Our Story
Philanthropy Advocates, formerly the Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium (TEGAC), was founded in 2011 as Texas faced unprecedented $5.4 billion cuts to public education funding. Recognizing the need for collective action, Texas foundations came together to ensure lawmakers had access to high-quality, nonpartisan research to inform education policy.
In 2012, TEGAC officially launched with its first research project, Doing More With Less, highlighting the impacts of budget cuts on school districts. By 2013, the group organized the largest gathering of private philanthropy ever at the Texas Capitol, signaling its growing influence. TEGAC’s efforts contributed to the partial restoration of $3.9 billion in education funding that year.
Over the next decade, the organization evolved to tackle pressing issues like early childhood education, high school-to-college pathways, and expanded learning opportunities.
Today, as Philanthropy Advocates, the organization continues to unite funders across the state, leveraging collective expertise and evidence for transformative systems change. Notably, we have worked with the Texas philanthropic sector and state policymakers to ensure community colleges receive dynamic funding, codified in House Bill 8, for their successes in supporting students, among other critical policy advancements that support student learning and improve their opportunities ahead. Together, we are shaping policies that build brighter futures for Texas students and communities.
Our Team
Meet the dedicated team driving our mission forward – our passionate leadership committee members and staff.
