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.