When the GreenLight Fund launched in Dallas, it promised to provide “innovative solutions.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, over 100 Dallas business leaders, including Mark Cuban and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation, supported the fund’s $5 million launch in November.
The organization prioritizes its approach around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
“We tackle ongoing disparities perpetuated over generations by unjust systems and policies,” the fund’s website reads.
GreenLight Fund coordinates small, local grants for “unmet needs often resulting from racial and economic disparities,” according to its website. It openly centers “racial equity,” builds “diverse and representative teams,” celebrates “intersectionality of our identities,” and “creates spaces of belonging and acceptance.”
“Without explicitly centering the deeply rooted link between poverty and race, we can inadvertently perpetuate the kinds of racial power disparities and dynamics we seek to eradicate,” the website reads.
The fund pledged to boost “equity and access” with the GreenLight Method – “from how we identify and elevate community needs, to how we vet, select, invest in, and measure proven programs.”
“GreenLight Fund is committed to operating in ways that are consistent with our values, deeply community-centered and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,” the fund’s website reads.
The federal government, through the Corporation for National and Community Service – now AmeriCorps – pledged $4.68 million to GreenLight Fund starting in 2012, according to government records. It is unclear if the government ever paid for the funding.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice to investigate federal funding for discriminatory DEI programs. In July, Attorney General Pam Bondi outlined the criteria for illegal discrimination to trigger DOJ action.
‘Centering Racial Equity’
The Boston-based GreenLight Fund had $52.68 million in assets as of 2022, according to InfluenceWatch.
The fund’s long-time former CEO, Margaret Hall, donated to various Democratic politicians, including Hillary Clinton, Raphael Warnock, and Elizabeth Warren, as InfluenceWatch reported. She left the fund in 2024, replaced by now-CEO Ali Knight, who pledged to continue “blending innovation with equity.”
Robert Mays is GreenLight Fund’s vice president of people, equity, and culture. Prior to his current role, per LinkedIn, he served in the same position at Planned Parenthood.
The Ford Foundation – one of America’s largest grantmaking foundations, which often bankrolls left-wing causes – gave $750,000 to the fund since 2017, as InfluenceWatch first reported.
GreenLight Fund claims there is an “urgent need for change” for racial equity, according to its website.
“Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, and LatinX individuals and families across our country, continue to face deep-rooted racism, poverty, health disparities and a lack of opportunities perpetuated over generations by unjust systems and policies,” the website reads.
GreenLight Fund uses intersectional language, closely tied to Critical Race Theory, as The Dallas Express reported. It claimed oppression worsens at “intersections” between different identities.
“These are compounded when there are intersections with gender and sexual identities, disabilities, age, religious beliefs and other categories that can marginalize people,” the website reads.
The GreenLight Fund began in 2004, focusing on community-centered work to build what it called “inclusive prosperity.” It has made progress to move people out of poverty, “especially those historically impacted by structural racial and economic inequities.”
“Yet, without explicitly centering the deeply rooted link between poverty and race, we can inadvertently perpetuate the kinds of racial power disparities and dynamics we seek to eradicate,” the website reads.
“While we have made intentional, tangible progress identifying our blind spots, addressing practices stemming from our power and privilege, overcoming biases, and strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion over the past several years, we know we still have much more work to do,” it continues.
GreenLight Fund adopted racial equity as a major pillar of its strategic plan in 2021. It is committed to “intentionally and explicitly centering racial equity in everything we do – both internally and in our program work within our communities.”
The fund’s strategy would place racial equity as a “core component,” its team and culture would build a “diverse team of leaders, staff, and board members,” its selection process would emphasize “increasing diversity, representation, and participation of community members directly impacted by deep-rooted inequities.”
Its program model would also boost “equity and access throughout the GreenLight Method – from how we identify and elevate community needs, to how we vet, select, invest in, and measure proven programs.”
The fund pledged to “accelerate progress towards racial equity” across its growing, national network of sites.
Backing DEI Hiring
GreenLight Fund coordinates a network of nonprofits across 15 regions nationwide – launching its Dallas hub in November, according to its 2025 Impact Report. Its grantmaking process includes five steps: discover, scout, select, invest, and measure.
Its system operates as a “pull network,” bringing programs from across America to meet what it identifies as local needs.
“GreenLight searches the country for proven programs to address local unmet needs and invests in their expansion in partnership with our communities,” the report reads.
One of its many “portfolio organizations” is Genesys Works, with a Keller mailing address. According to InfluenceWatch, this group “deals with large companies to reserve positions for minority candidates.”
Genesys Works aims to give “pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities” with skills training, work experience, and relationships, according to its website. It also commits to “equity.”
“We acknowledge systemic barriers and advocate for increased access to resources and opportunities that promote upward mobility,” the group’s website reads.
Genesys Works partners with major corporations, including Cloudflare, Deloitte, Target, and Texas Children’s Hospital.
In 2022, the group called to “reevaluate historic recruitment practices.” It said every year, companies commit to supporting DEI, but “people of color” are still “underrepresented in the most influential fields.”
“If companies are seeking diverse candidates for hire, they have to meet these candidates where they are,” said Jeffrey Artis, then-president and CEO. “Providing young people who lack traditional access to careers early exposure to the workplace is just one of the strategies our company partners use to widen the talent pool, diversify the pipeline and build a stronger workforce.”
Genesys Works emphasized the “benefits of diversity in the workplace,” and called for “more inclusive hiring practices.”
“Each year, our programming provides thousands of young people with resources, access to skills training, social capital, and meaningful work experiences,” the website reads. “In return, companies committed to creating equity and positive change in today’s work culture receive access to an untapped pool of trained candidates.”
Genesys Works cited COVID-19 at the time, saying “prioritizing diversity continues to be critical” for businesses.
“Stay the course,” its website reads. “Learn more about how your company can partner with us to develop meaningful strategies that advance your DEI goals and offer economic opportunities to young people in your communities.”
The Dallas Express contacted Genesys Works but did not receive a response. The Dallas Express also requested input from the GreenLight Fund and Cuban regarding the group’s DEI efforts, but did not get a reply.