OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We have learned alongside our Community Partners as they have faced challenges, overcome barriers, and achieved extraordinary successes. Find out more about each project and the outcomes below.
YEAR
2024
GRANT CATEGORY
Education
GRANT AMOUNT
$24,100
Organization:
Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center
Title:
Girls+Outside
Description:
Founded in 1976 as Westcave Preserve, the mission of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is to inspire people to develop a lifelong practice of enjoying and protecting nature. They accomplish this through educational programs, collaborative alliances, and conservation of their 76-acre preserve.
The grant is unrestricted and awarded in support of the mission and programs of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center.
Grant Status:
Westcave directed Impact Austin funding to their Girls+Outside (G+O) initiative. They continued to serve 10 partner schools from AISD, with total enrollment of 432 students, a 17% growth from 2023-2024. 82% of participants came from economically disadvantaged households and 91% were students of color. Westcave piloted a new leadership program for high schoolers that attracted 50 student participants, surpassing their goal of 20. Westcave conducted their first-ever teacher training and retreat day to enhance engagement and investment in program goals. This was a hugely successful gathering that will become an official part of their program launch every year. Girls+ Outside has worked with more than 30 collaborative partners to deliver their programming, and they built a volunteer community with more than 35 people in 2024-2025.