The State Fair of Texas is once again looking to fund organizations serving the South Dallas and Fair Park area, it said Wednesday. It also announced more than $654,000 in funding went out for 2025.
The funding is part of the fair’s community giving program and provided through community grants and sponsorships. It was spread across 145 organizations.
Grant applications are open for 2026 with a March 15 deadline. Mitchell Glieber, the State Fair of Texas president, called the fair’s festivities the organization’s “largest annual community program and fundraiser.”
“The success of our 24-day event allows us to support other nonprofit organizations in the region to contribute to the common goal of giving back to our fellow Texans through funding, programming, and other resources,” Glieber said in a statement.
Breaking News
Related
The State Fair has a committee that reviews applications, selecting them based on the organization’s focus on education, capacity-building, economic development and food security. Impact in South Dallas is assessed, along with other factors, with the expectation that funding is allocated toward building stronger communities around the area.
Organizations receiving funding last year included the African American Museum of Dallas, Big Thought, Forest Forward and HHM Health.
The community program is just one of several initiatives from the State Fair, which is looking to expand its offerings to promote local involvement. The fair’s 2025 financials aren’t finalized, according to a news release.
However, 2024 saw more than $19.5 million contributed through giving. The millions in funding included philanthropy, funding for upkeep of Fair Park and rent to the city with funds going toward Fair Park improvements.
Over the years, the fair has worked to heal its relationship with Fair Park’s surrounding neighborhoods by reinvesting in the area. South Dallas is still dealing with the impacts of harmful policies and historic disinvestment. The fair has a history of segregation, and municipal decisions led to the razing of homes of Black residents to expand parking for the State Fair.
“The State Fair of Texas is honored to give back to its neighbors,” the release said. “We value the many partnerships and collaborations that help grow our ability to serve. The State Fair commits to continuing to listen and learn from our community because it is through collective efforts that we make the greatest impact.”
This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.