Meet Our Newest Social Innovation Accelerator Fellows

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas was founded nearly 100 years ago. Being around for almost a century means we have a rich history—and a bright future. Today, our work is more relevant than ever, and we continually innovate to ensure we are addressing North Texas’ current challenges and opportunities.

That’s why social innovation is part of every aspect of our impact work. We’re constantly looking for and implementing innovative solutions to systemic problems in our community so that we drive change in the most effective and efficient ways possible.

Embracing innovation allows us to stay nimble as we lead a movement to improve education, income and health in North Texas. It’s one of our strategies for driving progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, which include:

• Increasing by 50% the number of local students reading on grade level by third grade
• Increasing by 20% the number of North Texas young adults who earn a living wage
• Increasing to 96% the number of individuals with access to affordable health insurance

Growing Our Impact Through Social Innovation

As we make progress on our Aspire United 2030 goals, part of our social innovation work involves partnering with nonprofit and for-profit social ventures that creatively address systemic challenges impacting North Texans in the areas of education, income and health.

Our longest-running social innovation program, the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture, is celebrating 10 years of impact this year. The program encourages innovative solutions to social issues by providing entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and community connections to grow their ventures and amplify their impact.

Since its creation in 2013, the Social Innovation Accelerator has created a significant impact across North Texas:

• 74 local social entrepreneurs have completed the Accelerator
• 345,564 clients served by Accelerator alumni
• $7,071,449 invested in funding, training and professional mentoring
• $61,437,564 in additional funding raised by Accelerator alumni
• 1,962 partnerships formed with the support of United Way’s community connections and credibility

Meet This Year’s Accelerator Fellows

As we continue to build on this success, we’re proud to announce the fellows selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture:

Abide Women’s Health Services

A Black-led nonprofit that offers culturally informed prenatal and postnatal care. Abide offers low-cost access to healthcare with the goal of reducing infant and maternal mortality among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) folk.

Delighted to Doula

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

A nonprofit offering anti-bias-based, judgment-free education and postpartum support to mothers in communities that traditionally receive the lowest quality of care. Delighted to Doula seeks to reduce maternal mortality rates and increase the number of mothers who have access to healthcare.

EntryWay

A national nonprofit that transitions individuals and families out of homelessness to economic self-sufficiency. EntryWay provides full-time employment, housing and career training opportunities in partnership with the real estate industry.

Healthy Hip Hop

A platform that seamlessly integrates hip-hop culture, literacy and social-emotional learning to elevate student learning environments.

Pasos for Oak Cliff

This organization’s Pasos All Stars Program is a four-week summer intervention program that works to close the learning gaps of rising ninth graders in literacy and math by combining academics with the fundamentals of sneaker design.

Preserve Owner Prosperity

An organization that works to stabilize and strengthen historically under-resourced neighborhoods, preserve and elevate their unique histories, and ensure that as revitalization advances, legacy homeowners can participate in the prosperous future of their communities

Reading Huddle

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

Seeks to increase the number of kindergarten-ready preschoolers who have achieved an age-appropriate level of literacy development through family-led, at-home story time sessions.

Somos Tejas Community Initiative

Addresses education through civic engagement and community development

Tech Savvy DFW

Creates access to STEM education in lower-income communities in Dallas-Fort Worth area. Tech Savvy DFW has a mission to ensure that students in minority communities have a chance to future proof their own lives.

Wholly Informed Sex Ed

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

A nonprofit community outreach program that delivers life-saving comprehensive sexual health education based in the acclaimed Our Whole Lives curriculum to K-12 students in the Dallas area, serving in schools and community spaces.

What’s Next for the Fellows

The Social Innovation Accelerator fellows are already going through an intensive bootcamp, with expert instruction that will help them refine their business plans and set important organizational milestone goals. They are also receiving one-on-one mentoring and coaching from a team of Social Innovation Accelerator mentors.

Early next year, five of the 10 fellows will be selected to participate in The Pitch, our annual social innovation competition, where they will compete for tens of thousands of dollars in additional seed funding.

You’ll be seeing a lot more of these incredible organizations as they go through the Accelerator and compete for a spot at The Pitch. Stay tuned!