Dallas, TX — DreamSpring is honored to announce it has been awarded a $150,000 Community Impact Grant from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. This significant three-year investment — the largest foundation grant DreamSpring has received in Texas since the pandemic — will support the organization’s impact loans and financial education program for low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs in Dallas.
Awarded following a highly competitive process with over 300 applicants, the grant affirms DreamSpring’s track record of driving economic opportunity through entrepreneurship. The $50,000 annual funding through 2028 will fuel both lending and capacity-building programs that empower under-resourced small business owners across the Dallas area.
“We are grateful to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas for recognizing the power of small business to transform communities,” says Alice Rodriguez, Chair of the DreamSpring Board of Directors. “I am fortunate to know firsthand the resilience and innovation of local entrepreneurs in Dallas. This grant will help ensure they have the tools and resources to succeed.”
“United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is proud to collaborate with organizations like DreamSpring to drive lasting change across North Texas through education, income, and health,” says Susan Hoff, Chief Strategy & Impact Officer for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “DreamSpring is part of the group of organizations which met the highest standards in our rigorous review process. We applaud their commitment to developing and implementing effective solutions to community challenges.”
DreamSpring’s impact loans and financial education programs provide tailored financing and business support to small business owners, with a focus on entrepreneurs who are historically underserved by traditional financial systems. The organization’s work in Dallas is part of a broader mission to advance economic opportunity through entrepreneurship across the U.S.
“Dallas is a thriving hub of entrepreneurial talent, and DreamSpring is an important part of helping that talent flourish,” says Irvin Ashford, Jr., Secretary of the DreamSpring Board of Directors. “This grant ensures that more Dallas small business owners have access to capital, education, and opportunity.”
If you’re interested in supporting DreamSpring’s mission to expand economic opportunity and uplift small business owners, visit DreamSpring.org to learn more or get involved.
About United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is a social change organization that unites the community to create opportunity and access for all North Texans to thrive. We bring together passionate change-makers alongside corporate, civic and nonprofit partners to drive lasting change in education, income and health — the building blocks of opportunity. We encourage every North Texan to join this movement and Live United at unitedwaydallas.org.
About DreamSpring
DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development organization and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender dedicated to propelling individual and family economic mobility and community wealth-building by helping people start and grow small businesses. Founded in 1994, the organization provides rapid access to capital and customized wrap-around support to entrepreneurs and nonprofits in 27 states. To date, DreamSpring has issued more than 47,925 loans totaling over $582 million to small businesses that support an estimated 67,800 jobs. Learn more at www.DreamSpring.org.
