Dallas is home to a vibrant network of Dallas nonprofits dedicated to building a stronger, more connected community. From supporting education and healthcare to addressing homelessness and enriching the arts, these organizations play a pivotal role in helping Dallas residents thrive and contribute to the city’s growth and well-being.
Nonprofits are the backbone of community support, especially in a city as diverse as Dallas. They fill critical gaps by providing resources and services that government agencies may not always cover. Here’s why these nonprofits are crucial to the Dallas community:
- Education Access: Many organizations offer programs for youth and adult education, helping to bridge achievement gaps.
- Healthcare Assistance: Several nonprofits focus on affordable healthcare, making it accessible to underserved populations.
- Homelessness Solutions: Nonprofits work tirelessly to provide housing, employment support, and essential services for homeless individuals and families.
- Arts and Culture: Dallas’s rich cultural landscape is fostered by organizations that promote the arts and preserve heritage.
This post highlights some amazing Dallas nonprofits that are making a real difference, showcasing their unique missions and the impact they’re creating.
Nonprofit Resources
The Charity Charge resource hub is dedicated to providing tips, tools, and information to help your nonprofit create and grow a modern organization. Learn more
Dallas Nonprofits Making a Difference
North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) fights hunger by providing food assistance to low-income individuals and families across North Texas. They partner with over 200 agencies in Dallas to distribute nutritious food, operate mobile pantries, and offer education on healthy eating.
- Mission: To close the hunger gap in North Texas by providing nutritious food to low-income individuals and families.
- Impact: Distributes millions of meals annually, helping hundreds of thousands across the region.
- Programs: Food distribution, mobile pantries, nutrition education.
- How to Support: Volunteer at a pantry, donate, or host a food drive.
Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support
Genesis Women’s Shelter provides a safe haven for women and children affected by domestic violence. They offer emergency shelter, counseling, and legal support, empowering survivors to rebuild their lives in a safe, supportive environment.
- Mission: To provide safety, shelter, and support to women and children fleeing domestic violence.
- Impact: Serves over 3,500 women and children each year, offering pathways to recovery and independence.
- Programs: Emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, outreach.
- How to Support: Donations support shelter and counseling services, and volunteers can assist with educational outreach.
Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC)
DCAC provides a safe space and support services for children who are victims of abuse. They offer therapy, family advocacy, and forensic services, partnering with law enforcement and social services to provide comprehensive care.
- Mission: To improve the lives of abused children in Dallas through comprehensive treatment, investigation, and prosecution of cases.
- Impact: Provides services to more than 7,000 children and families annually.
- Programs: Counseling, forensic services, family advocacy.
- How to Support: Donate to fund advocacy services, or volunteer in administrative or fundraising roles.
Per Scholas Dallas
Per Scholas provides free IT job training and certifications for adults from underserved communities. Their programs aim to reduce economic inequality by helping people gain the skills needed for in-demand tech jobs, transforming lives through career opportunities.
- Mission: To provide free, quality tech job training and placement for underserved communities.
- Impact: Helps low-income individuals achieve financial stability by training them for high-demand IT roles.
- Programs: IT job training, certifications, career placement support.
- How to Support: Donate or partner with Per Scholas to support job training programs.
The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center
The Bridge provides comprehensive services for individuals experiencing homelessness, including meals, shelter, medical care, and mental health support. Their facility acts as a one-stop resource center, helping people achieve stability and self-sufficiency.
- Mission: To empower Dallas’s homeless community by providing resources that foster self-sufficiency and recovery.
- Impact: Serves over 8,000 homeless individuals each year with comprehensive support services.
- Programs: Shelter, meals, medical care, mental health services.
- How to Support: Donate or volunteer to assist with meals, outreach, and service programs.
The Stewpot
The Stewpot offers services for the homeless population, including meals, job training, and housing assistance. They also have art and enrichment programs that provide a creative outlet and personal growth opportunities for their clients.
- Mission: To offer a safe haven and resources for the homeless and at-risk communities in Dallas.
- Impact: Provides critical services to thousands annually, including meal services and creative art programs.
- Programs: Meal services, job training, housing support, art programs.
- How to Support: Volunteer to serve meals, lead classes, or donate to support their services.
