It’s hard to overestimate the importance of rural Texas to our past, present and future. Rural land doesn’t just make up 83% of our state, it’s at the heart of our culture and quality of life. Simply put, we need rural communities to thrive if we want Texas to thrive.
Rural communities, however, face a growing number of challenges that threaten their long-term success. Rapid population growth across Texas, urban sprawl and ever-increasing demands on land and water resources put constant pressure on rural Texas. Education, economic development, quality healthcare and infrastructure improvements — things communities need to stay strong — are more difficult in sparsely populated areas.
TRF connects philanthropic organizations and leaders across the state to address some of the most pressing challenges that stand between rural Texas and a strong, successful future.
Most organizations focus on particular issues or geographic regions. TRF combines our expertise, experience, resources and influence to create a bigger, longer-lasting impact than any of our members could individually.
TRF is raising awareness of issues and elevating solutions informed by and developed in partnership with rural residents.
Working closely with and within rural communities is key to our success. Whether funders, community leaders or advocates, local Texans keenly understand their community’s challenges and know the people, issues, roadblocks and opportunities that TRF must engage to have an impact.
TRF invites funders to share their expertise, experience, resources and influence to make a bigger, longer-lasting impact than we can individually. Our goal is to amplify the impact of all funders – large and small, rural and urban, state-based and national – through better coordination, information sharing and cross-sector collaboration. Our focus on rural broadband is a great example of how we have joined forces to support communities to develop their own technology action plans while simultaneously advocating for planning and policy change at the state level.
Interested in more information or becoming a TRF Member?
- Amarillo Area Foundation
- Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation
- Anonymous Foundation
- H.E. Butt Family Foundation
- Educate Texas/Communities Foundation of Texas
- Episcopal Health Foundation
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Greater Texas Foundation
- Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
- Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation
- The Meadows Foundation
- Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
- The Miles Foundation
- The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation
- Permian Basin Area Foundation
- The Priddy Foundation
- The Rapoport Foundation
- San Angelo Area Foundation
- St. David’s Foundation
- The Stanzel Family Foundation
- Still Water Foundation
- The Summerlee Foundation
- T.L.L. Temple Foundation
- Texas Pioneer Foundation
- Tocker Foundation
- United Ways of Texas
- Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation
