Building a Stronger Houston: A Committee’s Commitment to Impactful Grantmaking  

Philanthropy is a powerful force for good, and Greater Houston Community Foundation’s High-Impact Grantmaking initiative aims to make a meaningful impact on Houston’s most persistent challenges by harnessing the power of collaborative grantmaking and strategic partnerships. 2024 is the first year for the Foundation to partake in this community investment initiative, and by year-end, it plans to make one to three collective community investments in the most promising solutions that have the highest potential to advance economic mobility and address intergenerational poverty for  families and children in Houston.  

So, how is the Foundation narrowing down its investment decisions? With the help of our Community Grantmaking Committee (Committee)–a group of 14 community leaders! Read on to learn more about who these Committee members are, the work they’ve engaged in, and how they have rolled up their sleeves to make final investment recommendations for the Foundation’s Governing Board.  

Understanding the High-Impact Grantmaking Initiative

Throughout 2023, the Foundation embarked on a one-year learning journey to identify the area of focus for the High-Impact Grantmaking initiative. In collaboration with strategic data partner Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, it used data and insights from Understanding Houston to identify areas where Harris County has experienced worsening quality-of-life outcomes in the last decade and/or compared to Texas and the U.S. In addition, the Foundation engaged over 175 stakeholders (including people with lived experience in related issues) via interviews and focus groups to hear directly how these issues impact Houstonians and where the Foundation could add the most value.   

As the Foundation engaged stakeholders throughout the learning journey, it continued to hear about issues related to economic opportunity, insecurity, and mobility in the region that supported trends in the data. Mounting consensus among key stakeholders revealed that addressing economic mobility is a crucial priority to uphold Houston as a place of opportunity for all, with significant implications for Houston’s economic growth, safety, and social cohesion if left unaddressed. Consequently, the Foundation selected economic mobility, focusing on intergenerational poverty as the priority issue for its High-Impact Grantmaking. By engaging in this challenge, the Foundation aims to reinforce Houston’s spirit of inclusivity and lay the groundwork for a safer, more prosperous Houston.  

Formation of the Community Grantmaking Committee

In early 2024, the Foundation launched a call for community leaders to join the Community Grantmaking Committee to help guide the overall grantmaking investment. After fielding nearly 100 profiles of tremendous leaders from Greater Houston, the Foundation selected 14 community leaders to serve on this Committee. 

Contributions of the Committee

The Community Grantmaking Committee has worked diligently since March 2024 to help guide the overall grantmaking investment strategy and priorities to support economic mobility in Harris County. The first phase of their work was developing a process to align and inform grantmaking elements and develop methods to select Letter of Inquiry submissions. 

This group fielded and evaluated nearly 300 Letters of Inquiry from nonprofit organizations for this funding opportunity. Over the summer, the Committee narrowed its selection and invited 16 nonprofit organizations and collaboratives to move on to the application phase. Currently, this committee is working on making final recommendations to the Foundation’s Governing Board, which will make the ultimate investment decisions.   

Meet the Committee

The Community Grantmaking Committee represents a diverse range of experiences of people who live in the greater Houston area. Ranging from having lived experiences in issues related to economic insecurity and/or intergenerational poverty, a keen understanding of issues related to economic opportunity, security, and mobility, and/or a deep knowledge of various neighborhoods or communities in Harris County. The Committee is composed of Houston’s philanthropic, nonprofit, civic, and business leaders who bring unique perspectives on intergenerational poverty as one aspect of economic mobility. 

We respectfully request that all inquiries about the funding opportunity be directed to [email protected] and that direct communication with the Community Grantmaking Committee be avoided.

Linda Civarello, University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

Linda Civallero is a native Houstonian and grew up in the East End, bringing lived experience and more than 25 years of helping healthcare organizations understand and engage with underserved communities in Houston. She is committed to improving health and has seen how community voice is essential to improving outcomes. Having built long-term relationships with community stakeholders, Linda brings experience designing and leading evidence-based community solutions to address health disparities, including a school-based grant program for mental health and early intervention at The Menninger Clinic. Now, at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, she works closely with community leaders in Third Ward and East End, where she facilitates community-led collaborative projects to address health disparities. Raised in a low-income Latino family, Linda is a proud first-generation college graduate dedicated to giving back to her community.  

Steven Dow, Retired Nonprofit Executive 

Steven Dow is a native Houstonian with 32 years of professional experience in community-based economic mobility and anti-poverty efforts. As past Executive Director of CAP Tulsa, most of Steven’s career has been in Oklahoma, working to influence, design, and implement various community and government approaches to address poverty, focusing on bringing together research/evidence, policy, and practice.  Notably, CAP Tulsa has been at the forefront of developing a 2-generation approach to economic mobility, rigorously evaluating the model. It is nationally recognized for combining high-quality early education with workforce training for parents to produce positive outcomes.  Since Steven’s return to Houston in 2019, he has had the opportunity to work in the fields of housing, community development, early childhood education, and child care through multiple roles at LISC Houston, City of Houston, and Houston Galveston Area Council. 

