Generosity Can End the Survival Mode

By Jared Montes Slack, Sr. Director of Development, I Live Here I Give Here

At I Live Here I Give Here, we believe the health and resiliency of Central Texas is directly tied to the strength of our nonprofits and the generosity of our neighbors. This possibility for a generosity movement — a community where generosity fuels stability, leadership, and shared responsibility — is what motivates us every day.

Too often, nonprofits are framed as “charity cases” — organizations asking for help rather than leaders of much needed change. We challenge that narrative directly. Nonprofits are not passive recipients of generosity; they are expert institutions and community leaders tackling our region’s most complex challenges that exist because of the gaps left by societal structures. Full stop.

And that’s why we are building a future where every critical cause in our community has the champions, resources, and support it needs to thrive.

In that world, nonprofits no longer operate in survival mode. They are stable, well-connected, and equipped to engage their communities with confidence. Leaders build lasting donor relationships, diversify revenue, and plan years (not months) ahead. Nonprofit struggle is no longer a virtue and scraping by is no longer a sign of mission integrity. 

We see every day the load that how much our local nonprofits carry. They respond to crisis after crisis, navigate constant complexity, and serve our neighbors with commitment and creativity — often with limited resources and little margin. We know that when nonprofits are strong, our entire community is stronger. When they struggle, we all feel it.

In order to build the stability and, therefore, efficacy and efficiency of our Central Texas nonprofit ecosystem, generosity must become a shared civic norm, one equitably embraced by all people in our community wherever they are. Neighbors see themselves as active participants in shaping our region’s future. Giving is accessible and democratized, welcoming people across income levels to support the causes they care about and trust that their contributions make a meaningful local impact. Local companies embrace community engagement as both responsibility and opportunity, aligning employee giving, volunteerism, and partnerships with nonprofit leaders to strengthen the region.

The result is that, when challenges arise, Central Texas responds with resilience and coordination because nonprofits are strong, donors are informed, and cross-sector relationships are already in place. The result is that we have a more connected, compassionate, and thriving community.

When nonprofits have the capacity, stability, and leadership support they deserve, they move from survival to strategic impact. They stop “begging” for support and begin building meaningful relationships that drive their mission forward. That shift transforms how communities see the sector — not as charity, but as essential civic infrastructure.