The Dallas Express has selected Dallas’ most influential community organizations for 2023.
We selected these organizations for their commitment to reviving the city of Dallas.
Dallas has a rich history of strong civic and business leaders who created a world-class city. But we have seen that city, especially downtown, fall from those heights. For that reason, we salute the organizations that remain committed to rebuilding Dallas and continuing in the traditions of those leaders who helped build this city.
Some help the city’s residents develop new skills and become newly self-sufficient. Others dedicate their resources to the restoration and preservation of Dallas’ landmarks and public spaces.
No matter their methods, their mission remains the same: revitalizing a once-great city.
Community organizations “foster civic engagement and leadership, drive economic growth and strengthen the fabric of our communities,” according to the National Council of Nonprofits.
From the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, which provides recreational and fitness activities for all community members, to Preservation Dallas, which works to support the preservation of Dallas’ historic districts, these are the community organizations that The Dallas Express believes have the most significant positive impact on the local community:
The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is a community-based non-profit organization that provides recreational facilities, camps, and other programs to all community members regardless of income.
Curt Hazelbaker is the president and CEO of the organization, and Felix Lozano III chairs the board of 35 members. It sources its annual budget of approximately $45M from the revenue of programs such as adventure guides, turkey trots, personal training, classes/sports, childcare/preschool, and camps.
Visit Dallas’ goal is to promote and market Dallas as the top business, luxury, travel, and pleasure destination in Texas.
President and CEO Craig Davis and Chairman of the Board Joyce Williams head the organization with an annual budget of about $30M. It is supported by contributions and gifts, government grants, investment income, membership dues, and ticket sales, among other sources.
Visit Dallas uses the funding it receives to assist business and tourist planners coming to Dallas or North Texas and advertise, promote, and sponsor conferences, conventions, and meetings.
Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT)
CFT’s mission is to overcome community issues such as the income gap and create educational and economic opportunities.
CFT works with its donors, other nonprofits, and philanthropy-focused business partners to invest in the growth and expansion of the DFW community.
CEO David Scullin leads CFT as it awards grants and scholarships, hosts North Texas Giving Day, and provides business services.
Aside from donations, the organization also garnishes its annual budget of nearly $30M through programs such as Educate Texas and its Support Foundation and investment income.
This organization focuses its efforts on developing the Dallas community, especially around young children, and breaking the cycle of poverty.
Donations, government grants, investment income, and asset sales supply are some sources of the foundation’s annual budget of approximately $25M.
CEO Matthew Randazzo and Chairman of the 17-member Board Michael Sorrel lead the foundation.
The chamber’s primary goals are to catalyze business development for the Dallas region and to help establish Dallas as the best place for people to live, work, and conduct business in the country.
The Dallas Regional Chamber prioritizes economic development, education, and the workforce and engages public policy to achieve its goals.
CEO Dale Petroskey and Chairman of the Board Rafael Lizardi lead the DRC, which captures funds through donations, product services, and annual membership dues. The chamber has a yearly budget of nearly $11M.
DRC member companies also donate to the chamber’s Tomorrow Fund, with revenues from the fund being used to drive strategic growth in Dallas.
Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District Corp. (DTPID)
DTPID’s primary purpose is to stimulate hotel room demand to increase Dallas visitors. It is designed to significantly increase the funding available to the market and provide incentives to enhance Dallas’ performance as a convention and tourism destination.
Contributions, grants, and hotel assessment fees are some of the sources of funding for DTPID. It uses its annual budget of more than $10M for advertising and promoting the city, incentives for businesses, and more.
Fred Euler serves as executive director for DTPID, while Greg White is chairman of the organization’s nine-member board.
Parks for Downtown Dallas (PfDD)
This organization’s priority is to finish the construction of four priority parks in new Dallas neighborhoods by spring 2023.
Contributions, gifts, and government grants make up some funding sources for PfDD, which has an annual budget of about $7.5M.
CEO Amy Meadows heads PfDD, and Robert Decherd chairs its nine-member board.
DDI’s primary goal involves stimulating growth and creating a sustainable environment in Downtown Dallas. Other focus areas include innovation, technology, economic competition, safety, culture, and infrastructure.
The organization sources its funding through donations and contributions to its Downtown Dallas Inc. Foundation. DDI’s foundation uses its budget of about $7M to promote the development of parks and cultural/educational/recreational resources.
Jennifer Scrapps is CEO, while Mattia Fabiano III is chair of the board of 20 members.
