April 21, 2026

Greetings!

Texas Pride Community Foundation is proud to announce the promotion of Robert Salcido, Jr. to Chief Community Impact Officer, reflecting our continued investment in strengthening our community impact and positioning the Foundation for long-term growth.

Since joining Texas Pride in 2022 as Program Director, Robert has played a critical role in advancing our mission across the state. His leadership has been instrumental in managing our Community Impact Grant cycles, launching and growing the Texas Health Impact Cohort, and securing a three-year, $750,000 continuation grant for the cohort in 2025—all while deepening our engagement with LGBTQ+ communities throughout Texas.

Aligned with our newly adopted strategic plan, Robert will now lead Texas Pride’s overarching community impact strategy. In this executive role, he will guide the development of innovative programs, steward key partnerships, and help shape grantmaking decisions to ensure our resources are strategically invested where they can have the greatest impact.

Robert’s leadership marks an important shift from managing individual programs to driving organization-wide strategy, partnerships, and measurable impact. His deep commitment to Texas Pride and to LGBTQ+ Texans makes him the ideal leader for this next chapter.

Please join us in congratulating Robert on this well-deserved milestone.

Welcoming New Board Leadership to Build Our Next Chapter

We are proud to welcome our newest Board Members to Texas Pride Community Foundation at a pivotal moment of growth for our organization. As we continue to expand our impact across the state, strong governance and visionary leadership are essential to advancing our strategic initiatives. Our Board plays a critical role in stewarding our mission bringing not only oversight, but also the time, talent, and resources needed to help build permanent capital, strengthen durable institutions, and ensure that our work can weather change across generations. Lasting impact in Texas requires bold commitment, and we are honored that these leaders have chosen to invest in that future with us. When asked why they committed to Texas Pride, they shared reflections that inspire and ground our work. Here’s what they had to say.

"Having been raised in the 70’s - 80s, in a suburban Alabama town by parents who were divorced, when I was 5, and realizing I was gay at an early age, certainly had its challenges. My parents and grandparents were religious fundamentalists with strict “ideas” of what was “right and wrong”, and witnessing the discrimination in the deep south, that still exists, daily, I often toiled with my mental health. Fast forward through a 30-year career, in which I used my financial gain to support organizations, along with my voice on committees to stand up for the marginalized communities. I now have a wonderful husband and 3 great kids. In 2023, I was involved in an accident and was forced to retire early. Since then, I feel, I have not completed what I set out to do: make a difference. Serving on this Board would allow me to continue positively affecting communities in need and to do something I always tell my kids to do: “Try to leave this world better than you found it.” -Phillip Bowden, Houston

"When Texas Pride was mentioned as a possible organization where I could employ my energy, I was very interested. I have known several of the founders for many years – Ron Guillard, Laurie Foley, and Judy Sherman. I remember conversations with them as they were formulating the strategy for what would become Texas Pride Impact Fund, now Texas Pride Community Foundation. I was more than willing to be one of the "First Hundred Funders” when Texas Pride was launched. As I have attended events for Texas Pride I am amazed at the progress it has made in its 10 years. I am more amazed at how the grants from have been transformative for many of the organizations receiving the grants."

-Charles 'Chuck' Marlett, Dallas

"I decided to volunteer on the Board of Directors for the Texas Pride Community Foundation because I believe deeply in the dignity, safety and full humanity of the LGBTQ+ community. My heart has been broken watching efforts to silence, marginalize and restrict people from living authentically and loving who they love. My core values of integrity, generosity and service compel me to act, not just observe. I believe now is the moment to step forward to lend my voice, leadership and resources to meaningful work that protects and uplifts this community. I want to make a tangible difference and be on the right side of history by supporting an organization that leads with courage, compassion and impact." -Holly Russell, Lubbock

"I joined the Texas Pride Community Foundation to help empower LGBTQIA+ individuals across the state to lead fulfilling, meaningful lives, while strengthening our community and—where possible and appropriate—building bridges with allies. Although I am not originally from Texas, I have lived in Houston for nearly 14 years. During that time, I have worked as an educator, a nonprofit fundraiser, and a consultant for a global company.

I earned my MBA from Rice Business, ran the Aramco Houston Half Marathon eight times, competed with four different Masters swim teams, campaigned for county, city, and statewide candidates, recently became a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum Houston/Gulf Coast chapter, and protested at City Hall. All of this is to say: Houston and Texas are my home.

I am eager to leverage my knowledge, relationships, skills, and passion—for my city, my state, and for equity and justice—to expand and deepen the mission of the Texas Pride Community Foundation." -Gregory Germain, Houston

Turn Tax Season Into Impact:

Start Your Giving Strategy with Texas Pride

As tax season comes to a close, many of us are breathing a sigh of relief. Returns have been filed, or extensions submitted, and the paperwork is (mostly) behind us. But this moment also offers something else: a timely opportunity to get ahead on next year’s tax planning while making a meaningful impact in our communities.

One of the simplest and most powerful ways to do that is through charitable giving.

By making intentional contributions throughout the year, you not only position yourself for potential tax deductions on your next return you also invest in causes that matter deeply to you. For those committed to advancing equity and opportunity for LGBTQ+ communities across Texas, Texas Pride Community Foundation offers a variety of ways to align your financial planning with your values.

Whether you’re considering a one-time gift or looking to build a more structured giving strategy, there are options to meet you where you are:

• One-time or recurring donations provide immediate support to vital programs and grassroots organizations serving LGBTQ+ Texans.

• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) allow you to set aside charitable dollars now and recommend grants over time—offering flexibility and potential tax advantages.

• Legacy giving and estate planning ensure that your commitment to equality and community endures for generations to come.

At Texas Pride Community Foundation, this work is about more than funding, it’s about building durable institutions, resourcing visionary leaders, and ensuring that LGBTQ+ Texans can thrive no matter the challenges ahead.

So as you close the chapter on this year’s taxes, consider opening the door to something bigger. A proactive approach to giving today can shape both your financial future and the future of our community.

Because lasting impact doesn’t happen by accident, it’s built, together, with intention.

Building Our Next Chapter Together

Questions? Ideas? Comments? We are all ears. 

Write to us at info@TexasPrideCF.org.