For 25 years, Greater Texas Foundation has partnered with institutions, nonprofit organizations, and communities to expand opportunity for Texas learners.
During our anniversary year, we celebrate the people, partnerships, and ideas that have shaped our journey—and discover where we’re headed next.
Together, we’ve made a difference for Texas learners
The biggest advances in education don’t happen because of one funder—they happen when educators, institutions, employers, researchers, policymakers, and philanthropists work together.
For 25 years, we have helped nurture promising ideas into broader impact for Texas learners.
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We help small and rural schools become P-TECHs (Pathway in Technology Early College High School.) We’re currently working in approximately 50 communities and plan to expand to 600 communities by 2036, so it’s a lofty goal.
These P-TECHs have the highest student outcomes in the nation and we believe that rural schools deserve these.
Kim Alexander, Collegiate Edu-Nation
Hear from Some of Our Successful Partners
$160
Million in grant funding since 2001
$17.9
Million invested in Rural Collaborations
Michael Aldape of UTRGV talks about the success of their GTF Scholars program.
Helping ECHS graduates succeed and thrive
Early College High Schools are opening doors for more Texas students. Through our signature GTF Scholars program, we’ve committed over $27 million to support more than 3,100 ECHS graduates as they move into four-year institutions and graduate with minimal debt.
Michael Aldape of UTRGV talks about the success of their GTF Scholars program.
Helping ECHS graduates succeed and thrive
Early College High Schools are opening doors for more Texas students. Through our signature GTF Scholars program, we’ve committed over $27 million to support more than 3,100 ECHS graduates as they move into four-year institutions and graduate with minimal debt.
The greatest progress is achieved by working together
We champion the education changemakers across Texas who are bringing to life ideas that will transform systems.
Since 2001, we’ve been connecting people, funding new ideas, and sharing what works. Because when we do, good ideas take hold, systems improve, and more Texans succeed beyond high school.
1,000+
Grants
Made
Every grant represents people working together to help more Texans succeed
Where We Invested
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They have invested in helping us look at data, bring that data into practice and those practices into sustainable policies to support more students, families, and educators not just in central Texas but across across the state.
Richard Tagle,
E3 Alliance
Helping Partners Move Forward with Clarity and Confidence
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GTF has challenged us to think strategically, connected us with other organizations doing complementary work, and treated the Success Center as a thought partner rather than simply a grantee.
Kim Lowry, Texas Association of Community Colleges
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One of GTF’s core values revolves
around collaboration and partnership.
We can’t do this work alone.
Sue McMillin, Greater Texas Foundation
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The convening power of Greater
Texas Foundation has been a
valuable asset for the state.
Tina Gridiron, Director, Greater Texas Foundation
Together, We’ve Grown
As Texas changed, GTF evolved to meet the changing needs of learners
Greater Texas Foundation has evolved from its roots in student financial aid into a strategic grantmaker helping more Texans succeed beyond high school.
By partnering with colleges, nonprofits, and communities, we’ve helped expand pathways to postsecondary success and empowered organizations across Texas to develop innovative solutions for learners.
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A postsecondary credential is vital, particularly for students in rural areas of Texas. It can change the trajectory of a student’s life and the lives of the student’s family. It gives them hope, dignity, and confidence.
Mary Hendrix, Director, Greater Texas Foundation
Over the past 25 years, our work has expanded to include:
Creating more pathways through dual credit, Early College High Schools, workforce credentials, transfer, and competency-based learning.
Removing barriers by supporting financial aid, emergency aid, and holistic student supports that help learners persist and graduate.
Strengthening communities through regional collaborations and collective impact initiatives that improve outcomes across Texas.
Expanding opportunity for rural, underserved, adult, and other learners whose journeys to postsecondary success look different.
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When the board first started, many years ago, we saw the need to help underserved students get into college. We also tried to see what the Texas education landscape would look like in the next 10-15 years.
AD James, Director, Greater Texas Foundation
Leaders Talk About Legacy
Together, we’re building a new era of innovation and collaboration
Texas is changing. The workforce is changing. Education must continue to evolve. The foundation’s work is not finished—the anniversary marks the beginning of the next era and requires new ideas and new partnerships.
A new fund for workforce readiness
To celebrate this 25th anniversary, Greater Texas Foundation dedicated $2.5 million to support Texas public community colleges and public technical colleges in creating efficient pathways that lead to living-wage careers or seamless transfer to four-year institutions.
Response from partners is strong
Response to the RFP was tremendous, showing a strong commitment from Texas’ two-year colleges to building innovative and impactful pathways to career preparation or degree completion.
Our Strategic Plan is our roadmap for systems change and innovation. Read More.
Together, we’re Greater Texas
Since 2001, we’ve learned that lasting change happens together.
Whether you’re an educator, researcher, community partner, institution, employer, or policymaker, we would love to engage with you in the work ahead—to create lasting impact.