FHLB Dallas and Member Institutions Award More Than $1.8 Million to Community Organizations Through 30th Anniversary Partnership Grant Program
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and its participating member financial institutions are marking the 30th anniversary of the Partnership Grant Program (PGP) by awarding more than $1.8 million to 71 community-based organizations across the bank’s five-state District.
The latest round of grants demonstrates the continued role of partnerships between financial institutions and nonprofit organizations in supporting community development and strengthening local services. This year, 44 FHLB Dallas member institutions participated in the program, supporting organizations throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
The awards are being recognized through a series of events taking place across the District during August and September. These gatherings provide an opportunity for FHLB Dallas, its member institutions and community organizations to highlight the work being supported through the program and recognize the organizations receiving funding.
Over three decades, the Partnership Grant Program has become an important mechanism for FHLB Dallas members to support nonprofit organizations working directly within their communities. By combining contributions from member financial institutions with matching funds from FHLB Dallas, the program allows participating organizations to receive additional resources for activities that can improve their ability to serve local residents.
$1.8 Million in Grants Supporting 71 Organizations
For the 2026 program year, FHLB Dallas members contributed a combined $342,333 to participating community organizations. FHLB Dallas then matched those contributions at a 5-to-1 ratio, providing approximately $1.5 million in additional funding.
Together, the member contributions and FHLB Dallas matching funds generated more than $1.8 million in total support for 71 community-based organizations.
The funding structure is designed to encourage collaboration between FHLB Dallas member institutions and nonprofit organizations. Under the Partnership Grant Program, participating members contribute between $500 and $5,000 to an eligible nonprofit organization. FHLB Dallas then provides a matching contribution based on the program’s established 5:1 matching structure, with a maximum FHLB Dallas contribution of $25,000 per member.
The arrangement gives member financial institutions an opportunity to support organizations with which they have established community relationships while allowing FHLB Dallas to amplify those investments.
Importantly, the Partnership Grant Program is administered through FHLB Dallas member institutions. The grants are not directly available to members of the public. Instead, eligible community organizations work with participating member financial institutions to access support through the program.
Celebrating Three Decades of Community Investment
The 2026 awards carry particular significance because they coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Partnership Grant Program.
Since its establishment, the program has focused on strengthening the capabilities of community-based organizations. Rather than limiting support to a single type of community project, the program allows grants to be used for a variety of organizational and service-related needs.
The broad range of eligible activities means nonprofits can direct funding toward areas that are important to their individual missions and operating requirements. For organizations with limited resources, this type of flexible support can help strengthen internal capabilities while also improving their ability to deliver services.
The 30th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the program’s evolution and its continued relevance to organizations serving communities throughout the FHLB Dallas District.
Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas, said the anniversary demonstrates the value of collaboration between financial institutions and community organizations.
“As we celebrate 30 years, the PGP continues to highlight what is possible when members and community organizations work together,” Hettrick said.
He also pointed to the variety of ideas and initiatives represented by this year’s recipients, noting that organizations are developing approaches designed to address needs within their communities.
“This year’s recipients are reaching deep into their communities with fresh, effective ideas, showing how the PGP continues to equip organizations with the resources they need to strengthen communities,” Hettrick said.
Supporting Organizational Capacity
One of the ways Partnership Grant funding can benefit nonprofits is through organizational capacity building.
Community organizations often operate with limited financial and administrative resources, even as demand for their services grows. Capacity-building investments can help nonprofits improve internal systems, strengthen operations, develop staff capabilities and enhance their ability to manage programs.
For smaller community organizations in particular, investments in organizational infrastructure can have a long-term impact. Strengthening internal capabilities can make it easier for nonprofits to manage existing programs, expand services and pursue additional sources of funding.
By permitting PGP grants to support capacity-building activities, FHLB Dallas and its member institutions provide organizations with an opportunity to invest in the foundations that support their long-term operations.
Helping Organizations Pursue Additional Funding
The Partnership Grant Program can also be used to assist organizations with applications for grants and other funding sources.
Securing outside funding can be a significant challenge for nonprofit organizations. Grant applications can require substantial research, planning and administrative work, while organizations may need specialized expertise to identify suitable funding opportunities and prepare competitive proposals.
PGP funding can help organizations strengthen those efforts by providing resources that support grant-seeking activities. Successfully obtaining additional funding can potentially allow nonprofits to expand programs and reach more people within their communities.
This aspect of the program also illustrates how relatively targeted investments can have broader effects. A grant that helps an organization improve its fundraising or grant-writing capabilities may contribute to additional resources beyond the original PGP award.
Funding Research and Studies
Research and studies are another eligible use of Partnership Grant funds.
