A man smiling at the camera while packing boxes of fresh produce at an outdoor food distribution event under trees, with cars parked in the background.

Our mission is based on a simple, powerful truth:
We are better together.

Our founders began with a simple question: How can we strengthen the Central Texas nonprofit community? Collaboration quickly emerged as the most powerful answer. With guidance from the RGK Center at UT Austin, we explored how communities nationwide use collaboration to increase impact and build stronger connections across the social sector.

Despite Central Texas’ vibrant nonprofit landscape, many organizations operate in isolation—constrained by limited resources and a lack of support for collaborative work. Recognizing the untapped potential, we launched Austin Together in 2019 with catalytic funding from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation to help nonprofits build trust, form strategic partnerships, and pursue shared goals.

Since then, Austin Together has become a catalyst for collaboration. We’ve awarded nearly $1.5 million in grants and supported hundreds of organizations with hands-on guidance, capacity building, and strategic facilitation—helping nonprofits pursue mergers, share services, co-create programs, and deliver more holistic support to the community.

As our work has grown, so has our vision. Today, we not only support direct collaborations but also strengthen the broader ecosystem through community education, convenings, funder engagement, and efforts to encourage more aligned and equitable philanthropy across the region.

Two women sitting and talking at an indoor event, one woman is smiling, wearing glasses, a striped sweater, and holding a purple heart-shaped paper; the other woman is wearing a wide-brimmed hat, glasses, a black t-shirt, and ripped jeans, holding an orange envelope and a pink marker.
Two smiling men standing together at a community event, one wearing a white t-shirt with a logo and the other wearing a grey t-shirt with 'Housing for All' text, both with lanyards and name tags.

Our History

2018

Austin Together launched with a national study on nonprofit collaboration through the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the University of Texas . Findings were shared at a community gathering of nonprofits, boards, and funders, highlighted by the Dallas Better Together Fund. Building on this momentum, a two-year pilot grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supported the exploration, planning, and implementation of 10 collaborative initiatives.

Three people sitting on a stage in front of a projection screen with an image of a diverse group of smiling people.

2022

While operating as a fiscally sponsored project, with nearly $1M in cumulative grants supporting 15 collaborations across 60 organizations, we proudly introduced our first Executive Director, Karen LaShelle.

A group of women, some with glasses, are seated with their eyes closed and hands placed over their hearts, in a large indoor auditorium with many other people seated in the background.

2023

Three women smiling and raising their hands at an indoor event with name tags, seated chairs, and wall art in the background.

After much exploration to find a home, we became a 501(c)(3) and hosted the first Collaborative Community Summit, bringing together 275 nonprofit leaders, funders, and civic leaders to network and strengthen their capacity for collaboration.

2024

Building on the interests and needs of the funder community, we launched the Central Texas Funders Network and hosted our 2nd Annual Collaborative Community Summit.

A woman with red hair laughing and clapping at a lively event with other people celebrating around her.

2025

With nearly $1.5 million in cumulative grants reaching more than 100 organizations, we continue to expand and strengthen our approach to supporting the nonprofit ecosystem. Our new work includes supporting a coalition focused on increasing philanthropic investment across the region.

Three people standing together at an award ceremony with a backdrop that says 'LEARN all the time' and has blue logos. The woman in the middle is holding an award plaque. The woman on the left is wearing a white blazer over a patterned dress, the woman in the middle is wearing a black and white polka dot shirt, and the man on the right is wearing glasses, a denim jacket, and a brown plaid shirt.

Sustained Collaboration Network

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Austin Together is part of the Sustained Collaboration Network (SCN), a national network committed to increasing philanthropic support of and investment in sustained collaboration as a meaningful form of nonprofit capacity building.

The map below represents SCN-member funder collaboratives. In each of these regions, funders have come together to enable sustained collaboration as a strategic tool to strengthen capacity and maximize impact in the sector. Each fund serves to support and fund nonprofits wishing to explore or implement such collaborations.

The SCN website has many helpful resources including roadmaps for collaboration, toolkits for mergers and alliances, pre-partnership assessments, sample resolutions, and more.

