About the Better Together Fund

Who We Are

The Better Together Fund (BTF) helps nonprofits explore and implement formal collaborations that strengthen organizations, expand mission impact, and build lasting resilience.

Established as a grantmaking collaborative among nonprofit funders, BTF seeks to drive positive change in the Dallas-Ft. Worth community by supporting nonprofits that come together to integrate their organizations.

BTF brings targeted multi-phased funding, field knowledge, and funds for skilled advisors who can help navigate this process.

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Steering Committee

Sponsorship and oversight of Better Together Fund is provided by its Steering Committee, comprising of leaders from the following funders: Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Hoblitzelle Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, Meadows Foundation, NexPoint Philanthropies, and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Grants are approved by the Steering Committee and awarded through The Dallas Foundation.

Allison Fasy

Better Together Fund Consultant

The BTF grant process is managed by Allison Fasy. Contact Allison to begin the application process with a preliminary consultation.

Contact Allison

What We Fund

Focus on Integrating Organizations

BTF supports nonprofits that are exploring or implementing formal, long-term collaborations between nonprofit organizations in Dallas-Ft. Worth. BTF focuses exclusively on collaborations among partners seeking to integrate their organizations through parent-subsidiary relationships, asset transfer, joint venture partnership or merger.

See details on specific integrations supported.

Grant Opportunities for Every Phase

BTF offers three grant types designed to support organizations at every stage in the collaboration journey, from exploration to implementation.

See details on types of grants available through BTF.

  • Two or more organizations formally combine into a single entity to strengthen capacity, increase efficiency, expand reach, and better serve their communities.

  • Programs, properties, contracts, intellectual property, or other organizational assets are strategically transferred from one nonprofit to another to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.

  • One organization assumes oversight of another while maintaining separate legal entities, allowing partners to achieve greater operational efficiency, expand services, or preserve valued community brands.

  • Two or more organizations create a new entity, initiative, or program to pursue a shared objective while contributing resources and sharing risks and rewards.

  • Up to $15,000

    Support organizations seeking to answer critical questions about the viability of a proposed collaboration. Funding may be used for technical assistance, assessments, facilitation, travel, or meeting expenses.

  • Up to $50,000

    Support detailed due diligence and planning activities, including legal, financial, governance, branding, communications, technology, fundraising, and operational assessments necessary to design a formal integration plan.

  • Up to $65,000

    Support the one-time costs associated with executing an approved collaboration, such as legal and technology expenses, change management, marketing, compensation adjustments, and other transaction-related needs.

History & Impact

Since inception in 2017, BTF has awarded 142 grants worth over $7 million to 85 unique collaborations, representing over 320 organizations. Approximately 40% of funded collaborations were mergers, and the remaining 60% of collaborations were other forms of formal collaboration such as shared services, shared space, or long-term joint programming or coordinated strategy.

In 2024, BTF decided its resources would be most impactful by focusing exclusively on mergers and similar integrations.

Read more about BTF’s funding history in the First-Year Impact Report.

First-Year Impact Report

Testimonials

  • “...hugely helpful in understanding the current program capacity of the three organizations and how they align to the needs of high school girls.”

    — Ashley Crowe, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

  • “...an invaluable resource for organizations that want to leverage and combine their individual strengths to develop innovative solutions for the many complex issues in our community.”

    — Dave Woodyard, Catholic Charities Dallas

  • “The process itself has been as beneficial as the actual funds provided.”

    — Dennis Edwards, Rising Star

  • “As a community, it is vital for us to come together to ensure older adults in North Texas have the tools necessary to thrive.”

    — Katherine Krause, VNA of Texas, and Cortney Nicolato, The Senior Source