Dallas Afterschool
Dallas Afterschool works to improve the quality of afterschool and summer programs for underprivileged children. They provide resources, training, and support to nonprofit programs, aiming to make quality educational experiences accessible to all children.
- Mission: To improve and expand quality afterschool and summer programs for underserved children.
- Impact: Partners with over 60 afterschool programs, supporting over 10,000 children annually.
- Programs: Program support, educational resources, teacher training.
- How to Support: Donate, volunteer with partner programs, or support teacher training efforts.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
United Way focuses on creating long-term community change by funding initiatives in education, financial stability, and health. They invest in a variety of programs and organizations that help individuals and families reach their full potential.
- Mission: To improve education, increase financial stability, and promote health in Dallas through collaborative community impact.
- Impact: Supports over 1 million individuals across Dallas through a network of funded programs and partners.
- Programs: Education initiatives, financial literacy, health programs.
- How to Support: Donate to the United Way fund, which supports multiple local programs, or volunteer in community projects.
Texas Trees Foundation
The Texas Trees Foundation is dedicated to urban forestry and environmental health, planting trees across Dallas to combat urban heat and beautify neighborhoods. They engage with local schools and communities to educate on environmental sustainability.
- Mission: To create a greener and healthier Dallas by planting trees and educating the community on environmental health.
- Impact: Planted over 30,000 trees across Dallas to reduce urban heat and improve air quality.
- Programs: Tree planting, urban heat research, environmental education.
- How to Support: Donations fund tree planting and educational programs, and volunteers are welcome to participate in planting events.
Readers 2 Leaders
This literacy-focused nonprofit provides reading support to elementary students in underserved neighborhoods. They offer one-on-one tutoring and literacy programs that help improve reading skills, setting children on a path toward academic success.
- Mission: To develop literacy skills in children to set them on a path to lifelong success.
- Impact: Improves literacy rates for over 600 children each year in underserved neighborhoods.
- Programs: Literacy programs, tutoring, family reading events.
- How to Support: Volunteer as a tutor or donate to fund reading resources.
Foundation Communities
Foundation Communities offers affordable housing and support services to low-income families and individuals in Dallas. They provide educational programs, financial assistance, and access to healthcare, fostering a supportive living environment for residents.
- Mission: To provide affordable housing and supportive services that promote economic independence and self-sufficiency.
- Impact: Houses over 6,000 people, providing community resources and financial stability programs.
- Programs: Affordable housing, financial services, educational programs.
- How to Support: Volunteer at community events or donate to help expand housing and financial services.
Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Dallas CASA advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system, providing them with trusted adult advocates. CASA volunteers represent the best interests of children in court, ensuring that they have a voice in their future.
- Mission: To advocate for abused and neglected children in Dallas, ensuring they have a voice in court.
- Impact: Represents over 3,000 children in court each year, advocating for safe, supportive homes.
- Programs: Court advocacy, family support, volunteer training.
- How to Support: Donate to support advocacy, or apply to become a CASA volunteer.
The Family Place
The Family Place offers shelter and support services to survivors of domestic violence. They provide a range of programs, including counseling, legal advocacy, and job training, helping survivors build stable, independent lives.
- Mission: To stop family violence by providing housing, counseling, and job training to survivors.
- Impact: Supports over 13,000 people annually with housing, counseling, and education programs.
- Programs: Emergency shelter, job training, legal aid, counseling.
- How to Support: Donate or volunteer to assist with educational programs or client services.
How to Support Dallas Nonprofits
Whether you’re in Dallas or looking to support from afar, here are a few ways to help these nonprofits continue their impactful work:
Donate
Financial support is essential to nonprofits, allowing them to maintain and expand their services. Donations can often be made through the nonprofit’s website.
Volunteer
Many of these organizations rely on volunteers. By donating your time, you can contribute directly to the programs that make a difference in the community.
Share Their Mission
Raising awareness is one of the simplest but most impactful ways to support nonprofits. Sharing their mission and needs through social media or word of mouth can help connect them with new donors and volunteers.
Host a Fundraiser
If you’re passionate about a specific cause, consider organizing a fundraiser. Many nonprofits provide resources to help you get started, whether you’re hosting an event or starting an online campaign.