds and the supplemental appropriations from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA).

The Superior HealthPlan Community Grant Program provides financial support to organizations that address Non-Medical Drivers of Health (NMDOH), also known as Social Determinants of Health. Here are the key details:

All applications are reviewed by the Superior HealthPlan Grant Committee and will be awarded on a yearly basis to community-based organizations across Texas. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by the tenth business day of April. Each applicant selected to receive a grant from Superior HealthPlan will receive $10,000.

Applicants must align proposals with at least one of these focus areas:Housing Stability & Support:

Programs should aim to reduce housing insecurity and improve living conditions for Medicaid members. Eligible programs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Utility Assistance Program: Provide short-term financial support for electricity, gas, or water bills.
• Rental Assistance or Security Deposit Fund: Help individuals secure stable housing by covering move-in costs.
• Emergency Shelter Support: Offer temporary shelter or hotel vouchers for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Home Repair & Maintenance Program: Fund minor repairs or accessibility modifications for low-income households.
• Application Fee Assistance: Cover costs associated with applying for housing.
• Pest Control Services: Provide extermination services to ensure safe and healthy living environments.

Food Security & Nutrition: Programs should address food access, nutrition, and emergency food needs for vulnerable populations. Eligible programs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Community Food Pantry: Establish or expand a pantry offering culturally appropriate, nutritious food.
• Home Food Delivery: Deliver groceries or prepared meals to homebound individuals or families without transportation.
• Emergency Food Assistance: Provide food boxes or meal vouchers during crises or natural disasters.
• Congregate or Mobile Meal Programs: Serve hot meals at community centers or via mobile units in food deserts.

Health Care Access & Literacy:

Programs should reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes through education, navigation, and support. Eligible programs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Dental Care Access Days: Partner with local dentists to provide free or low-cost cleanings and exams for adults, ages 21 and older, who have Medicaid coverage.
• In-Home Assistive Services: Offer non-clinical assistive devices such as Alexa for seniors, medical alert systems, fall detection sensors, and smart home monitoring systems.
• Health Literacy Workshops: Educate community members about navigating the health system, understanding prescriptions, and preventive care.
• Transportation Voucher Program: Medical – Provide rides to and from hospitals, ER discharges, or other urgent health care appointments. Social Service Support – Provide transportation to agencies like food pantries and hygiene and clothing closets.

Mission

Founded in 1943, the McKesson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporate foundation dedicated to advancing health outcomes for all. The Foundation’s mission is to remove barriers to quality healthcare across North America, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities.

Strategic Giving Pillars and Areas of Focus

The McKesson Foundation champions health equity by partnering with nonprofit organizations to advance efforts aligned with three strategic giving pillars and corresponding areas of focus:

Reducing the Burden of Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 1.9M people will receive a cancer diagnosis in 2022 and two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. These cancer diagnoses often create both a health and financial crisis for patients and their families. Studies show factors including race/ethnicity, health insurance status and income can affect the timing of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, as well as their survival and financial impact. Working with our partners, we aim to reduce the risk of getting cancer and address socioeconomic barriers to care.

• Prevention
  • provide education and services to encourage people to adopt healthy diets, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and protect their skin.
• Screening and Treatment
  • increase awareness of the importance of screenings, early detection and timely treatment among vulnerable populations; provide free health screenings for patients and connect them to care.
• Financial/Logistical Assistance
  • connect uninsured and underinsured patients to programs providing low or no-cost co-pays and social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions, e.g., transportation, childcare, healthy food, home meal delivery; reduce the economic burden of low-income patients with emergency funds for rent, utilities and other household expenses.

Preparing Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce

Patients report that they feel more heard and are more compliant with medical guidance when they share race/ethnicity with their healthcare practitioner. Nearly a third of the U.S. population is Black or Hispanic, yet the combined Black and Hispanic representation among oncologists is 8 percent and the combined Black, Indigenous and Hispanic representation among pharmacists is 10.7 percent. Closing the gap between diverse representation among the general population and among healthcare practitioners will improve health equity and patient outcomes.

