One way the Amarillo Area Foundation strives to improve quality of life in the Texas Panhandle is through its programs. The generosity of area donors and the efforts of many partners make this important work possible.
Program highlights from 2016 include:
- ACE Scholarship funds totaling $897,800 helped 391 students attend Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University.
- Amarillo Area Foundation and The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation board members approved 30 distributions from their combined Discretionary Grant Programs totaling $2,034,980 to benefit Panhandle area programs.
- A total of $355,880 in Discretionary Scholarships was paid out to students attending colleges and universities across Texas and beyond.
- No Limits No Excuses launched a mobile app that helped more than 2,000 students create customized plans for education after high school.
- The Nonprofit Service Center served more than 840 nonprofit staff members, board members and volunteers through educational sessions and consulting services.
- Efforts to increase community wealth through the Panhandle Prosperity initiative led to Affiliate Fund advisors in six communities raising more than $364,000 for projects.
- The Women’s Philanthropy Fund awarded $40,000 in grant funds to assist nonprofits serving women and children in the Texas Panhandle, bringing the total amount of grant awards to $290,000.
Katharyn Wiegand
Vice President of Community Investment
NO LIMITS NO EXCUSES IS A COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVE WITH MORE THAN 26 COMMUNITY PARTNERS COMMITTED TO CREATING ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS TO POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS THAT LEAD TO LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT.
In the six years since NLNE was created, the program has matured and an enhanced emphasis on student engagement emerged in 2016.
Focus groups revealed the real reason students weren’t earning some form of postsecondary credential is most high school students are hesitant to admit they don’t have all the answers. They are reluctant to talk to the partners and ask questions they need to succeed after high school.
With that insight, NLNE developed an app that helps students find good career matches. They can formalize a plan, pick their degree of interest, and submit that plan to their counselors and parents. In 2016, more than 2,000 students registered and submitted their plans via the app.
NLNE also works to ensure that finances aren’t a barrier to success. Through collaboration with the Amarillo Independent School District, they developed a contest to increase the number of students who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The increase of FAFSA completion exceeded 10%. The proof is in the name. When it comes to helping area students succeed there really are No Limits No Excuses.
SINCE 1982, THE NONPROFIT SERVICE CENTER (NSC) HAS SERVED AS THE AREA’S PRIMARY INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR NONPROFITS.
The NSC provides education, consulting and networking opportunities to challenge and equip nonprofit organizations to be self-sufficient, accountable and sustainable.
In 2016, the NSC provided 14 workshops attended by 251 unique individuals representing 122 nonprofits across the Texas Panhandle. This reflects an increased reach of over 40% compared to 2015. The NSC became a CFRE International Approved Provider for Continuing Education. The Toolbox for Fundraisers class attracted a record enrollment of 26 individuals.
Consulting services included board/staff training, strategic and development planning, and campaign design. More than 40 visitors utilized the Foundation Directory Online database to conduct grant research. The NSC hosts the Executive Director Leader Circle each month which gives nonprofit leaders the opportunity to learn from and network with their peers.
During 2016, the Nonprofit Service Center provided consulting services to the following organizations:
| Board/Staff Training | |
| Dove Creek Equine Rescue |
Mission Amarillo |
|
Family Support Services |
Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners |
|
Medical Center League House |
|
| Strategic Planning | |
|
Downtown Women's Center |
Panhandle Promise Project |
|
Mission Amarillo |
|
| Development Planning | |
|
Driskill House |
|
| Marketing and Communications Planning | |
|
Driskill House |
|
| Campaign Planning | |
|
Oldham County Affiliate Fund |
Texas Panhandle War Memorial Foundation |
|
Swisher County Hospital Foundation Board |
|
The ACE (Achievement through Commitment to Education) Scholarship Program was established in 1994 to improve graduation rates and academic performance at Palo Duro High School and has expanded to include Caprock High School and select students from Tascosa High School.
- $897,800 paid in tuition, fees and book expenses for 2016
- 391 Graduates eligible for the ACE Scholarship for 2016
The Women’s Philanthropy Fund provides innovative grants that address the unmet needs of women and children in the Texas Panhandle. Grant awards recommended by the members focus on long-term solutions that ensure safety, health and wellness, education, and expansion of economic opportunity. Additional grants were awarded through partnership with High Plains Coalition for Marriage and Family.
| WPF Grants | $56,217 |
| Arrow Child & Family Ministries | $10,000 |
| Family Care Foundation | $5,000 |
| Family Support Services | $10,000 |
| Hope & Healing Place | $5,000 |
| Panhandle Promise Project | $10,000 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo | $6,217 |
| Turn Center | $10,000 |
| Women's Philanthropy Fund Advisors | |
|---|---|
| Mary Kay Dammier | Barbara Johnson |
| Lizzie Mason | Jessica Mitchell |
| Cari Roach | Jena Taylor |
| Carolina Walden | |
| Amarillo Area Foundation Advisors | |
| Nicki Crump | Charlotte Rhodes |
| Sharon Oeschger | Katharyn Wiegand |
DISCRETIONARY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Scholarship funds are typically endowed funds wherein investment income is used to fund scholarship awards. The application, selection and award process is managed by the Foundation’s staff and a volunteer Scholarship Selection Committee; a small number of scholarship awards are selected by outside review committees.
| SCHOLARSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Area Scholarships (AC, Clarendon, FPC & WTAMU) | $194,805 |
| Out of Area Institutions (All Others) | $161,075 |
| Total Scholarships | $335,880 |
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PHILANTHROPY
Regions with existing Community Funds at the Foundation were invited to enhance their fundraising and grantmaking efforts by becoming Affiliate Funds with coaching and support services provided by the Foundation.
During 2016, Lesly Annen and Christina Williams continued their coaching work with five Affiliate Community Funds. Lesly worked with advisors from the Donley County Affiliate Fund and the Wellington Community Fund. Christina worked with advisors from the Spearman Community Fund, the Future of Nazareth Fund, and the Oldham County Affiliate Fund.
Advisors worked throughout the year to raise awareness and funds for the community endowments. These endowments provide grant funds each year to benefit specific needs in each community.