O’Donnell Foundation’s $50M Gift Fuels Postsecondary Success in Dallas County

The Commit Partnership and DallasCollege are excited to announce today that the O’Donnell Foundation has made a second transformative $50 million investment in North Texas higher education institutions to expand opportunity and improve degree completion for DallasCounty students. In conjunction with the Foundation’s investment of $60 million late last year to the Dallas County Promise, this collectively represents one of the largest philanthropic investments to grow postsecondary success in the history of our region.

“At Dallas College, we are committed to busting barriers that too often keep students from completing their higher education journey,” said Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon.“This investment will help ensure all our students—regardless of background—receive the support, guidance, and resources they need to thrive. We are grateful to the O’Donnell Foundation for believing in our students and investing in their futures."

The grants will be awarded to the Dallas College Foundation ($20M), University of North Texasat Dallas ($17M), The University of Texas at Dallas ($8M),and Southern Methodist University ($5M).

Together, these investments will:

Expand Success Coaching to provide individualized support to thousands of Pell-eligible students transferring fromDallas College to regional Promise four-year partner institutions as they pursue bachelor’s degrees, ensuring students have personalized coaching throughout their college journey.

Establish the Dallas County Promise Transfer Success Fund, providing financial assistance toward cost of attendance, including living expenses, for select students transferring from Dallas College to regional Promise four-year universities who agree to sign reverse-transfer credit agreements with DallasCollege. The Dallas College Foundation board agreed to substantially augment this Success Fund with a $10 million Foundation allocation, bringing the initial size of the Fund to $30 million.

Launch and sustain early recruitment programs at SMU, UTD and UNTD targeting Dallas County Promise middle and high school students experiencing economic disadvantage to expose them to the possibilities of higher education and encourage their continued focus on college readiness and enrollment.

“This historic $60 million commitment from both the O’Donnell and Dallas College Foundations underscores the power of collective action,” said Commit Partnership CEO Todd Williams.“By aligning school districts, higher education institutions, philanthropy, and community partners, we can absolutely change the trajectory for Dallas students and our region. These investments are not just in institutions—they represent investments in the lives of our young people who will fuel the future prosperity of North Texas."

The initiative builds on the work of the Dallas County Promise, an unprecedented coalition of school districts, colleges, universities, foundations, and nonprofits committed to expanding postsecondary access and success for the region’s students.

"The O’Donnell Foundation’s generosity allows us to launch the Dallas County Promise Transfer Success Fund—an unprecedented endowment that will ease the financial burden for thousands of students as they continue their education,” said Dallas College FoundationExecutive Director Josh Skolnick. “This is about more than financial aid; it’s about creating a connected, coherent set of supports that give students the confidence and resources to transfer, thrive and earn a four-year degree."

With this investment, DallasCounty Promise students will gain greater financial support, tailored advising, and long-term pathways to success—strengthening the region’s workforce and economy for years to come.

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