Community organizations frequently need reliable information to understand the needs of the populations they serve. Research can help nonprofits identify service gaps, evaluate existing programs, assess community needs and develop strategies for future initiatives.
For organizations working in areas where resources are limited, obtaining funding for research can be difficult. PGP support can provide an opportunity to undertake studies that may otherwise be postponed or remain outside an organization’s budget.
The ability to use grant funds for research also encourages organizations to base their future activities on a clearer understanding of local conditions and community priorities.
Supporting Contractual Services
PGP funding may also be used for contractual services, allowing community organizations to obtain outside expertise or specialized assistance.
Nonprofits may require professional services that are not available internally, including support for organizational development, technology, communications, accounting, planning or other operational needs. Contracting with qualified professionals can help organizations address specific challenges without necessarily having to establish permanent internal positions.
For community organizations operating with small teams, access to specialized contractual support can make it possible to undertake projects that would otherwise be difficult to complete.
Strengthening Social Services
Another major eligible use of Partnership Grant funding is social services.
Community-based nonprofits often provide services that directly affect residents and families, including programs designed to address economic, social and other local needs. Flexible funding can help organizations maintain or improve these services and respond to changing circumstances in the communities they serve.
Because the PGP supports organizations through participating member financial institutions, the program also reinforces relationships between local financial institutions and the nonprofit organizations working in their communities.
These relationships can extend beyond the grant itself, creating opportunities for continued collaboration and community engagement.
A Partnership-Based Approach
The structure of the Partnership Grant Program places collaboration at the center of the initiative.
Rather than providing funding directly to community organizations independently of local financial institutions, FHLB Dallas works through its member network. Member institutions identify and support nonprofit organizations, contribute funding and help facilitate the grant relationship.
FHLB Dallas then amplifies those contributions through its matching funds.
The 5-to-1 matching structure provides a significant incentive for member institutions to participate. A member contribution of between $500 and $5,000 can be matched by FHLB Dallas, subject to the program’s limits, allowing community organizations to receive substantially more support than the member contribution alone would provide.
For nonprofit organizations, this creates an opportunity to establish or strengthen relationships with financial institutions while accessing resources for important organizational and community initiatives.
Supporting Communities Across Five States
The 2026 Partnership Grant Program awards cover FHLB Dallas’ five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
The geographic scope of the program means that organizations in communities with different economic conditions, populations and service needs can benefit from the initiative. Local nonprofits often have a detailed understanding of the issues facing residents in their areas, making them important partners in community development efforts.
By supporting community organizations across multiple states, FHLB Dallas and its member institutions can contribute to initiatives tailored to local circumstances rather than relying on a single nationwide model.
The series of August and September events being held across the District also provides an opportunity to recognize the organizations and member institutions involved in the 2026 awards.
Long-Term Impact of the Partnership Grant Program
The 30th anniversary of the PGP highlights the longevity of a program built around collaboration and community investment.
For nonprofit organizations, funding can provide more than immediate financial assistance. Investments in capacity building, research, grant applications and professional services can strengthen an organization’s infrastructure and potentially improve its ability to serve communities over the long term.
At the same time, support for social services can help organizations focus resources on programs that directly benefit residents.
For participating financial institutions, the program provides a structured way to deepen relationships with community organizations and contribute to local development. FHLB Dallas’ matching funds then increase the impact of those contributions.
The 2026 awards illustrate the scale that can be achieved through this partnership model. Member institutions contributed $342,333, while FHLB Dallas added approximately $1.5 million through its matching program, producing more than $1.8 million in combined support for 71 organizations.
Continuing a Three-Decade Tradition
As the Partnership Grant Program reaches its 30th anniversary, FHLB Dallas and its member institutions are continuing a model that emphasizes collaboration, local knowledge and organizational support.
The 2026 recipients represent community-based organizations working to strengthen their operations, pursue additional funding, conduct research, obtain specialized services and provide social services. Their work reflects the wide range of needs addressed by nonprofit organizations across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
The latest awards also demonstrate how financial institutions can play a role in community investment beyond traditional banking services. Through the Partnership Grant Program, member institutions are able to combine their own contributions with FHLB Dallas matching funds to provide meaningful support to organizations operating at the community level.
With more than $1.8 million awarded to 71 organizations in 2026, the program enters its fourth decade with a continued focus on helping community organizations build capacity and strengthen the communities they serve.
The 30th anniversary serves not only as a milestone for FHLB Dallas but also as a reminder of the potential impact that can be created when financial institutions and community organizations work together. Through its continued investment in the Partnership Grant Program, FHLB Dallas is extending a three-decade tradition of collaboration while providing community-based organizations with resources that can help them pursue their missions and support residents throughout its five-state District.
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