In 2011, the Texas Legislature approved historic cuts to funding for public education. Foundations across Texas saw successful public/private partnerships threatened or eliminated by budget cuts. Demand for scarce foundation dollars also increased as community groups saw their revenues eliminated from school district budgets.
In response, Philanthropy Advocates commissioned our first research study in 2012, focused on understanding the effects of the 2011 Texas Legislature’s public education budget cuts. Philanthropy Advocates remains aware of the tension between philanthropic dollars supplementing, not supplanting, state dollars and has conducted research to articulate the effects of reduced state investment in public and higher education.