by Meliza Aguilera, Fort Worth Report
October 25, 2026

In 2025, North Texas Community Foundation (NTCF) donors directed $67.4 million to organizations across the region, the highest annual total in the Foundation’s 45-year history, and more than $20 million above the previous record. Since 1981, that total has grown to more than $550 million granted across 11 North Texas counties.

Those numbers reflect something straightforward: when generosity is structured well and stewarded over time, it compounds.

Beverly Hudgins Ray understood that. Born in Fort Worth, Bev Ray was a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and passionate supporter of the causes and communities she cared about most. As she considered the future of her estate, she made a deeply intentional decision: to ensure her generosity would continue creating impact long after her lifetime.

In 2025, NTCF received Bev’s estate gift of more than $100 million — the largest gift in the Foundation’s history. Through five permanent endowed funds, her legacy now supports causes ranging from the arts and historic preservation to animal welfare, land conservation, education, and helping vulnerable populations throughout North Texas.

“Bev’s gift is a true testament to the power of philanthropy and the enduring impact one person can have on an entire community,” said Rose Bradshaw, President & CEO of North Texas Community Foundation.

Her story reflects the role NTCF has played for 45 years — helping individuals, families, and businesses transform generosity into lasting community impact through donor-advised funds, legacy gifts, endowments, and long-term philanthropic planning.

As NTCF enters its 46th year, both the Foundation and the community behind it are stronger than ever; built on decades of generosity, guided by vision, and positioned for what comes next.

To learn more, visit northtexascf.org.

This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.