Susan McDowell Susan McDowell

Texas Housing Conservancy

Sooch Foundation seeks to make a positive and permanent change in the lives of economically disadvantaged people in Austin through increased educational opportunities. We fund programs that support post-secondary educational success, workforce skills development, and dual-generation learning. We know, however, that it is nearly impossible for individuals to succeed in these opportunities if they do not have the basic stability that housing provides. Affordable housing is a necessary ingredient for the economic mobility we hope to support.

The Texas Housing Conservancy (TxHC) was formed in 2016 by a group of experienced Austin real estate, finance and affordable housing professionals to ensure that the Texas workforce can afford housing by building a social impact fund to create and preserve well located multi-family apartment properties for long-term affordability, as well as provide programs to build community and improve resident outcomes.

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Susan McDowell Susan McDowell

2025 Grantees

Sooch Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $725,000 to fifteen non-profit organizations that make a significant difference in the educational and economic success of thousands of individuals and families who live in Central Texas.

Organizational impact ranges from assisting with post-secondary transitions and persistence, to upskilling for workforce mobility, to dual generation learning to ensure school and employment achievement.

Grantees include American YouthWorks, Assistance League of Austin, Breakthrough Central Texas, Capital IDEA, Code2College, Communities in Schools Central Texas, E4 Youth, Foster Angels of Central Texas, Foundation Communities, Friends of the Children, Level, LifeWorks, Skillpoint Alliance, Texas Empowerment Academy, and Todos Juntos.

We're so inspired by their dedication and innovative approaches, and we're proud to support their vital work. Keep an eye out for more stories about their impact in the coming months!

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Susan McDowell Susan McDowell

Welcome

Hello all! One of my goals as Executive Director of Sooch Foundation is to take a moment every month to spotlight the profound work of our partners in the community, and to occasionally bring broader light to the systems and issues related to the Foundation’s mission.


First, though, I wanted to introduce myself. For those of you who do not know me, I started in this role on July 1, carrying on the legacy of founding Executive Director Mary Ellen Pietruszynski. I’m coming from a 30+ year career in nonprofit leadership, most notably as co-founder and longtime CEO of LifeWorks here in Austin.


I’m also a moderately-paced but dedicated runner and cyclist, a yoga enthusiast, and a community volunteer for organizations such as Austin Together and The New Philanthropists.

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