Hispanic Impact Fund Grants

The Hispanic Impact Fund, a signature program of the Austin Community Foundation, is dedicated to bridging the racial wealth divide and advancing economic opportunity for Latino families in Central Texas. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to foster a thriving community by addressing systemic inequities. The fund's strategic priorities are centered on creating a pipeline from "cradle to career" for Latino individuals, thereby contributing to a more equitable and prosperous Central Texas. This approach reflects a theory of change that posits targeted investments in key areas can lead to significant, long-term positive outcomes for the Latino community. The grant program targets Latino families and individuals within the six-county Central Texas region (Travis, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson counties). The overarching impact goals are to improve access to quality education, health services, job skills, and leadership opportunities. By focusing on these critical areas, the fund aims to empower Latino families economically and socially, fostering a vibrant and engaged community. The expected outcomes include increased participation in early childhood education, improved health and wellness outcomes, enhanced entrepreneurial success, and a stronger pipeline of Latino leaders. This grant cycle, the Hispanic Impact Fund is prioritizing organizations and programs that fit into one of four key strategy areas: Early Childhood Education, Health & Wellness, Job Skills & Entrepreneurship, and Leadership Development. For Early Childhood Education, the focus is on providing affordable, high-quality Pre-K and early childhood education starting at age 3. In Health & Wellness, the fund supports preventative, culturally competent health education and access to quality mental and physical health services. For Job Skills & Entrepreneurship, the emphasis is on assisting Latino entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses. Finally, Leadership Development aims to advance Latino leadership and create pipelines of youth, emerging, and established talent. The program includes measurable results through its funding structure, with different grant amounts for winning finalists, runner-up finalists, and semifinalists, distributed over two years. For instance, a winning finalist receives $50,000 total ($30,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2025), and a runner-up receives $35,000 ($20,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025). Two semifinalists each receive $20,000 in 2024. These specific funding allocations provide a clear framework for the scale of impact expected from the funded organizations. The eligibility criteria further ensure alignment with the fund's mission by requiring applicants to be tax-exempt nonprofit organizations or units of government working within the specified Central Texas region, and able to demonstrate non-discriminatory practices and secular programming for religious organizations.