Oriana Durbin, Organized Decisions, LLC 

Currently an entrepreneur providing strategic consulting to local small businesses and nonprofits, Oriana Durbin brings deep professional experience from her work to develop under-resourced communities. During her 20 years at BakerRipley, she grew in her leadership, ultimately serving in key strategic roles as Chief of Staff and VP of Organizational Development, acting as senior advisor to the President & CEO. During her tenure, Oriana led BakerRipley’s Community-Based Initiatives Division, which included a $10 million budget and a staff of 140. She oversaw all operations and logistics of the NRG shelter after Hurricane Harvey and other community engagement efforts. Oriana brings personal lived experience with economic insecurity as a Latina immigrant who came to Houston as a child and solid knowledge of different models/interventions to advance economic mobility. 

Kate Dearing Fowler, The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation & Board Member at Greater Houston Community Foundation 

Kate is the Executive Director of The Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation, which focuses on Houston and Harris County-based efforts in career and college readiness, opportunity and empowerment, and more. Kate is the Founder of Houston Improvement Project, an organization that revives and restores Houston’s nonprofit-owned community spaces and has previously worked with Covenant House Texas, Collaborative for Children, Angela House, and Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Dress for Success Houston, Greater Houston Community Foundation, BridgeYear, and The Hobby Center. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Houston Ballet. She also volunteers on the Alpaca/Llama Committee and Scholarship Judging Committee with The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is an Assistant Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 122253, and is a sustainer member of The Junior League of Houston.   

Adrienne Holloway, AMNY Consulting

Born and raised in New York City public housing, Dr. Adrienne Holloway brings lived experience overcoming the challenges of growing up in a dysfunctional and economically disadvantaged family by pursuing higher education. Professionally, Adrienne has spanned various roles, from community organizing and low-income housing development to teaching future community development practitioners and leading public agency program delivery. Adrienne’s work in community development, primarily through senior leadership roles in local government stewarding an average of $15M annually, makes her well-versed in shaping funding strategies and recommending strategic investments in affordable housing, workforce development, education & training, and financial inclusion. She understands deeply the complexities of creating sustainable solutions that go beyond immediate interventions and sees the potential for collaborative, public-private partnerships to invest in holistic solutions that advance economic mobility.  

Brittany Hyman, Office of Jason T. Hyman

Brittany Hyman is a native Houstonian and Third Ward resident bringing lived experience and an intersectional background in urban planning/community development across government, nonprofit, and business sectors. She’s honed communications, community engagement, and research-based policy design skills over her career. Notably, Brittany supported complex program administration in City government, rising to advise senior leadership on communication challenges over her 13-year tenure. She prides herself in building public-private relationships. She is now in leadership at Real Inc’s Office of Jason T. Hyman, Houston’s only Black-owned real estate brokerage and urban planning firm. Brittany also serves on the Third Ward Real Estate Council, a nonprofit striving to create equitable opportunities in real estate through education, access to capital, and responsible development.  

Mark Martin, Genesys Works

A resident of the Houston area for 25 years, Mark has a solid understanding of economic mobility issues, with a personal passion for supporting children and youth. His professional experience speaks to this focus, working with organizations like Houston Area Urban League, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and currently with Genesys Works Houston as Senior Director of Development. Growing up in a single-parent household in Mississippi, Mark brings lived experience to the Committee, personally experiencing economic and food insecurity. In addition to his foundational knowledge of effective models/approaches to advance economic mobility, Mark brings his experience from the nonprofit sector, leading development and community engagement efforts to support impact. 

Paul Nguyen, bp

Paul Nguyen is a seasoned renewable energy professional at bp with over a decade of experience, including business development, deal negotiation, financial analysis, and corporate strategy. Paul hopes to bring his business and analytical skills to the Committee to support an issue he has lived first-hand. Raised in an economically insecure Vietnamese immigrant family, Paul understands the hurdles posed by a lack of resource connection, language barriers, and bureaucracy. He is passionate about helping others follow his higher education and economic security path. Paul believes in the potential for policy and federal funding to complement philanthropic, nonprofit, and business efforts to enhance impact. 

Randi Sonenshein, Retired Business Executive 

Randi retired from a career in retail management after 20 years of experience that included executive leadership functions. Since retirement, Randi has dedicated herself to service, particularly around Jewish and social justice causes, by serving on multiple boards and nonprofit committees with major institutions and Foundation partners. Randi brings experience with grantmaking through her service on the Local Impact Fund from the Jewish Federation, demonstrating an understanding of the complex and intersectional issues related to economic mobility. Randi has participated in the American Leadership Forum and serves on multiple boards and nonprofit committees, including Holocaust Museum Houston, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Jewish Community Center, Center for Houston’s Future, Collaborative for Children, and Houston 2036 Taskforce on Equity. Randi, a Houston resident for 17 years, brings personal experience with economic insecurity as the daughter of refugees and immigrants.  

