COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
a grantmaking publication of the Community Foundation of Abilene
2026 RURAL NONPROFIT EDITION
Community Foundation Staff:
Katie Alford, President/CEO
Emerald Cassidy, Marketing & Communications Director
Misti Collier, Donor Relations Director
Patrick Lewis, Chief Financial Officer
Kassidy Nygaard, Grants Director
Michelle Parrish, Chief Impact Officer
Dru Pruitt, Finance Administrator
Barbara Richert, Office Manager
Jennifer Weber, Scholarships Director
Raegan Yeager, Program Associate
Contact the Foundation:
cfa@cfabilene.org 325-676-3883
850 N 1st St, Abilene, TX 79601 PO Box 1001, Abilene, TX 79604
At the Community Foundation of Abilene (CFA), we typically have multiple grant cycles each year. Through the Windham Fund, the CFA is honored to provide grant opportunities to eligible organizations in counties within a 150-mile radius of Oplin, Texas.
Those counties include: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor and Throckmorton.
This edition of Community Connections features rural nonprofits serving our neighbors across West-Central Texas. We invite you to consider a donation to support the organizations that serve our rural communities.
Thank you!
Michelle Parrish
CFA Chief Impact Officer
mparrish@cfabilene.org
NONPROFIT GRANT APPLICANTS
Grant Requests & Summaries
CURRENT NEED Buffalo Gap VFD
$50,000
CAUSE AREA
Community development
The Buffalo Gap VFD aims to enhance public safety and disaster readiness. The project focuses on training local volunteers in CPR, first aid, and disaster preparedness. Serving 5,800 residents and 15,000 daily travelers, the VFD seeks to train over 200 residents, develop comprehensive emergency coordination procedures, and support future infrastructure improvements. The requested funds will purchase training equipment, education materials, and presentation technology needed to conduct community safety workshops and volunteer training sessions.
County Served: Taylor
CURRENT NEED Callahan County Aging Services
$15,000
CAUSE AREA
Health & human services
Callahan County Aging Services (CCAS) provides nutritious meals for elderly and disabled residents in Baird and Clyde. The CCAS serves 420 people at two different senior centers and provides 1,800 home-delivered meals each month. By offering nutritious meals, social interaction, and wellness checks, the CCAS helps prevent isolation and promotes independent living with dignity. Requested funds will support food and packaging cost.
County Served: Callahan
CURRENT NEED Children’s Advocacy Center of Greater West Texas, Inc
$10,000
CAUSE AREA
Health & human services
Baylor University is requesting funding to launch a coordinated program to improve quality of life by decreasing food insecurity. In Brown County, the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty will develop, lead, and launch a new coalition to join Hunger Free West Texas, a network of coalitions in 11 counties with a rural lens. In Coleman and Runnels counties, staff will coordinate with partner organizations to prepare for future coalition launches.
Counties Served: Brown, Coke, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Menard, McCulloch, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green
CURRENT NEED City of De Leon
$25,000
CAUSE AREA
Quality of life
The City of De Leon is seeking funds to replace 50-year-old playground equipment with a modern, ADA-accessible play area. Located near low-income housing, the Bell Street park is situated in a shaded area with an existing pavilion, basketball court, and volleyball area, and will feature new playground equipment and ADA sidewalks. The addition of a modern and accessible play area will further enhance Bell Street Park to promote physical activity and community interaction.
County Served: Comanche
CURRENT NEED Comanche Public Library Foundation
$50,000
CAUSE AREA
Community development
The CPL Foundation is currently undertaking a $3.4 million renovation and expansion to the 1970s-era public library building. The completed project will nearly double the current space, serving 9,000 residents. CPL Foundation has committed to fully funding the construction costs, but they are seeking funds to furnish the new spaces, such as the community breakout area, 50-person meeting room, and two reservable study rooms, providing community members with flexible spaces for telemedicine appointments, school projects, client meetings, and other needs.
County Served: Comanche
CURRENT NEED Compassion Counseling Center, Inc
$15,000
CAUSE AREA
Quality of life
Compassion Counseling Center (CCC) provides affordable mental health services to individuals and families across rural Texas communities where access to care is often limited. Grant funding will support clinical supervision, workforce development for emerging counselors, and technology upgrades that will expand access to services and strengthen CCC’s long-term capacity to meet local mental health needs.
Counties Served: Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Somervell, Hood, Bosque, Hamilton, and Palo Pinto
CURRENT NEED Cornerstone Christian Educational Endeavors
$8,500
CAUSE AREA
Community development
Sweetwater Literacy in Motion promotes early literacy for children through third grade through free books, artsbased activities, and curriculum developed with the Sweetwater Public Library and Sweetwater Applause Assoc. Serving children and families facing economic barriers, the program aims to improve literacy, school readiness, family engagement, and social-emotional development. Funding will provide each participant with The Giving Tree and related curriculum materials.
