When I started as Texas Impact’s executive director, I could have imagined many of the policy challenges Texas would face over the coming decades. It’s not hard to imagine conflicts over resource allocation, or over how we educate our kids. It’s no surprise that businesses want to protect their market shares, or that homeowners want to protect their property. Sadly, it’s not unprecedented that some Texans fear “the other” enough to inflict real physical and emotional trauma on the rest of us.
I could imagine a whole host of policy challenges…but I could not have imagined even a fraction of the amazing Texans of faith I’ve had the privilege of meeting over the past 23 years. From my first week on the job, when I was introduced to United Methodist Women (now United Women in Faith), I have spent my days marveling at the diversity, wisdom, strength, and character of Texas Impact members.
I’m regularly overwhelmed by our members’ stories, and how those stories inform their advocacy. I’m constantly impressed with our members’ commitment to take action, like when they get an email from Scott asking them to call their legislator right away because a vote is expected on a key issue.
I’ve been especially grateful for all the times Texas Impact members have said, “I want to make a donation to support your work.” This year in particular, we’ve gotten some generous gifts from individuals and family foundations, and they have helped us take on policy campaigns we couldn’t have done without those resources.
And underlying all of advocacy and policy campaigns have been the membership contributions of individuals and congregations.
Membership in Texas Impact has always been structured on the public media model: our resources are available to anyone who wants them, usually free of charge; if you appreciate our work and want us to keep doing it, we hope you’ll join as a contributing member who helps us keep serving Texas. Over the years, we’ve added some “swag” and member benefits for folks who give more, in gratitude for their generosity—but every Texas Impact contributor is important.
Your membership dollars serve practical purposes like keeping the lights on in our office. And they advance policy, by supporting our talented staff as they build understanding and knowledge that helps them provide you with the best issue and legislative information available.
Your membership contribution also builds political power. Your one-time gift or a recurring donation—of any size—helps us demonstrate a broad base of support. It’s no secret that too often, “faith” in Texas in 2023 has one narrow definition, and pushes one rigid set of policy goals that leave many in our communities excluded or persecuted. When you become a Texas Impact member, you affirm a different definition: an inclusive faith that is big and strong enough to allow room for diverse Texans to live together in a beloved community.
And most immediately important, your membership mobilizes. When you join Texas Impact, you provide the resources we need to generate timely responses. This fall, member contributions are supporting our Public School Defenders team and our campaigns to prevent vouchers and unregulated chaplains from undermining public education in Texas. We’ve received more than 2,000 letters urging elected officials to protect and strengthen public schools—and every one of those letters was made possible by member support.