An Open Letter of Thanks to Impact Austin Members

June 9, 2025

Dear Impact Austin membership,

Today, at your Annual Meeting, you have done something important and powerful beyond words--you have supported your latest grant-funded community partners with the gift of UNRESTRICTED FUNDING! We wanted to both thank and applaud you for this momentous occasion!

We celebrate not only the achievement of reaching $9M in grant funding but also the trust-based act of changing your grant review process to accommodate the ability to grant unrestricted funding.

The co-signers of this letter represent professionals from many of Central Texas’ nonprofit organizations--those who sit in leadership seats and as heads of fundraising departments; those who are past community partners and those who we hope will become future partners. We felt it was very important to commend Impact Austin for this moment!

We spend our days asking community members like you to join us in financially supporting our work. We represent hundreds of Central Texans receiving life saving and changing services such as shelter, food, educational support, arts of all kinds, mental health services, environmental protection, animal welfare work, youth development, elder care, and so much more than we can ever properly list. By transforming your grant process, you will help continue to transform Central Texas into the best place for us all to live and love life.

We offer you a sincere and enthusiastic thanks for leaning further into trust-based practices and applaud your generosity!

With gratitude,

Amelia Long, Director of Community Engagement, Central Texas Food Bank

Ami Kane, CEO, Girls Empowerment Network

Amy Haley, Founder and CEO, Profusion Services

Brenna Kuhn, Board Chair, The Art Beat Foundation

Brooke Terry, Director, Book Drive for Kids Austin

Catalina Berry, Executive Director, East Austin Conservancy

Chelsea Elliott, Founder and CEO, half Helen

Christina Collazo, Founder and Executive Director, Todos Juntos Learning Center

Dan Leal, CEO, Seedling Foundation

Dr. Courtney Robinson, CEO, Excellence Project

Dr. Johanna Moya Fábregas, Executive Director, Con Mi MADRE

Dr. Rosamaria Murillo, CEO, El Buen Samaritano

Elizabeth Wrona, Principal Consultant, Wrona Philanthropic Group

Erica Blue, CEO, Austin Sunshine Camps

Erin McCord, Principal Consultant, Erin McCord Consulting

Fayruz Benyousef, Founder and Principal, FBC | Generosity Experts

Gabriela Kane Guardia, Executive Director, Latinitas

Heather Henry, Vice President of Development, National Domestic Violence Hotline

Jen Cardenas, Executive Director, Austin Clubhouse

Jennifer Poteat, MSHCT, EMPL, Executive Director, Colin's Hope

Jocelyn Chamra Barrera, Executive Director, Christi Center

Joel Coffman, Executive Director, RecognizeGood

Johanna Stahl-Mandel, Executive Director Capital City Village

Julia Cuba Lewis, Owner and Chief Consultant, Cuba Lewis, Inc

Julie Barschow, Chief Development & Communications Officer, Seedling Foundation

Julie Fisher, CEO, The Trail Conservancy

Kara Hanaoka, Executive Director, Good Work Austin

Katy Catney, Director of Strategic Partnership, Emancipet, Inc

Kelly Schaber, Director of Development, Austin Lighthouse

Kiyomi Beach, Founder and Managing Partner, Insights4Equity LLC

Kristin Campbell, Principal Consultant, Kristin Campbell Consulting

Laura Annalora, President, Women in Film & Television Austin

Liz Schoenfeld, PhD, CEO, LifeWorks

Marianne Reap, Executive Director, Round Rock ISD PIE Foundation

Matt Glazer, CEO, Blue Sky Partners

Melinda Gonzales Boe, Director of Community Investment, Central Texas Food Bank

Michael Ward Jr., President and CEO, Austin Urban Technology Movement

Michel Hudson, CFRE, CEFL, Owner, 501 Consulting

Mimi Garcia, Founder and Chief Consultant, Just Collaborative

Miranda Roberts, Sr. Mgr. Individual Giving & Engagement, Foundation Communities

Monica Simmons, Executive Director, Lirios Pediatrics

Morgan Teel, Artistic Director, Dance Waterloo

Nicole Genovese, Chief Consultant, Genovese Consulting

Paige Deegan, Account Executive, Heller Consulting

Piper Stege Nelson, Executive Director, I Live Here I Give Here

Rabbi Daniel Septimus, CEO, Shalom Austin

Robin Murphy, Director of Development, OutYouth

Sarah Harris, Chief Impact Officer, Accelerate Impact

Shane Woods, Executive Director, Girlstart

Simone Talma Flowers, Executive Director, Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT)

Suhailah Waheed, Founder and Managing Director, Giving Geeks

Suzanne Anderson, CEO, AGE of Central Texas

Yvette Niemeyer, Board Member, Dream Come True Foundation

Some of the endorsers included special messages to Impact Austin:

• This is what progress looks like - amazing leaders

• Doing what's right looks good on you...

• So very grateful ❤️

• Nonprofit leaders continue to be stewards of all financial contributions to ensure

  we meet our missions

• Your example inspires others - never forget!

• We're Stronger Together!

• As a life-long fundraiser, this is the best gift I can imagine! True partnership in action!

• Trust-based philanthropy is the way. Thank you!

• This is the way!!! Thank you so much.

• Great job leading by example and truly supporting the nonprofits

  doing the work in the community.

• We are all better together.