South Dallas Nonprofits Receive $652,000 through State Fair of Texas Community Giving Program


The State Fair of Texas is proud to announce that in 2024, 133 organizations serving the South Dallas/Fair Park area received more than $652,000 in project funding through community grants and sponsorships. With community involvement as a pillar of the State Fair’s nonprofit mission, the State Fair of Texas is happy to continue its Community Giving Program in 2025; nonprofits serving the South Dallas community can  APPLY NOW  for the opportunity to receive a grant for this year at  BigTex.

The State Fair of Texas is proud to announce that in 2024, 133 organizations serving the South Dallas/Fair Park area received more than $652,000 in project funding through community grants and sponsorships. With community involvement as a pillar of the State Fair’s nonprofit mission, the State Fair of Texas is happy to continue its Community Giving Program in 2025; nonprofits serving the South Dallas community can  APPLY NOW  for the opportunity to receive a grant for this year at  BigTex.com/grants . The deadline for 2025 grant applications is Saturday, March 15, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.

“The 2024 State Fair of Texas proudly welcomed nearly 2.4 million visitors, with each of our fairgoers contributing to the Fair’s nonprofit mission in various ways,” said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber. “Through our Community Giving Program, the State Fair provides deserving local nonprofits with grants and sponsorships, all made possible by the success of our annual 24-day exposition. At the Most Texan Place on Earth®, we pride ourselves on being a great community partner and are pleased to continue our efforts in supporting our South Dallas/Fair Park-area neighbors.

The State Fair received a competitive pool of grant and sponsorship applications in 2024. Applications were reviewed by a committee composed of a diverse group of stakeholders. Applicants are selected according to their alignment with the Fair’s focus on education, capacity building, economic development, and food security, targeting other nonprofit organizations serving Fair Park’s neighboring zip codes. Criteria for approval include assessing the program’s impact in the South Dallas area, collaborations with other local entities, program design along with its implementation and evaluation methods, and overall sustainability of the program. Those receiving funding will allocate the money strategically to build stronger communities in the South Dallas/Fair Park neighborhoods.

Congratulations and thank you to the 2024 State Fair of Texas Grant Cycle & Sponsorship Recipients:  

*3-N-1 Trinity Services 

Abide Women’s Health Services

*Abounding Prosperity, Inc.

Act (Advocates for Community Transformation)

**African American Museum

After8toEducate

*After-School Opportunity Lab

Agape Clinic

All Stars Project of Dallas

*Alliance for Choice in Education

*The AURORA Culture Project – The Dallas Foundation

Austin Street Center

Beacon Hill

Beckles Dancing Company – Arga Nova Dance

Big Brothers Big Sisters-Greater Dallas

Bishop Arts Theatre Center

Bold Believers United Ministries

*Bold Idea

Book Drive for Kids – Reading is FUNdamental Free Book Fairs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas

*Bravo Zulu Homefront Alliance LLC

Bridge Lacrosse

Bridge Steps dba The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center

BridgeBuilders

C5 Texas

Cara Mia Theatre

Catch Up & Read

Child Protective Services Community Partners, Inc. dba Community Partners of Dallas

*Chris Howell Foundation

*Citizens Committee to Save Our Children, Inc.

Collective Activism, Inc.

Compudopt

The Concilio

Cornerstone Community Development Corporation, Inc.

Cornerstone Crossroads Academy

Crossroads Community Services

Dallas Bethlehem Center

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce

*Dallas CASA

Dallas Education Foundation

Dallas Free Press

Dallas Independent School District

Dallas Independent School District – State of the District

Dallas Legacy Mission

Dallas Prestige Group

*Dallas Symphony Orchestra

*The DEC Network

Dolphin Heights Neighborhood Association

Dwell with Dignity

Empowering the Masses

Epiphany Community Development Foundation

Equest

Evergreen Life Services of Texas

*Every Avenue (formerly Incarnation House)

