North Texas Giving Day
It feels like the world is on fire, and from my vantage point, the Trump administration seems set on continuously stripping away my rights. It’s never been more evident that the only way to continue to protect the people and communities I care about is to support them. Whether that means protesting, advocating, organizing, or donating to them.
So since this series began as Gift Guides, I wanted to highlight North Texas Giving Day.
North Texas Giving Day—hosted by the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT)—is a huge one-day event that gives back to Texan communities. Communities that I have been a part of, growing up in Plano. And communities, my family, and friends are still a part of.
Given all that Texans have been fighting for this year, it’s so important that people with the means to do so donate to keep those fights going.
Non-exhaustive list of Texas progressive fights:
SB14 (2023) prohibits health care workers from providing gender-affirming health care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies to trans and gender-diverse minors.
SB 13 allows the establishment of local school library advisory councils (who can ban books). Also increases parental oversight regarding public school library catalogs and what kids can access.
SB 8 restricts bathroom use in government buildings and schools to the people’s sex assigned at birth.
SB 12 gives parental rights over public education, specifically regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, and social transitioning.
With CFT covering all the transaction and tech fees, 100% of every gift today goes straight to the organization folks donate to. You can donate directly to the organization of your choice, participate in local events, and even buy Giving Day merch.
While I’m not the biggest fan of Amazon, which is helping to sponsor the event, the list of nonprofits participating is huge, and this event has shown to directly help the community in past years.
In 2024, Giving Day raised $70+ million for over 3,200 local nonprofits, pushing the 16‑year total above $634 million since its 2009 inception. This year, over 3k verified nonprofits are taking part in this event, spanning causes like education, health, animal welfare, and human services.
According to the University of Texas at Dallas, they raised more than $650,000 in 2024, supporting programs like BrainHealth for veterans and academic initiatives—thanks to both large and grassroots donations.
I’ve put together a list of some of the organizations I think deserve your support:
Equality Texas Foundation
Texas is one of 27 states without inclusive, comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQIA+ community. Queer and trans Texans lack basic legal protections that leave us vulnerable to discrimination in employment, public accommodations, education, credit, and housing.
Equality Texas will continue to fight until there are statewide protections for all people under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.
Texas Freedom Network
Texas Freedom Network is a statewide grassroots organization building an informed and effective movement to protect religious freedom, defend civil liberties, and strengthen public schools. TFN works to bring together faith leaders, young people, and communities of color in support of a broad progressive agenda in a changing Texas.
PFLAG Dallas
PFLAG Dallas provides peer-to-peer support through in-person and virtual meetings, online and in person outreach, and a variety of additional resources and programs. About 100 people per year reach out to our chapter through our email, hotline or online messaging, with questions or concerns about an LGBTQ+ issues, for themselves or for loved ones.
Often it is their first time talking to someone about these issues, and we offer an understanding ear having traveled some of that road ourselves.We hold monthly support meetings attended by family members, friends and allies, in addition to LGBTQ+ folk. With some of our meetings, a guest presenter shares their story to further our understanding of the community.
Girls Inc of Dallas
In the heart of Dallas, we're not just dreaming of equality—we're building it. Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas is a beacon of hope, offering girls from underserved communities the tools, confidence, and support to soar beyond societal limitations. Our proven, evidence-backed programs create a nurturing, girls-only environment where potential flourishes and futures are transformed.
Our Impact We serve over 4,500 girls annually, with 85% from low-income households. Our diverse community reflects the vibrant tapestry of Dallas: 26.3% Hispanic/Latino, 45.4% African American/Black, 3.4% White, 1.2% Asian, 7.8% multiracial, and 15% other. Each girl is a story of resilience, determination, and untapped potential.
North Texas TRANSportation Network
The North Texas TRANSportation Network(NTTN) provides travel and relocation grants to North Texas families seeking out-of-state healthcare for trans and gender-expansive youth.
SB14 prohibits health care workers from providing gender-affirming health care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies to trans and gender-diverse minors. This ban goes against the standards of care endorsed by the Texas chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Health care is a human right, and withholding necessary care for trans kids is state-sponsored cruelty. As neighbors to one another, we seek ways to help each other’s families flourish.
The North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a hunger-relief organization that focuses on providing children, seniors and families access to nutritious foods. Through our network of nearly 500 food pantries and other community organizations, our direct feeding programs, and the help of our dedicated volunteers, we distribute more than 400,000 meals each day and about 2 million pounds per week for North Texans facing hunger. Every dollar donated to North Texas Food Bank provides access to three (3) healthy meals for North Texas families experiencing hunger, and 94 percent of our resources go directly to hunger relief programs.
SheDFW
SheNYC Arts is a femme-led nonprofit organization fighting for gender equity in the arts & entertainment industry across the United States.
Our mission is to prove that there is no reason for male artists to have the overwhelming majority of professionally produced work on Broadway, off-Broadway, and around the country. We work granularly to break down the “pipeline issue” of gender inequity in our industry, and showcase the talents of writers, composers, producers, directors, and other theater artists who are part of a marginalized gender group, including cis women, trans, and non-binary people.