Robert Thomas, Olivet Missionary Baptist Church & Board Chair at Olevia CDC

Robert brings deep knowledge of community voice and needs through his service as Pastor of the Olivet Missionary Baptist Church for nearly two decades and Board Chair of the Olevia Community Development Corporation, all in the Fifth Ward. In addition, Robert is in his 38th year as an educator, serving as Program Director of Career & Business Partners in the Career & Technical Education Department of Aldine ISD, Aviation Tech instructor at Eisenhower HS, and as an adjunct faculty instructor at Lone Star College’s Victor Center – an entity that advises “non-traditional” first -time college students in their higher education journey. Robert has personally experienced issues related to economic mobility – as a child, Robert experienced poverty, high school mobility, and involvement with the foster system. As an adult, Robert experienced housing insecurity and was the first in his family to graduate college. 

Don Titcombe, Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity

Don brings over 20 years of experience working on social issues that impact people living in poverty, including in early childhood development/ education through philanthropy, government, and applied research. A Houston resident for nearly 15 years, Don has a deep understanding of regional social issues and the organizations and entities addressing these issues through his various roles designing and implementing major early childhood initiatives, managing early childhood investments at Rockwell Fund, and leveraging over $47 million in ARPA-supported investments in his current role. Don served as the inaugural Manager of the Texas Early Learning Council, where he led transformative efforts to enhance the state’s early childhood infrastructure over a rigorous three-year period. Additionally, Don has personally experienced intergenerational poverty growing up in Philadelphia, along with other challenging life circumstances. Don is interested in developing public-private partnerships and is a champion and supporter of the Foundation’s role in Houston’s community.  

Daniel Villanueva, Higher Education Consultant 

Dr. Daniel Villanueva brings lived experience navigating childhood poverty and 17 years in higher education, supporting students’ access and success in post-secondary education at Blinn College, Texas Tech University, Lone Star College, and the University of Houston-Downtown. With a focus on serving low-income students from disadvantaged backgrounds, Daniel has a strong record of growing student enrollment and supporting retention through graduation through strategic planning, leveraging data and technology, and using student-centered approaches. Additionally, he has been instrumental in developing student affairs facilities, enhancing student engagement, and creating an inclusive campus environment that fosters student development and success. As a scholar-practitioner, Daniel is a proud author of articles and research relating to enrollment management, is the editor of a publication uplifting Latino scholars in education, and teaches students through various courses.  

Patty Williams-Downs, BreakingBounds

Patty Williams-Downs brings lived experience and more than 20 years of social sector experience focused on improving educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged students at Teach for America, YES Prep, KIPP Texas, and most recently — One Goal Houston. As turnaround Executive Director for nearly eight years, she led the rapid scaling of OneGoal Houston to support thousands of young people access post-secondary opportunities. As a result, the organization was nationally recognized as one of the fastest growing and most effective education nonprofits in the nation. Patty brings strong facilitation and people-bridging skills, having led collaborations that engaged individuals, funders, and institutions with multiple interests to support impact and systems-level change. Now an entrepreneur, Patty is the Founder and CEO of BreakingBounds, an executive coaching and consulting firm that supports executives in breaking boundaries in their sector. 

Diana Zarzuelo, Greater Houston Community Foundation

Diana, a native Houstonian from an immigrant family, is committed to making her hometown more vibrant and equitable. Diana joined Greater Houston Community Foundation in 2019 to lead its community impact initiatives, including its disaster relief efforts (Greater Houston Disaster Alliance), high-impact grantmaking, and a data indicators project (Understanding Houston). She was selected as an American Leadership Forum Fellow (Class of 59) and a 40 Under 40 Award by the Houston Business Journal, acknowledging her dedication to strengthening Greater Houston.  

Previously, Diana was the Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation at Baker Ripley, leading data and design initiatives. She also served on the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Obama Administration. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School, a concentration in social and urban policy, and an undergraduate degree in psychology and cultural anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. She enjoys being an active Board member of organizations she respects and admires, including FuelEd.   

Thank you!

We are deeply grateful for the incredibly valuable contributions made by the members of this Committee in shaping and guiding the Foundation’s investments with their comprehensive knowledge, curiosity, and commitment to steward the Foundation’s inaugural investment well. This effort has been a collaborative endeavor enriched by the insights of these dedicated individuals who have generously lent their time and expertise. We thank them for their unwavering support, which will make a tangible difference in Houston’s social and economic landscape. 

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation

• Building Futures: Harris County’s Historic Investment in Early Childhood
• Tips for Disaster Giving
• Appreciation for Houston: A Synthesis of Appreciate Inquiry Interviews
• High-Impact Grantmaking Journey: Investing in Economic Mobility

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