Counties Served: Fisher, Mitchell, Nolan, and Taylor
CURRENT NEED Friends of the Cross Plains Seniors
$5,000
CAUSE AREA
Health & human services
The Cross Plains Senior Center seeks funding to renovate the director’s office by extending the walls to the ceiling, updating flooring and paint, and replacing outdated donated furniture. These improvements will create a private, functional workspace for assisting seniors while preserving existing funding for meals and programs. The project will enhance confidentiality for individuals seeking assistance, honoring client dignity.
County Served: Callahan
CURRENT NEED Hamlin Municipal Development District
$60,000
CAUSE AREA
Quality of life
The City of Hamlin is seeking funding for Phase 1 of a community splash pad in its municipal park, creating the city’s first free public water recreation facility for local families. Phase 1 will support site improvements, the splash pad foundation, shade structures, seating, and ADA-accessible amenities, establishing a safe, inclusive outdoor space for children and families.
Counties Served: Fisher and Jones
CURRENT NEED Merkel ISD – FFA
$12,000
CAUSE AREA
Education; agriculture
The Rain to Roots project is a student-managed greenhouse initiative designed to enhance agricultural education at Merkel High School. Funding will allow students to incorporate solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system, providing hands-on instruction in plant science, horticulture, greenhouse management, and sustainable agriculture. Serving 100-150 agricultural education students annually, the program aims to develop technical skills, promote environmental stewardship, and connect classroom learning to real-world applications..
County Served: Taylor
CURRENT NEED National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL)
$2,500
CAUSE AREA
Arts & culture
The Art for All program, a collaboration between the NCCIL and the Alliance for Women and Children, provides monthly art and literacy programs at Merkel, Clyde, and Lawn campuses. Through curriculum-aligned art instruction, hands-on creative projects, and free book donations, the program seeks to foster lifelong arts appreciation while addressing educational barriers in underserved communities. Funds will provide salary support and program art supplies.
Counties Served: Callahan and Taylor
CURRENT NEED National WASP WWII Museum
$40,000
CAUSE AREA
Community development
Flight Path, a program of the National WASP WWII Museum, connects students to aviation, STEM, leadership, and history through the legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). The program offers immersive summer aviation camps for 16 to 18 year olds, a mobile museum with STEM activities, traveling artifact trunks, and ambassador training. By targeting rural communities, the project aims to serve 1,000 students annually, reach 20 schools and libraries, and produce podcasts that connect students to aviation, STEM, leadership, and history. Funds will support program development and promotion, supplies for traveling trunks, and salary support.
Counties Served: Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, and Taylor
CURRENT NEED Operation: Stockshow
$8,500
CAUSE AREA
Education; agriculture
Operation: Stockshow has a mission to provide a Christ-centered environment for youth in the special needs community with opportunities to become involved in the agriculture industry, specifically through stockshows. The organization is seeking funds to purchase a 20 ft bumper pull stock trailer to support program growth and address ongoing transportation limitations for show animals. The trailer will provide reliable transport for animals to and from training sessions, stockshows, and related events. With a goal of raising $25,500, all that remains to complete the project is $8,500.
Counties Served: Callahan, Eastland, and Taylor
Photo courtesy of National WASP WWII Museum, Sweetwater, Texas.
CURRENT NEED Opportunity Camp Big Country
$13,600
CAUSE AREA
Community development
Opportunity Camp is an overnight summer camp for underserved and at-risk rural students, offering a 1:1 camperto-staff environment focused on mentorship, recreation, and lessons in hope, love, and forgiveness. The camp, serving 140 students annually, focuses on building belonging, leadership, and personal growth, and is followed by a year-round Lunch Buddies mentoring program. Unique features include providing new shoes and supplies for campers, leadership development for staff, and ongoing support to help students overcome poverty and social challenges. Funds will support camper costs.
Counties Served: Crosby, Fisher, Howard, Jones, Nolan, Scurry, and Taylor
CURRENT NEED Penatuhkah Comanche Trails Partnership (PCTP)
$15,000
CAUSE AREA
Arts & culture
The partnership preserves Comanche cultural and historic sites while developing heritage tourism in the area. Planned work includes nominating Indian Marker Trees as cultural and historic properties, pursuing National Register status for Santa Anna Peaks, supporting Comanche representation in state parks, opposing impacts to historic trails, and expanding east-west trail connections in collaboration with Comanche Nation and partners. Funds will support program costs and development to preserve historic and cultural sites, deepen tribal partnerships, expand cultural and youth exchange opportunities, and support economic development and education in rural Texas.
Counties Served: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Concho, Eastland, McCulloch, Mills, Menard, Runnels, San Saba, and Taylor
CURRENT NEED Raising Youth Services (RYS)
$15,000
CAUSE AREA
Health & human services
Raising Youth Services (RYS), founded in 2020 by Sarah Childers and Comanche County Sheriff Chris Pounds, serves at-risk youth ages 12–17 across rural Texas counties, including Comanche, Erath, Eastland, Brown, and Mills. Through mentoring, academic support, life-skills training, and counseling referrals, RYS addresses the root causes of juvenile delinquency, poverty, and trauma. The organization serves 40–50 youth annually and partners with school districts, CPS, juvenile justice, churches, and more. RYS helps youth improve school engagement, strengthen coping and life skills, and build long-term stability. Funds will support direct program costs to serve at-risk rural youth.
