Application Process
How to Apply
Exploring a merger or other form of formal collaboration is a significant strategic decision. The Better Together Fund is designed to support organizations at any stage. Our application process begins with a conversation to discuss goals, questions, and opportunities.
Whether you are just beginning to consider collaboration or have already identified a potential partner, we encourage nonprofit leaders to connect with us early to facilitate the application process.
Please review the information here to familiarize yourself with the process and confirm you meet the eligibility requirements.
If you think your organization or opportunity may be a fit for BTF, contact Allison Fasy to begin the application process with a preliminary consultation.
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Prospective grantees reach out to Allison Fasy to request a preliminary consultation.
If eligible, applicants may be invited to a virtual or in-person meeting to discuss readiness, next steps, and additional requirements.
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Following the preliminary consultation, eligible applicants will be invited to submit a letter of intent (LOI) to formally begin the application.
The LOI outlines the who, what, when, where, why, how much, and overall merger opportunity.
LOIs can be submitted through the grant portal managed by The Dallas Foundation. Applicants can create an account an submit an LOI at the link below.
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The LOI is reviewed to determine whether the opportunity aligns with the Fund’s priorities and to confirm the organization is ready to submit a full application.
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After submitting an LOI, qualified applicants are invited to submit a formal application.
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The Steering Committee meets quarterly to review applications and determine grant funding. Grant decisions are communicated to applicants following quarterly Committee meetings.
What We Fund
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Two or more organizations formally combine into a single entity to strengthen capacity, increase efficiency, expand reach, and better serve their communities.
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Programs, properties, contracts, intellectual property, or other organizational assets are strategically transferred from one nonprofit to another to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
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One organization assumes oversight of another while maintaining separate legal entities, allowing partners to achieve greater operational efficiency, expand services, or preserve valued community brands.
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Two or more organizations create a new entity, initiative, or program to pursue a shared objective while contributing resources and sharing risks and rewards.
What We Don’t Fund
The Better Together Fund does not support short-term or informal collaborations. While coalitions, collective impact initiatives, networking groups, shared programs, co-location arrangements, and other cooperative partnerships can create meaningful value, BTF's funding is reserved for formal collaborations that result in lasting organizational integration or structural change.
Types of Support
Grant Size
Feasibility Grant
Answer open questions about the feasibility of a proposed formal collaboration
Purpose
Up to $15,000
Up to 20% can cover general operations/staff time for partnering organizations. A minimum of 80% must be used to pay external facilitators/consultants.
One-time costs associated with technical assistance providers, travel, or meeting expenses
Examples of qualifying expenses. Not an exhaustive list.
Planning Grant
Up to $50,000
Up to 20% can cover general operations/staff time for partnering organizations. A minimum of 80% must be used to pay external facilitators/consultants.
Assess, negotiate, and design a formal implementation plan, timeline, and business model for a proposed formal collaboration
One-time costs associated with planning activities for the collaboration, including legal, accounting, strategy, branding, communications, program metrics, fundraising, HR, curriculum or program designers, and technology
Examples of qualifying expenses. Not an exhaustive list.
Implementation Grant
Execute a formal collaboration between two or more organizations
Up to $65,000
Up to 10% can cover general operations/staff time for partnering organizations. A minimum of 90% must be used to pay for one-time expenses associated with implementing the collaboration.
One-time costs associated with executing a formal collaboration, including change management, legal, technology, marketing, severance, and compensation adjustments
Examples of qualifying expenses. Not an exhaustive list.
Qualifying Expenses
Additional Application Requirements
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To be eligible for a grant, at least one of the partnering organizations must be a nonprofit based in or serving North Texas, with preference given to Dallas County organizations.
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Applicants must provide required financial documentation, including an annual audit, IRS Form 990/990-EZ, active board governance, and proof of nonprofit status. New organizations may submit equivalent financial records.
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Applications will be evaluated based on:
Alignment with Better Together Fund’s definition of an integrated organization.
Shared purpose and commitment among partners.
Support from executive and board leadership.
The catalytic impact of Better Together Fund support.
Strong planning, including clear goals, costs, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
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Applications are accepted on a rolling basis following an initial consultation and LOI review, with formal applications reviewed quarterly. Applicants can generally expect a funding decision within approximately six weeks of a quarterly deadline.
2026 Application Deadlines:
February 27, 2026
May 22, 2026
August 20, 2026
November 6, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sponsorship and oversight of Better Together Fund is provided by its Steering Committee, the members of which are appointed by the Better Together Fund donors: The Dallas Foundation, LH Capital, Inc., Meadows Foundation, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Hoblitzelle Foundation, NexPoint Philanthropies, and Communities Foundation of Texas. Grants are approved by the Steering Committee.
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We offer three grant types designed to meet organizations where they are in their collaboration stage, with a maximum award amount at each stage, ranging form $15,000 to $65,000. Each funding request is considered independently.
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We do not have an anticipated number of grants to award. We will review any grant request at any time for any cause. Our grants are on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis.
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Yes! Better Together Fund encourages cross-sector collaboration. Better Together Fund believes that the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors have unique strengths and limitations, and impactful change can be achieved when the sectors work together.
Collaborations applying for a Better Together Fund Grant must include at least one non-profit partner. However, we encourage all nonprofit organizations to be creative and look to other sectors when considering partnerships and collaborative efforts.
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Funding requests to Steering Committee members unrelated to the Better Together Fund will not be prejudiced. Applying for Better Together Funding does not preclude applying to other funding sources made available by participating funders.
The participating foundations believe that nonprofit boards, leaders and funders should routinize the consideration and practice of formal collaboration as an important strategic option. Organizations that make the decision to undertake the hard work of exploring such activities should be acknowledged, encouraged and supported by funders with additive funding.
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All Steering Committee members recognize that confidentiality can play an important role in this process, especially during the early conversations. The Implementation Manager and Steering Committee will work with interested applicants to understand the confidentiality needs for each situation and address them accordingly.
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Funding priority is given to collaborative initiatives that serve constituents in Dallas County. However, initiatives that serve other North Texas communities are welcome to apply.
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Better Together Fund grants are designed to meet organizations where they are. The grant period for each grant will be defined based on the applicant's project needs, timeline, and budget.
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Yes! Better Together Fund asks that new initiatives or organizations provide equivalent financial documentation, such as a board-approved budget.
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If the same set of partner organizations have multiple collaborative ideas, Better Together Fund asks that only the strongest idea be submitted for review. A single organization can submit multiple applications for multiple unique ideas so long as each collaboration has a different set of partner organization(s).