Map of the United States with orange location markers representing grant locations. Text boxes show 1249 grants, $34 million disbursed, and 177 funders.
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The SCN website has many helpful resources including roadmaps for collaboration, toolkits for mergers and alliances, pre-partnership assessments, sample resolutions, and more.

Visit Sustained Collaboration Network Website

Our Team

  • A smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing earrings, a black top, and a delicate necklace, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

    Karen LaShelle

    Executive Director

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with long wavy brown hair, wearing a black blazer and green top, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

    Erin McCord

    Marketing + Events Manager

  • Demetra Nastopoulos

    Grant + Operations Manager

  • Close-up of a woman with light brown hair and blue eyes, smiling softly, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

    Anne Nagelkirk

    Summit Communications + Content Specialist

Our Board

  • Headshot of an elderly man with white hair, glasses, and a beard, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and red patterned tie, outdoors with a blurred green background.

    Dennis Cavner

    Board Member & Guide

  • A woman with brown hair tied back, wearing makeup and a black top, smiling outdoors with a blurred background of trees and a building.

    BiNi Coleman

    Board Member & Guide

  • A portrait of a middle-aged African American woman with short hair, wearing colorful glasses, a purple top, and jewelry, standing outdoors with a blurred green background.

    Brenda Coleman-Beattie

    Board Member

  • A man smiling outdoors, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie with a blurred natural background.

    Harold Ingersoll

    Board Member

  • Headshot of a smiling middle-aged man with a bald head, wearing a black jacket and a white shirt, outdoors with trees and blurred background.

    Christopher Kennedy

    Board Member & Guide

  • A woman with brown hair, wearing glasses, gold earrings, and a navy sleeveless top, smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

    Susan McDowell

    Board Member

  • A smiling man wearing a suit and tie outdoors with a blurred green and white background.

    Tony Prenger

    Board Member

  • Close-up portrait of a smiling Black man with a shaved head, beard, and mustache, wearing a dark blazer and a patterned shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred green background.

    Llyas Salahud-din

    Board Member

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark blazer and a white dress shirt, outdoors with blurred green trees in the background.

    Rich Smalling

    Board Member

  • A woman with short dark hair, wearing a beige top with a black stripe, smiling outdoors with green trees in the background.

    Miki Woodard

    Board Member

  • A woman with long wavy auburn hair, blue eyes, and a friendly smile, wearing a blue top and a silver necklace, stands outdoors with blurred green trees in the background.

    Nichole Aston

    Member Board Emeritus

  • A smiling older man with gray hair, a beard, and mustache, wearing a blue patterned blazer and dark blue shirt, outdoors with blurred trees and greenery in the background.

    Ray Brimble

    Board Member Emeritus

  • Portrait of a man with dreadlocks, wearing a navy blazer and white shirt, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

    Garridon Hankins

    Board Member Emeritus & Guide

  • Headshot of a woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a dark top, outdoors with blurred greenery in background.

    Virginia Potter

    Board Member Emeritus

  • Smiling man with short gray hair wearing a plaid shirt outdoors, blurred greenery in the background.

    Ryan Robinson

    Board Member Emeritus

Our Guides

Every grant recipient is provided a Guide to serve as a neutral facilitator for the collaboration exploration, planning or implementation. Guides do not represent any of the participating organizations but instead safeguard the integrity of the process, ensuring each collaboration remains mission-focused and equitable.

  • Andrew Esparza

  • Laura Elmore LeBlanc

  • Jenny Everett

  • Ann S. Graham

  • Michele Grieshaber

  • Garridon Hankins

  • Marcela Andrés

  • Pam Benson-Owens

  • Hayden Brooks

  • Trish Brown

  • Sandy Dochen

  • Laura Donnelly

  • Chris Earthman

  • Christopher Kennedy

  • Anne Nagelkirk

  • Meg Poag

  • Becky Pastner

  • Celeste Quesada

  • Mary Riggs

  • BiNi Scoor

  • Marcia Silverberg

  • Rhonda Smith

  • Molly Stevens

  • Suki Steinhauser

  • Colin Wallis

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