About our Community Foundation

We are a community foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that enables people like you to establish charitable funds. Your fund will be commingled with our other funds and managed professionally. Its assets will grow over time.

To give money is an easy matter in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter. Hence, it is that such excellence is rare, praiseworthy, and noble.

Aristotle

(384 – 322 BC)

What is a Community Foundation?

A community foundation is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in their community. The Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that allows many individuals, through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds under the umbrella of one large foundation. Money generated by these funds is distributed to the local community in the form of grants to other nonprofit organizations and agencies to address needs and opportunities.

Our Mission

To serve as a catalyst in nurturing and inspiring philanthropic giving in order to build “community capital” through permanent endowment funds, to provide a flexible vehicle for donors with varied philanthropic interests whereas they can take initiative in addressing needs and shaping effective responses in order to enrich the quality of life in the Central Texas Area.

Our Vision

To be the best and most trusted philanthropic resource for the Central Texas area, by being a beacon of hope in our communities, a successful fund generator for our funders, and a connector of those funds to the great non-profits and 501c3s who are doing the great work to champion the betterment of the community in the Central Texas area and beyond.

Our Story

How we got started

The Central Texas Community Foundation was founded in 2004 to provide simple, flexible, and effective ways for permanent endowment funds to be established and managed. The foundation works with donors to help achieve their personal, financial, and philanthropic goals and to establish endowments for a variety of purposes. The Foundation is one of the over 600 community foundations nationwide. It is a member of the Council on Foundations and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Community Foundations are the fastest growing vehicle for giving in the United States.

What is Philanthropy?

About our Executive Director, Amy Merida

Amy is a leader in her field with over nineteen years of nonprofit executive management experience and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Central Texas Community Foundation. Before coming to the Foundation Amy served as the CFO for the Texas Center for the Judiciary for seven years and then spent two and a half years at The Arc of Texas in the same capacity. Her other professional experience includes employment as a Senior Financial Analyst for the Texas Department of Protective Services. She has an extensive background in financial management and analysis, internal and financial controls, executive leadership, nonprofit development, state and federal grants management as well as strategic planning and board development and retention. Amy has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

A Legacy of giving

You’ve worked hard to achieve your goals and to support the causes and institutions in which you believe. Charitable giving is an important part of your life. As someone who knows the value of giving, you want to be assured that your gifts will meet vital needs and improve our community.

You want to know your gifts will achieve positive results and, of course, maximize your tax deductions. You may want to involve your family in your giving. And whether you want to give anonymously or not, Central Texas Community Foundation is here to support your philanthropic legacy. There is a simple way for you to make a difference and leave a lasting legacy in our community. You can make a difference for good, a difference forever – and that’s by establishing a Fund with us.

We’ve granted over 22 million dollars into the community

Be a part of the legacy we’re leaving for the Central Texas area, establish your fund today.