ISF-Texas Initiative
Building on 15 years of investing in the success of foster youth all across America, Dallas-based ISF has launched a new era of regional chapter initiatives, beginning with ISF-TEXAS. ISF’s proven strategy of blending financial support with mentoring and leadership development has empowered 174 youth impacted by foster care to pursue their dream of a college or vocational school degree. While less than 3% of foster youth in America achieve a college degree, over 85% of ISF students successfully complete their college or trade school programs.
The ISF TEXAS initiative will enable ISF to reach more foster youth in Texas, who will be able to access ISF’s Student Success Fund, be matched with local-based mentors, and attend local leadership retreats and experiences. Over 1000 youth emancipate from the foster care system in Texas every year. They are more likely to be unemployed or incarcerated than enroll in college or trade school. In the past decade ISF has invested in 57 Texas foster youth, who have attended 22 different Texas educational institutions.
With the launch of the ISF-TEXAS initiative, ISF intends to grow its current Texas cohort of 17 students to an annual cohort of 50 students by 2026. Currently, ISF TEXAS invests over $60,000 in its student success fund and leadership programs. To support an annual cohort of 50 students, ISF Texas will need to raise $200,000 annually for student support and programs.
The Annual ISF Gala continues to enjoy the robust support of Dallas-area businesses and donors. The shift to a more local focus in Texas will enable ISF-TEXAS to expand its family of generous donors, engaged mentors, supportive businesses, and foundations. ISF-TEXAS operates under its parent ISF charter and 501(c)(3) status and enjoys a Charity Navigator “Give With Confidence” score.
ISF-TEXAS has established partnerships with area universities such as UNT, TWU, University of Texas branches, Collin College, and Dallas College. ISF-TEXAS also actively partners with foster support programs such as CASA, Embrace Texas, CitySquare TRAC, Judge Delia Gonzales, along with area churches. These partnerships have positioned ISF as an effective “baton pass” to provide ongoing support for foster youth as they transition out of the foster care system. Enabling foster youth to complete their next steps in education and training successfully makes ISF a critical link in the chain of support for youth impacted by foster care.
The ISF Board of Directors intends for the ISF-TEXAS chapter to become the model for expanding ISF’s impact to foster youth via the development of other regional-based chapters in the coming years.