The Greater Fayette Community Foundation (GFCF) is a private philanthropic organization established in 2001 to support rural communities in South Central Texas. Through the Rural Community Health Fund (RCHF), the foundation aims to address systemic inequities, build local capacity, and improve the quality of life in rural areas of Central Texas. This fund is part of the foundation's commitment to healing the impacts of trauma rooted in historical injustices and improving social determinants of health.
The Rural Community Health Fund Grant is designed to empower local leaders, support emerging nonprofits, and catalyze resident-led change in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson counties. The program targets five strategic areas: resident engagement, community leadership development, strategic innovation, nonprofit capacity building, and participatory grantmaking. Funding supports activities such as project management training, leadership mentoring, strategic planning, and health-related innovations.
Grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations and groups with fiscal sponsorships. Funding may cover first-year compensation for new nonprofit leaders, organizational development, and community-driven projects. Participatory grantmaking funds empower residents to decide on funding allocations themselves. Equipment purchases and religiously exclusive programs are not eligible for funding. All applicants must comply with a comprehensive non-discrimination policy.
The application window is open from June 1 to June 30, 2025, with the grant term beginning October 15, 2025. A Grant Rollout Webinar will be held on May 7, 2025, followed by in-person workshops on June 4 and 5. Grantee notifications will be sent by August 15, and a Community Impact Grantee Celebration will take place on October 7.
Grantees will engage in a flexible learning and reporting process over the 12-month term, which may include a site visit, conversation, or written report. Foundation staff are available for consultation through scheduled office hours, and additional resources such as application guides and webinars are provided.
Contact for inquiries is Jamie Lee Manning, Senior Director of Community Impact, at jlmanning@greaterfayette.com. For more details and to access the application portal starting June 1, visit https://greaterfayette.com/community-impact/.
