OneStar: Strategies to Achieve Social Impact

Renewing Our Communities Account

Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity

The members of the Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity have officially been announced. Read the members’ biographies here.

Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity Hearing Update

The Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity facilitated the last two public hearings in Harlingen on June 8th and in El Paso on June 21st. The hearings allowed the Task Force to gather recommendations on strengthening the capacity of faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) providing services to Texans in need. The testimonies provided by the participants were insightful and allowed them to connect with community partners who could assist them in their work.

In collaboration with the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, the Task Force will implement a statewide survey to collect additional information. The data collected from this survey will be used in addition to the information collected from the hearings to provide a report with recommendations to the Texas Legislature.

Stay tuned for more information on how you can complete the survey to help us provide key information to our state’s leaders. 

Renewing Our Communities Account: Nonprofit Capacity Building Grantees

OneStar Foundation: Texas Center for Social Impact, in partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), is pleased to announce the 40 recipients of Renewing Our Communities Account (ROCA) nonprofit capacity building grants.

Through a competitive grant process, OneStar selected 40 small- and medium-sized faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) to receive grants of up to $25,000 each. The grantees will use these funds to focus on capacity-building activities that strengthen their organizational capacity, contributing to their long-term sustainability and ability to effectively fulfill their missions.

The grants will also allow the selected FBCOs to forge stronger, more effective collaborations with designated community partners, including secular or faith-based nonprofits, schools, private businesses and local government offices. The designated partners will work with the grantees to address gaps identified in their service delivery systems and resources. By building their capacity together, these organizations will develop stronger collaborative partnerships, leading them to better serve the citizens of Texas.

Through capacity-building activities and initiatives that strengthen their community networks, the grantees can develop a more effective and efficient delivery of social services to targeted populations, ultimately addressing pervasive social concerns in a given community or region. Other expected long-term impacts of this grant award include more effective nonprofit leadership and governance.

For more information about the grantees, contact Suzanne Potts at suzanne@onestarfoundation.org or 512.287.2043.

List of Grantees

Below are the names of the organizations awarded ROCA grants and the total amount of grant received.

  • American Indians in Texas - Spanish Colonial Missions I American Indians in Texas - Spanish Colonial Missions (Up to $25,000)
  • Austin Area Interreligious Ministries I AAIM Capacity Building & Network (Up to $25,000)
  • Austin Disaster Relief Network I Austin Disaster Relief Network - Project Greater Austin (Up to $25,000)
  • Austin Free-Net I Austin Connects: Community Technology Service Mapping Project (Up to $25,000)
  • Austin Voices for Education and Youth I Our Voice, Our Vision, Our Schools (Up to $25,000)
  • Avenida Guadalupe Association I Avenida Community Renewal Project (Up to $25,000)
  • Bethel Community Development Corporation, Inc. I Faith Connections (Up to $25,000)
  • Bible Way Fellowship Baptist Church I CCCTX OneSource New Life Mentoring (Up to $25,000)
  • Camp Fire USA Tejas Council I Greater Waco After School Network (Up to $25,000)
  • Casa Marianella I Community Coordination Project (Up to $25,000)
  • Christian Assistance Network of Greater Fort Hood I The Heritage House (Up to $25,000)
  • The City of Refuge of Houston, Inc. I CORRESCUE (Up to $25,000)
  • Coalition of Texans with Disabilities I CDS Expansion to San Antonio (Up to $25,000)
  • Community Leadership Institute I Capacity Building Training (Up to $25,000)
  • Community Partnership for the Homeless (Green Doors) I The Healing Homes Project at Pecan Springs Commons (Up to $25,000)
  • Concho Valley RSVP I RSVP Capacity Building Strategies (Up to $25,000)
  • Connecting Caring Communities I Abilene Community Renewal (Up to $25,000)
  • Corpus Christi Literacy Council I Together we Can! (Up to $25,000)
  • Dallas Leadership Foundation I Joint Collaborative Community Capacity Building (Up to $25,000)
  • El Paso Diabetes Association I FACES (Up to $25,000)
  • Faithkeepers I Austin Unemployment Group (Up to $25,000)
  • Friends of Partners in Prevention I Fortifying Our Community Fabric (Up to $25,000)
  • Granny's Place, Inc. I OneStar2010 (Up to $25,000)
  • Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries I Community Collaboration (Up to $25,000)
  • Hispanic Religious Partnership for Community Health I Capacity Building (Up to $25,000)
  • H.O.P.E. I Collaboration Has No Boundaries (Up to $25,000)
  • Inman Christian Center I Inman Christian Center (Up to $25,000)
  • Literacy Coalition of Central Texas I Institute for Volunteer Management (Up to $25,000)
  • Marianist Province of the U.S. (Tecaboca) I Leadership Experiences Asset Program (Up to $25,000)
  • New Beginnings Children's Home at Canaan Land Ranch, Inc. I New Beginnings Results Based
  • Accountability Child Abuse Case Management Project (Up to $25,000)
  • Opening Doors for Women in Need I Opening Doors for Women in Need Inc. - Crime Prevention (Up to $25,000)
  • Partners in Ministry I Capacity Building through Development & Fundraising (Up to $25,000)
  • Reclamation Station I Impact Van Zandt (Up to $25,000)
  • Relief Nursery of Central Texas I Relief Nursery of Central Texas (Up to $25,000)
  • Ride On Center for Kids (R.O.C.K.) I R.O.C.K. Partners and Builds (Up to $25,000)
  • Sister Communities Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse I Drug Free Communities (Up to $25,000)
  • Skillful Living Center, Inc. I Strengthening Skillful Living Center, Inc. Texas Style (Up to $25,000)
  • South Texas Youth Development Council I Family and Community Asset Building Partnership (Up to $25,000)
  • SWIFT I Schulenburg Weimar in Focus Together (SWIFT) Community Garden (Up to $25,000)
  • Ventana del Soul I Ventana del Sol (Up to $25,000)

Renewing Our Communities Account: Local Government Grantees

On July 12, 2010, OneStar Foundation launched the second of two Requests for Applications (RFA) for the Renewing Our Communities Account (ROCA) funded last year by HB 492. The purpose of this second grant program is to strengthen the capacity of local government offices that provide outreach to faith-based and community-based organizations and to assist nonprofit organizations in addressing social issues present in their communities.

Through a competitive grants process, OneStar selected an additional six local government agencies to receive grants of up to $40,000 for one year. Grantees will use program funds to 1) conduct outreach and networking activities to reach new nonprofits and facilitate partnerships, 2) provide free capacity building training to nonprofit organizations and 3) grantees will also use program funds to build their own capacity to partner with nonprofits.

Through capacity building activities in these three areas, it is expected that grantees will increase the involvement of nonprofit organizations in their efforts to address social issues present in their communities. 

List of Grantees

Below are the names of the agencies awarded grants and the total amount of grant received.

  • County of El Paso I El Paso  ($40,000)
  • Bexar County Mental Health, Mental Retardation Services I San Antonio ($39,991)
  • City of Dallas I Dallas ($40,000)
  • Harris County I Houston ($40,000)
  • Matagorda County Judge I Bay City ($40,000)
  • DETCOG I Jasper ($40,000)

Additional Information

Immediate questions about the RFP/RFAs can be addressed to Suzanne Potts at suzanne@onestarfoundation.org or 512.287.2043.

Immediate questions about the Task Force hearings can be addressed to Anna McElearney at amac@onestarfoundation.org or 512.287.2026.