$500,000 Invested in Houston’s Future

“Our commitment goes beyond funding—we’re investing in the leaders and organizations who are redefining what is possible for Houston.”

Steve Maislin, President & CEO of Greater Houston Community Foundation

Greater Houston Community Foundation announced a $500,000 investment to expand education and career pathways for Houston’s young adults through the second year of its High-Impact Grantmaking initiative. The Community Foundation awarded $400,000 to San Jacinto College and $100,000 to BridgeYear, in partnership with Good Reason Houston.

One in four children and youth grow up in poverty in Harris County, with national data indicating one out of three will remain in poverty as adults. The High-Impact Grantmaking initiative identifies and scales promising solutions that address root causes of poverty and advance economic mobility in Houston. This targeted funding will accelerate innovative, evidence-based solutions that equip young people with the education, skills, and employment pathways they need to move into adulthood with stability and agency.

“Last year, we made our first $500,000 investment in three organizations that have already helped thousands of Houston families access nearly $48 million in public benefits and business loans—creating immediate, tangible impact across our community,” said Steve Maislin, President and CEO of Greater Houston Community Foundation. “With this second round of investments, we hope to build on that success by making targeted investments in organizations serving Houston’s young adults and fostering upward mobility and brighter futures for communities across Harris County.”

Houston is rich in talent and ambition. Yet too many young people encounter barriers during the pivotal transition after high school. Greater Houston has the highest youth disconnection rate among major U.S. metro areas, with a large and growing population of young adults ages 16–24 who are neither enrolled in school nor employed. The most recent data available also shows Houston improved at a significantly slower pace than peer metros in reconnecting young adults after the Great Recession. And, according to Good Reason Houston’s recent analysis, only about 1 in in 5 of Houston’s high school graduates earn a living wage within six years. Despite strong job growth, too many young Houstonians lack seamless pathways into the region’s economy, and Houston increasingly relies on talent from outside the state.

 “Houston does not lack potential—it faces a systems alignment challenge,” said Diana Zarzuelo, Chief Impact Officer at the Community Foundation. “Traditional approaches to addressing poverty often focus on one need at a time—such as education, financial assistance, housing, or food. Too often, a young person’s path to opportunity is shaped by where they grow up, who they know, and whether strong education and career pathways are within reach. Research shows that structured, supportive transitions from high school into postsecondary education and careers significantly improve outcomes for young adults. Expanding earn-and-learn opportunities, apprenticeships, and affordable access to postsecondary education with the right supports will be critical to ensuring more young Houstonians can climb the economic ladder.”

Both organizations deliver outcome-driven programs that prepare recent high school graduates with the education, skills, and career pathways needed for stable adulthood. By pairing innovative approaches with wraparound support, they strengthen the transition from adolescence to adulthood and help address both individual and systemic barriers to economic mobility.

San Jacinto College: The Promise Scholarship

Supporting one of the nation’s leading community colleges, San Jacinto College lightens students’ financial burdens, providing scholarships and grants that change lives. With this $400,000 investment, San Jacinto College will strengthen the sustainability of the Promise Scholarship, a program designed to remove financial barriers and support student success. 

The Promise Scholarship provides all high school graduates who live within San Jacinto College’s taxing district the opportunity to pursue higher education with tuition, books, and supplies covered for up to three years. In addition to financial support, students gain access to advising, tutoring, basic needs resources, and emergency assistance—critical services that support college persistence and completion, positioning them for long-term success.

“This is a visionary investment from the Greater Houston Community Foundation which will open doors for countless students who thought college was out of reach,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College Chancellor. “Through the Promise at San Jac Scholarship, we are not only changing individual lives, but we are transforming the lives of families, our communities and our region. We are deeply grateful for this generational gift from the Greater Houston Community Foundation and its shared commitment to student success.”

BridgeYear: Career Cohort Program

In partnership with Good Reason Houston

With 10 years of robust experience engaging young people in postsecondary and career exploration, BridgeYear is expanding access to higher-earning career pathways for young adults from low-income communities. BridgeYear connects recent high school graduates to in-demand careers that do not require a four-year college degree, working closely with Houston employers to align training with workforce needs.

With this $100,000 investment, BridgeYear will expand its Career Cohort program, supporting young adults as they complete short-term certifications and transition into employment, with built-in wraparound services and peer support. “This investment from Greater Houston Community Foundation is a powerful validation of our belief that Houston’s young talent shouldn’t be limited by who they know or where they grow up,” said Victoria Chen, Executive Director and Co-Founder at BridgeYear. “BridgeYear’s Career Cohort model provides access to higher-earning pathways through short-term, industry-aligned certifications. By pairing this model with Good Reason Houston’s data-driven insights, we are ensuring that earning a living wage is no longer a matter of luck, but a result of a structured, supportive system.”

As a collaborative partner, Good Reason Houston, a cradle-to-career backbone organization focused on improving outcomes across Houston’s public schools, will track longitudinal program outcomes to strengthen the region’s workforce data infrastructure and help attract additional philanthropic investment to Houston. “Houston’s future is sitting in our classrooms today. What too many of our young people are still missing is a clear, supported path to a living wage,” shared Courtney Isaak Pichon, CEO at Good Reason Houston. “Good Reason Houston exists to change that. We’re proud to partner with BridgeYear and thankful to this investment from Greater Houston Community Foundation, to strengthen students’ pathways to meaningful careers. I’m proud to step into this work at a moment when Houston is ready to demand more for its kids.”

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re able to support organizations that are delivering measurable results while strengthening the systems that influence economic mobility for Houston’s young people,” said Steve Maislin. “By investing in evidence-based approaches and encouraging collaboration, we can help reduce barriers to economic opportunity and support children and families as they work toward greater stability.”

Greater Houston Community Foundation remains focused on advancing economic mobility through partnership, learning, and intentional investment, working alongside donors and community partners to strengthen opportunities for children, families, and communities across Harris County.

For more information about the Community Foundation’s approach to advancing community impact, including an inaugural Houston Economic Mobility Summit hosted with multiple co-convenors last fall, visit www.ghcf.org/community-impact. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant Houston.

The selection process for the High-Impact Grantmaking initiative incorporated a robust multi-level review process designed to ensure maximum fairness, transparency, and comprehensiveness in evaluating all submissions. The outcome of this process reflects the recommendations made by an independent Community Grants Advisory Committee. The recommendations put forth by the Committee were closely reviewed and approved by the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Committee and its Governing Board.

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation

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• 2026 Community Impact Showcase
• Houston Opportunity Scholarship
• Inaugural Houston Economic Mobility Summit
• Five Years. Infinite Impact: Community Impact Celebration
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