The State Fair of Texas is proud to announce that in 2025, 145 organizations serving the South Dallas/Fair Park area received more than $654,000 in program 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 2026; 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 2026 grant applications is Sunday, March 15, at 5:00 p.m. Central time.
“Our Community Giving Program continues to make a meaningful impact in the South Dallas Fair Park area, made possible from the support of our loyal fairgoers who attend our largest annual community program and fundraiser, the State Fair of Texas,” said Mitchell Glieber, State Fair of Texas President. “The success of our 24-day event allows us to support other nonprofit organizations in the region to contribute to the common goal of giving back to our fellow Texans through funding, programming, and other resources.”
The State Fair received a competitive pool of grant and sponsorship applications in 2025. 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 2025 State Fair of Texas Community Giving Program Recipients:
3-N-1 Trinity Services
Abide Women’s Health Services
**Advocates for Community Transformation (Act)
Advocate Foundation Inc. dba Dallas Free Press
African American Museum Dallas
After8toEducate
After-School Opportunity Lab
All Stars Project of Dallas
Alliance for Choice in Education
The American Boer Goat Foundation
ARGA NOVA DANCE
Austin Street Center
*AVANCE North Texas
Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center
Beacon Hill
*Beloved Community Center
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star – Greater Dallas
*Big Thought
Bold Idea, Inc.
Bonton Farms
Book Drive for Kids
*Born Strong Foundation, Inc.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas
BridgeBuilders
Bridge Steps dba The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center
buildingcommunityWORKSHOP
C5 Youth Foundation of Texas (C5 Texas)
Cara Mía Theatre Co.
CARDBoard Project
Catch Up & Read, Inc.
*Celebrating Life Foundation
Child Protective Services Community Partners, Inc. dba Community Partners of Dallas
Chris Howell Foundation
Citizens’ Committee to Save Our Children, Inc.
Compudopt
*The Community Coding Project
The Concilio
*Cornerstone Career Center
Cornerstone Community Development Corporation, Inc.
Cornerstone Crossroads Academy
*COSIGN Foundation
Crossroads Community Services
Dallas Afterschool
Dallas Bethlehem Center
Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
Dallas CASA
Dallas College Foundation
**Dallas Education Foundation
Dallas Film Society, Inc. (DIFF)
*Dallas Firefighter’s Museum
*Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
Dallas Innovation Alliance
Dallas Leadership Foundation
Dallas Legacy Mission, Inc.
Dallas Prestige Group
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Youth Council
The DEC Network
Dwell with Dignity
Equest
Every Avenue (formerly Incarnation House)
Excelencia in Education
First Choice Social Services
First Presbyterian Church of Dallas dba The Stewpot
*Food Foundation dba Hunger Busters
Forest Forward
Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Foundation Communities
Frances Byrd Horn of Plenty Food Pantry of Mount Olive Lutheran Church
Friends of the Dallas Public Library
*Frontiers of Flight Museum
**GDHCC Growth Foundation
Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support
Girls Empowerment Network
*Girls, Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas
Golden Gate Adult Rehabilitation Ministry
Green Careers Texas
*Healing Hands Ministries, Inc. dba HHM Health
Healthy Futures of Texas
*Hearts & Hammers
The Hispanic 100
Home Point (formerly known as Housing Crisis Center)
Hope Cottage, Inc.
HOPE Farm
*Independence Gardens
Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
*It’s Going To Be OK, Inc.
Jonathan’s Place
Jubilee Park & Community Center Corporation
*Let The Beat Build
LipGloss for Love
The Magdalen House
March to the Polls, Inc.
Mayor’s Back to School Fair – The Dallas Foundation
Men of Nehemiah
Mercy Street Mentoring and Leadership Program in South Dallas
Methodist Health System Foundation
Miles of Freedom
*Modest Muse, Inc.
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
New Friends New Life
North Texas Commission Foundation
Oak Cliff Empowered, Inc.
One Man’s Treasure
Opportunity for Advancement Fund, Inc.
OurCalling
Our Friend’s Place
P4L dba Lemonade Day
*Principal Impact Collaborative at UNT Dallas
*Redeemed Women
Redemption Bridge
ScholarShot, Inc.
The Senior Source
Sharing Life Community Outreach, Inc.
Single Parent Advocate
Sleep in Heavenly Peace TX-Dallas/Ft. Worth
South Dallas Community School dba The King’s Academy (TKA)
South Dallas Fair Park Faith Coalition
South Dallas Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation
Spida, Inc. dba Braswell Child Development Center
St. Anthony Foundation
*St. Philip & St. Augustine Catholic Academy
St. Philip’s School & Community Center
Stand 4 Sisterhood
Swan Strings
T.D. Jakes Foundation
T.R. Hoover Community Development Corporation
*Teatro Dallas
Texas Senior Corps Association
Together We Thrive
Transition Resource Action Center (TRAC)
Under 1 Roof
Union Development Corporation dba Project Unity
Viola’s House
Vision For Families
Vogel Alcove
VolunteerNow
The Walls Project
Watermark Community Development Corporation
Women Empowering Women for the Next Generation Ministries dba WEW, Inc.
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
Young Leaders Strong City
Young Women’s Preparatory Network
Youth Revive
Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. Community Outreach 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, the Fair has developed and continues to invest in several initiatives, including 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 2025 financials are not finalized yet, in 2024 alone, the State Fair of Texas contributed more than $19.5 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 2026 Community Giving Program is now accepting applications! To learn more about who is eligible and how to apply for a 2026 grant, sponsorship, and for other State Fair opportunities, please visit BigTex.com/Community.