• Oncology Professionals
  • increase underrepresented in medicine (URiM) student recruitment and retention;
  • increase all health professionals’ cultural competency to better serve a diverse patient population.
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians 
  • increase URiM recruitment and retention;
  • prepare students for broader pharmacist roles;
  • leverage pharmacists’ extensive training, community presence and public trust to serve vulnerable and rural patient populations.
• Student Engagement
  • increase students’ awareness of STEM careers;
  • support students’ financial literacy;
  • help prepare middle and high school students for higher education.

Accelerating Crisis Response

With the increased frequency and intensity of climate events, more people across North America need temporary or extended shelter, as well as food and medications, during and in the aftermath of crises. And with 10 percent of the population in both Canada and the U.S. living in food insecure households, programs to provide regular, nutritious meals to children, families and seniors can reduce chronic disease and improve long-term health.

• Preparedness
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to prepare for forecasted as well as unforeseen emergencies;
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to help people become Red Cross Ready.
• Disaster Relief and Recovery
  • mobilize resources to provide acute services, such as water, food, shelter, comfort kits, medicines, and healthcare for people affected by natural disasters or crises;
  • help families return to normalcy after a disaster.
• Medicine and Food
  • assist vulnerable individuals and communities by supporting acute and chronic care services that provide medicines and food.

Trees for Texans

Texan by Nature is proud to partner with H-E-B to catalyze a statewide tree-planting program. Trees for Texans enriches the places we call home by planting trees that create healthier environments for schools, communities, and our future.

Our communities will Thrive

Trees help communities thrive by offering shade, reducing the urban heat island effect, and cooling urban areas. Trees also enhance our communities, providing educational opportunities and mental health benefits that enrich the quality of life of our communities.

Our environment will Thank Us

Trees play a crucial role in keeping our environment healthy. Trees help absorb carbon dioxide providing cleaner air. Trees help filter water, providing clean drinking water for communities. Trees and forests provide crucial habitats that help healthy populations of wildlife thrive.

Our Texas, Our Future

H-E-B Trees for Texans is a long-term investment in the future of all Texans. As trees grow and mature over time, their benefits extend through generations creating a legacy of sustainability and stewardship for future generations to enjoy.

For Communities Grant

We’re connecting communities to nature with opportunities for hands-on conservation. H-E-B supports communities by partnering with local non-profits to plant trees, engage volunteers, and celebrate the places we call home.

We invite non-profits, municipalities, and civic organizations to apply for a $5,000 grant for projects that increase tree canopy, reduce the heat island effect, increase available greenspace, and beautify public spaces in Texas. This application is open annually, and there are no restrictions regarding number of applications. Organizations are eligible to apply each cycle.

Funding is awarded annually for plantings occurring during the upcoming tree planting season.

Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program

The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires States to develop a program to protect the quality of water resources from the adverse effects of nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution. NPS pollution is all water pollution that does not originate from regulated point sources. Types of regulated point sources include wastewater treatment facilities, municipal stormwater systems, and concentrated animal feeding operations. NPS pollution occurs when rainfall flows off the land, roads, buildings, and other features of the landscape. This diffuse runoff carries pollutants into drainage ditches, lakes, rivers, wetlands, bays, and aquifers. Common NPS pollutants include:

• Fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from spills, roads, urban areas, and energy production;
• Sediment from construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks; and
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and leaking septic systems.

The Texas NPS Management Program is the State's comprehensive strategy for addressing NPS pollution. The program publication is updated every five years. The most recent revision was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Governor in April 2022. The Texas NPS Management Program is jointly administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Honda Corporate Funding

Honda’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vision is to help people fulfill their life’s potential. We do this by supporting the communities where we live and work through financial contributions and the volunteer efforts of Honda associates.

Honda offers funding opportunities for programmatic support and community event sponsorships.

Programmatic Support

Honda and the Honda USA Foundation provide funding to nonprofit organizations and schools to support programs that align with our pillar award categories.

Year-over-year certain pillar award categories may not always be open for funding, are subject to change, and in some cases, Honda may extend invitation-only opportunities to select community partners.

Environment Pillar Award:

Honda is working to reduce our environmental impact, which is central to our sustainability vision. Our approach focuses on three key areas: decarbonizing our products and operations, using clean energy, and using natural resources efficiently. Through education, awareness, and infrastructure programs, we are seeking to support programs within our communities that share our mission to protect the health of our planet.