Counties Served: Brown, Comanche, Eastland, and Erath
CURRENT NEED Science Mill
$48,000
CAUSE AREA
Education; agriculture
Science Mill provides free weeklong STEM camps for grades 3–10 at Title I schools. The primary goal is to train local teachers and provide interactive STEM camps that build agricultural workforce skills, ultimately increasing students’ STEM confidence, career awareness, and educational opportunities in rural communities. Requested funds will support a pilot program to offer agriculturally-focused STEM camps, serving 120 students and training 16 educators. Expected outcomes include improved STEM career readiness, increased access in rural schools, and sustained classroom use of materials, with results evaluated after the 2027 pilot to guide expansion.
Counties Served: Blanco, Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Mason, Midland, Real, and Williamson
CURRENT NEED Snyder Community Resource Center
$20,000
CAUSE AREA
Health & human services
Snyder Community Resource Center will launch a pilot rental assistance program to provide short-term emergency support for low-income households in Scurry and Mitchell Counties at risk of eviction or homelessness due to temporary financial crises. The program will also connect households to additional supports such as food, utilities, and case management services. Funds will support direct client financial needs.
Counties Served: Mitchell and Scurry
CURRENT NEED Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium (SMA)
$5,000
CAUSE AREA
Arts & culture
The Opera for Students program is a collaborative initiative between the SMA, Abilene Christian University Opera, and Sweetwater ISD that brings free opera performances to 1,500 students at the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. The program stimulates creativity, provides arts appreciation, and exposes rural students to performing arts and live performances. While the program has been ongoing for several years, recent art funding cuts with Sweetwater ISD make it necessary for the SMA to cover overall costs.
County Served: Nolan
CURRENT NEED Tarleton State University
$36,000
CAUSE AREA
Education; agriculture
The Tarleton State NextGen Ag Leadership Initiative is a pilot program introducing middle and high school students to agricultural leadership, ranch management, career pathways, financial literacy, and workforce skills through hands-on learning in Comanche County. Expected outcomes include enrolling 40 pilot participants in the 12-month program and achieving an 85% program completion rate, with students gaining increased knowledge of agriculture careers and leadership skills. Requested funds will support program leadership, meals, supplies, and travel for participants, and more.
Counties Served: Comanche and Erath
CURRENT NEED Texas Ramp Project
$10,000
CAUSE AREA
Health & human services
The Texas Ramp Project builds wheelchair ramps for low-income residents with disabilities across five counties in the Big Country region, using volunteer labor to provide safe home access and improve independence and quality of life. Volunteer teams are recruited through local churches, civic clubs, and small businesses. Wheelchair ramps improve safety and emergency egress, and support independence for clients and caregivers. Funds will purchase ramp materials, team tools, and administrative support.
Counties Served: Brown, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, and Taylor
CURRENT NEED Texas Trails Council – Boy Scouts of America
$36,649
CAUSE AREA
Community development
Texas Trails Council will expand “Scoutreach” after-school programming into rural communities to increase access for families facing cost, distance, and infrastructure barriers. The initiative builds on existing sites and will add new rural partner locations such as Boys & Girls Clubs and school-based programs, nearly doubling rural reach and expanding opportunities for participation in Scouting. Expected outcomes include increased rural site access, consistent weekly programming, and higher participation—especially among girls—supported by two part-time instructors. Requested funds will support instructor salaries.
Counties Served: Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Lampasas, Nolan, Runnels, Shackelford, Stephens, San Saba, Stonewall, and Taylor
Ready to give? Here’s how!
To make a gift to any of the proposals in this grant catalog, please list your selections in the table below. You can submit your responses by:
MAIL Complete the form below and return this page to: PO Box 1001, Abilene, TX 79604.
EMAIL List your nonprofit selections and award amounts in an email to: mcollier@cfabilene.org
PHONE We’re here to help. Call: 325-676-3883.
• Nonprofit applicant question? Contact Michelle Parrish, CFA Chief Impact Officer
• Donor fundholder or fund question? Contact Misti Collier, CFA Donor Relations Director.
Contributions can be made via check; include “2026 Rural Grants” in the memo. Please make checks payable to: Community Foundation of Abilene.
Are you a CFA fundholder? Complete the last section on this page to recommend grants from a donor-advised fund.
Deadline: Friday, July 24
Please attach a list if you need more space.
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FUND INFORMATION
List fund name if you are a fundholder recommending grants from your fund.
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We’re launching a conference for local and rural nonprofits.
April 15-16, 2027 in Abilene, Texas
The biennial conference will offer nonprofit education led by experienced presenters, connections with peers and community leaders, and much more.
Featured conference session topics from our experts include: board governance, donor stewardship, fund development, grantwriting, marketing, nonprofit finance, special events, and strategic planning.
If you would like more information on this event or sponsorship opportunities, call CFA at 325-676-3883 to visit with Katie Alford, CFA President/CEO