Fairview Youth Foundation

First Choice Social Services

*First Presbyterian Church of Dallas dba The Stewpot

For Oak Cliff

Forest Forward

Foundation Communities

Frances Byrd Horn of Plenty Food Pantry of Mount Olive Lutheran Church

Frazier Revitalization

FRIENDS of Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy

Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support

Girls Empowerment Network

Green Careers Texas

*Harmony Community Development Corporation

*Hispanic Women Network of Texas – Dallas Chapter

*Hope Cottage

*Hope Encourage Love Protect (HELP)

HOPE Farm

Housing Crisis Center

ilooklikeLOVE, Inc.

*In The City for Good

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders

*Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Jubilee Park & Community Center

*Juliette Fowler Communities

Lakewood Early Childhood PTA

LIFT dba Aspire

*Lightpath Health

LipGloss for Love

*LIRA Group

The Magdalen House

*March to the Polls, Inc.

Mayor’s Back to School Fair – The Dallas Foundation

*Measure

*Men of Nehemiah

Mercy Street, Inc.

*Methodist Hospitals of Dallas Guild

Miles of Freedom

Mill City Teaching Farm

*Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

New Friends New Life

*The Oasis Center

One Man’s Treasure

*OurCalling

*PROLIFIC PL4CES

Rae’s Hope

Restorative Farms

ScholarShot, Inc.

Single Parent Advocate

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

*South Dallas Community School dba The King’s Academy (TKA)

South Dallas Fair Park Faith Coalition

South Dallas Fair Park Innercity Development Community Corporation

Spida, Inc. dba Braswell Child Development Center

St. Anthony Foundation

St. Philip’s School & Community Center

*Stand 4 Sisterhood

Stars United Global Outreach

Swan Strings

*The Texas Supremacy of Music & Arts Conservatory (TSMAC)

The Way Back

T.R. Hoover Community Development Corporation

*Together We Thrive

Trinity Restoration Ministries

*True Legends Foundation

Under 1 Roof

Union Development Corporation dba Project Unity

UNT Dallas Foundation Women’s Leadership Summit

Viola’s House

Vision for Families

The Walls Project

Watermark Community Development Corporation

The Well Recovery Center

Wilkinson Center

YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas

Young Leaders Strong City

Young STEM Professionals

Young Women’s Preparatory Network

Youth Revive

Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. Community Center

*Denotes a first-time State Fair of Texas grant recipient.

**Received a grant and a sponsorship from the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas continues to expand outreach programs, with a priority of promoting community involvement at the local level. In addition to grants and sponsorships, there are several initiatives the Fair has developed and continues to invest in, such as Big Tex Community Engagement Days, Big Tex Urban Farms, Next Fest, and the Big Tex Business Masterclass. Community giving includes sponsorships, supporting programs through funding (aka community grants and sponsorships), in-kind donations, technical assistance and training, and investments made through our signature programs benefiting South Dallas/Fair Park area organizations, students, and residents. Along with offering financial resources, the State Fair of Texas connects with local organizations to foster community relationships, form partnerships, and develop initiatives that work to make a positive impact. 

While 2024 financials are not finalized yet, in 2023 alone, the State Fair of Texas contributed nearly $15.8 million through philanthropic and Fair Park giving. This includes philanthropic giving, funding for upkeep and historical preservation of Fair Park, annual rent to the City of Dallas with the agreement the funds go towards Fair Park, and funding for other Fair Park Improvements and State Fair Operations.

The State Fair of Texas is honored to give back to its neighbors. We value the many partnerships and collaborations that help grow our ability to serve. The State Fair commits to continuing to listen and learn from our community because it is through collective efforts that we make the greatest impact. Together with our community, we are dedicated to the residents who call South Dallas home.

The 2025 Community Giving Program is now accepting applications! To learn more about who is eligible and how to apply for a 2025 grant, sponsorship, and for other State Fair opportunities, please visit  BigTex.com/community .

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