New Resources for our Rural Education Partners
Podcast: Rural Matters highlights rural education
The national podcast Rural Matters hosted four funders to talk about why they fund access to postsecondary education and what works in rural communities.
As part of the panel discussion, Allison Pennington shared why Greater Texas Foundation strategically invests in rural communities and highlighted examples of successful rural collaboratives in Texas, including Rural College Promise and West Texas A&M’s Rural Resilience and Opportunity on the High Plains.
Listen to this podcast to hear perspectives from Texas, Oregon, Mississippi, and rural communities across the U.S.
Video: An inspiring model for rural educators
In Roscoe, Texas, 90% of students earn an associate’s degree or workforce certification before they even don their cap and gown for high school graduation. In comparison, nationally of students from rural high schools enroll in postsecondary education.
Our new video reveals the successful formula used by this small, rural school district – and how they are helping other districts replicate the model to serve their own communities.
Report: Notes from the Texas Rural Collaborations Convening
We are just weeks away from publishing the summary report from our Texas Rural Collaboration Virtual Convening. The report, Four Keys to Collaboration in Rural Texas, is chock-full of practical advice gleaned from attendees, and comes with a companion Guide to Texas Rural Education Collaboratives.
If you did not attend the convening and would like to get the report as soon as it is available, contact Tessa Pennington and she will make sure you get a copy, direct to your inbox.
Team Transitions
Please extend a warm welcome to the newest member of our team, Dr. Andrea Robledo, Programs and Strategy Officer. Prior to joining the foundation, Andrea developed student support services at Angelo State University. She brings a mix of experience in the higher education, nonprofit, and foundation sectors and will be a great resource for anyone wishing to explore funding opportunities with Greater Texas Foundation.
Dr. Andrea Robledo
Allison Pennington
Another significant transition: Allison Pennington will depart the foundation in mid-March. Many of our partners know Allison and understand the deep contributions she has made to Greater Texas Foundation and to the field in her five years with us. We extend our thanks and gratitude to Allison for the time and talent she devoted to the foundation.If you would like to connect with Allison and extend your well wishes, you can reach her here.
Grantmaking Update
Over the years, Greater Texas Foundation has awarded more than $115 million in grants to changemakers in Texas education. Since our last newsletter, we’ve approved grants to the following organizations:
Visual Identity
The Texas Tribune
$100,000
Event series on impacts of COVID-19 on higher education in Texas
Visual Identity
PeletonU
$165,561
Expanding wraparound supports for post-traditional students across texas
Visual Identity
Jobs for the Future (JFF)
$257,931
A community of practice to get Opportunity Youth back on track
Visual Identity
The Aspen Institute
$1,000,085
Innovative practices to support Opportunity Youth
Visual Identity
Institute for Evidenced-Based Change (IEBC)
$587,754
More Texas community colleges to adopt Caring Campus
Visual Identity
UT-Dallas
$299,274
New research to identify and address barriers to success for part-time students
Visual Identity
UT-Austin
$487,068
Addressing inequity at critical transition points in math education
