Moody Foundation commits $1 billion to 'education transformation' in Texas by 2035 » Dallas innovates

Ross Moody, Moody Foundation Director [Photo: Moody Foundation]

The Moody Foundation announced it is pledging $1 billion to education in Texas over 20 years, one of the largest grants ever made by a private foundation in Texas.

The initiative, called the M-Pact Fund, reflects the director's vision of a mutual commitment and partnership between the Foundation and grantees to support student success.

The foundation said this initiative could change the future of education across the state.

“The Moody Foundation has an unparalleled commitment to the future of Texas through investments in education,” Moody Foundation Trustee Ross Moody said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide every Texan with the opportunity to receive a quality education while promoting student success in the areas of greatest impact and greatest need.”

“Our commitment includes a comprehensive approach to the Foundation's education grants, supporting students from cradle to career and helping them overcome barriers along the way,” Moody added. Ta. “We believe that the classroom is the starting point for positive change, and we hope this promise will inspire a new generation to continue our vision of a bigger and brighter future for all Texans.” Masu.”

The foundation says the M-Pact Fund fosters a comprehensive network of grantees that promote student success because the benefits extend beyond grants.

The foundation has announced that it will also make donations to public universities in Texas under this groundbreaking initiative, with details to be announced at a later date. These gifts are intended to strengthen students' long-term success and health, the foundation said.

Education grants over the past 10 years

The Foundation said this pledge continues its tradition of giving in the education field, including Generation Moody and the Moody Early Childhood Education Center in Galveston, the Moody Scholars Program, and several grants and endowments initiated by the Foundation. said it ties together the foundation's longstanding projects. University of Texas in Austin, Rice University in Houston, and Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

The Moody Foundation announced it has donated more than $500 million to education-related organizations and institutions across the state in the past 10 years alone. The foundation is now pledging to commit an additional $500 million to education by 2035, including through the M-Pact Fund, to solidify its $1 billion pledge.

Over the past decade, the Moody Foundation has awarded numerous significant grants in education, including:

$24 million donated to Moody Scholars Program
Donated $55 million to Generation Moody Education Initiative
More than $200 million donated to the University of Texas at Austin to support the Moody Center, Moody College of Communication, and Blanton Museum
$100 million to Southern Methodist University to fund the Moody Graduate School of Advanced Studies
$100 million donated to Rice University for innovative new student center and multiple gifts
Donates $5 million to Abilene Christian University for critical renovation of Moody Coliseum

M-Pact Fund targets early learning and post-secondary success

The Moody Foundation's M-Pact Fund is an annual grantmaking process that is a key component of the Foundation's historic commitment to contribute $1 billion to education in Texas over 20 years.

The Foundation announced that it will distribute grants annually through a request for proposals (RFP) to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations whose work aligns with its strategic priorities of early learning and postsecondary success.

The Fund will expand the impact of these grants through strategic initiatives including:

We work directly with relevant government agencies to identify education funding gaps and strategically deploy resources.
Build intentional and collaborative networks among M-Pact grantees, including hosting a fully funded annual meeting with representatives from each organization.
Share targeted results within each strategic pillar among grantees, enabling impact measurement of large-scale initiatives over multiple years.

The foundation said the M-Pact Fund will be supplemented by annual community contributions through a traditional grant application process, allowing for continued support for organizations whose work falls outside of the foundation's strategic pillars. .

The Moody Foundation said the 2024 open RFP process will be conducted in two funding cycles. Visit the Foundation's website for important dates, eligibility, FAQs and other details.

Founded in 1942, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 billion in grants.

W.L. Moody Jr. and Libby Sharn Moody founded the Foundation in 1942 to share their good fortune and make a difference in the lives of people in Texas.

Since then, we have committed to and awarded more than $2 billion in grants across the state to organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured, and inspired generations of Texans. Ta.

The Moody Foundation continues to have a three-member Board of Directors: Francis Moody Dahlberg, Ross Moody, and Elizabeth Moody.