Trinity Park Conservancy strives to develop the Trinity River and the surrounding area to create a gathering place for all people of Dallas. Its purpose is to unite people around nature, protect the river, and create business opportunities.
The group receives donations, makes investment income, and gets support through government grants. It has a budget of just under $5M.
Trinity Park Conservancy has used its funds to design and construct several bridges and Harold Simmons Park. Tony Moore is CEO, while Deedie Rose is the chairman of the 26-member board.
The council comprises some of Dallas’ top CEOs and business leaders, who provide guidance on policy issues in the Dallas community. The goal is to extend economic growth and prosperity opportunities to all residents of Dallas by impacting focus areas such as education, mobility, housing, and quality of life.
Donations, membership dues, annual meeting ticket sales, and its “Fund for a Better Dallas” are sources of revenue for the council, with a budget of nearly $2M.
The CEO of the council is W. Kelvin Walker, while Chairman of the Board Robert Walters heads a 21-member board.
Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA)
MDHA leads the development and implementation of an effective homeless response to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Dallas and Collin counties. It also leads the strategic planning process for effectively delivering services and housing for the Dallas and Collin county homeless population.
MDHA provides over $40M in annual public grants, led by CEO Joli Robinson and Board Chairman Peter Brodsky.
The North Texas Food Bank distributes donated and purchased foods through a network of more than 400 partner agencies and organizations in 13 counties.
The NTFB distributed 72.5 million meals in FY22 and awarded $2.9 million in grants to its partners to help them increase their impact.
Private and corporate donations provide much of the funding for the NTFB, but government hunger relief programs also provide support.
Trisha Cunningham is the president and CEO, while Michael Brookshire serves as board chairman.
Dallas Public Facility Corporation (DPFC)
Created by the City of Dallas in 2020, the DPFC is a Texas public facility corporation and public non-profit corporation.
In general, it seeks to develop and preserve mixed-income workforce housing communities to serve residents earning at or below 80% of the area median income and provide non-income restricted units.
The DPFC partners with qualified organizations to acquire, renovate, or build mixed-income housing developments that meet the City’s criteria. A 15-member Board of Directors approves partnerships and the issuance of funds.
The Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization provides updates on the DPFC’s results to the City’s Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee. David Noguera is the director of the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization.
The Real Estate Council (TREC) – Dallas
TREC is an influential commercial real estate group that supports public policy issues that impact the industry to promote long-term economic growth in North Texas.
At an annual budget of about $1.5M, some of its funding partners include BOA Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan, Texas Capital Bank, and Wells Fargo.
CEO Linda McMahon and Kim Butler, chair of a 52-member Board, lead the company as it pushes its strategic initiatives.
North Dallas Chamber of Commerce (NDCC)
The primary mission of the NDCC is to improve and revitalize Dallas, creating a better space to live, work and conduct business.
CEO Ken Malcolmson and the chairman of the 63-member board, Dev Rastogi, lead the organization, which gets donations and membership dues from Galleria Dallas, Petland of Dallas, and other key North Dallas businesses.
Preservation Dallas’ primary mission is to support the preservation of Dallas’ historic districts, neighborhoods, and buildings.
Donations, investment income, membership dues, and revenue and reimbursement for events such as its historic home seminar are some sources of Preservation Dallas’ budget.
Among its Dallas preservation projects was restoration work on McCree Cemetery. Norman Alston serves as the organization’s president and CEO, while David Preziosi serves as the principal officer of a 29-member board.
NTC’s primary role is to promote public interest in the development of the greater DFW Metropolitan Area behind CEO Chris Wallace and Chairman of Board Andrew Johnsen.
It goes after its goals by pursuing state and federal legislative agendas regarding issues with no city or county boundaries, such as infrastructure, education accessibility, and diversity protection. It also provides professional training for current and rising business leaders in the North Texas region.
Membership dues, donations to the NTX Foundation and NTX Magazine, and government grants are some sources of revenue for the NTC, which has a budget of about $4.3M.
The NTC concludes the list of the most influential Dallas-centric community organizations for 2023, as selected by The Dallas Express. We thank every one of these organizations for continuing the proud tradition of strong civic leaders that helped build this great city.
This article will serve as the first in a series, where we’ll work to write individually about some of this year’s selections. Be on the lookout for those stories over the course of the year as we continue highlighting their mission and efforts in the local community to make Dallas a world-class city once again.
