Austin's Best Charities

Get involved: A guide to Austin's best philanthropic organizations

members at social event for Austin Lyric Opera Guild

The Austin Lyric Opera Guild raises funds for ALO while also promoting culture in Central Texas.

Photo courtesy of Austin Lyric Opera

Austin is frequently ranked as a top city for young professionals. With top-tier universities, a thriving workforce, and a downtown that perfectly balances the finer things in life with laid-back, Southern energy, it is hard to disagree.

If you’re one of these fortunate young professionals and are looking for a chance to give where you live — and to have a great time doing it — be sure to check out these charities and charitable organizations.

Art Alliance Austin
Mission: Art Alliance Austin works to expose people to great art by providing a network of support to the city’s most promising artists and art organizations. It is a nonprofit, member-powered organization that appeals to art collectors and casual enthusiasts alike.
Membership: Donor Level - $40 a year, Family Level - $75 a year
Major fundraiser: Art City Austin

The Andy Roddick Foundation
Mission: Tennis superstar Andy Roddick gives back through this foundation, which aims to close the education achievement gap across income levels through summer programs and, when it opens in 2015, the Andy Roddick Sports and Learning Center.
Membership: Volunteer positions often come available, but tickets to events are not based on membership
Major fundraiser: Each year, the foundation hosts a highly anticipated Gala

Friends of the House (Ronald McDonald House)
Mission: Friends of the House is a group of young professionals in Austin that serve by providing meals to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, volunteering at special events and coordinating the group’s annual fundraiser, House Party.
Membership: Must be 25 - 40 years old; $10 a month, $100 annual, $1,000 lifetime membership
Major fundraiser: House Party

Ballet Austin Guild
Mission: Ballet Austin Guild is an all-volunteer organization with the mission to support and promote Ballet Austin in its commitment to excellence and dance through fundraising, community and education.
Membership: Active Member, age 35 and under - $75, Active Member + Spouse - $150
Major fundraiser: Women on their Toes

Citizen Generation
Mission: To promote philanthropy and create the habit of giving through philanthropic experiences. Citizen Generation is centered on the belief that in order to make Austin the best city to live, play and work, all individuals should be active in the betterment of their community.
Membership: Varies
Major fundraiser: Annual events include CharityBash, CharityLadies, CharityLunch and CharityVolunteers

Junior League of Austin
Mission: The Junior League of Austin is a group of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving Austin through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
Membership: Candidates must be women between the ages of 25 and 40; must receive the sponsorship of three Junior League members; Provisional membership - $335, $210 annually
Major fundraiser: A Christmas Affair

Austin Young Chamber of Commerce
Mission: AYC is the fastest growing young professional’s organization in Central Texas. The group aims to provide both career and personal development to its members and their communities through organized volunteer events and talks featuring local nonprofits.
Membership: Elite - $300 per year, General - $250 per year; Member ages range between 21 and 39
Major fundraiser: The FAVE Awards

Young Women’s Alliance
Mission: The Young Women’s Alliance seeks to empower its members through opportunities for personal and professional development. The organization also funds the YWA Foundation, which provides scholarships to girls and women and grants to the organizations that serve them.
Membership: $150 annually
Major fundraiser: Austin Under 40 Awards

Austin Lyric Opera Guild
Mission: The Austin Lyric Opera Guild works to promote culture in Central Texas while raising funds for the Austin Lyric Opera. Members enjoy the company of fellow fine arts aficionados through education, social and volunteer events throughout the opera season.
Membership: Active Individual - $85, Active Couple - $115, Associate Individual - $145, Associate Couple - $225
Major fundraiser: Wine Dinner & Auction

Young Men’s Business League
Mission: This social service organization provides a platform for its members to meet like-minded individuals through a variety of social and service opportunities.
Membership: Business professional - $250 annual dues, must raise at least $350 during the fundraising season
Major fundraiser: Austin Under 40 Awards

Austin Film Society
Mission: The Austin Film Society is working to make Austin the music and film capital of Texas by welcoming coveted premieres and screenings to the city, managing a 100,000-square-foot production space in Central Austin, presenting the annual Texas Film Festival and more.
Membership: Membership levels start at the Watch level ($50 single, $75 dual), and reach upwards of $25,000
Major fundraiser: The Texas Film Awards, The Texas Party

Guests at Citizen Generation's masquerade ball.

Citizen Generation Masquerade in Austin 5113

Photo by Jon Shapley

Guests at Citizen Generation's masquerade ball.

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Taste of 2025

Austin's Wine & Food Foundation announces 3 big events for 2025

Photo by Erica Wilkins Photography

Theses Wine & Food Foundation events raise funds for local initiatives.

Austin's food scene is booming, but smaller businesses could always use support. The Wine & Food Foundation is one of Austin's leading industry protectors, and it's just announced three events to help support its mission over the next year.

The three events — Big Reds and Bubbles, Toast of Texas, and the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala — are spread out between March and November of 2025, and all offer something a bit different.

They'll all benefit the Wine & Food Foundation and, by extension, the local organizations it supports. Those include Keep Austin Fed, which diverts food surpluses from grocery stores, catered events, and other sites of professional food service; and Sustainable Food Center, which helps Texans access healthy food through SNAP and WIC incentives, hosts farmers markets, connects farmers with resources, and more. The Wine & Food Foundation also offers scholarships for hospitality professionals.

Big Reds and Bubbles, held Friday, March 28, will bring together more than 100 red and sparkling wines for a tasting event. In addition to comparing wines back-to-back, guests will get to try them with bites from popular Austin restaurants to discover interesting new pairings. They'll also get to dress to impress and see the new LZR space — formerly La Zona Rosa, an old Austin music venue that had its last official performance in 2013.

Next up is Toast of Texas on June 8. This is another tasting event that focuses instead on 20 local wineries. The food menu at this event is also more specific, featuring local barbecue and paella, among other local tastes. It'll be located at Assembly Hall, an event space on East 7th Street adjacent to the East Austin Hotel.

Finally, there's the premier event: the Rare & Fine Wine Auction Gala on November 8. This is a big fundraising opportunity not just because of potentially high auction tickets, but the chance to experience something truly out of the ordinary for the wine industry. Guests will also enjoy "an elegant dinner" according to the press release and wines by a featured maker. It'll all happen at the JW Marriott Austin.

The release counts more than 50 other events slated for the year, so there are plenty more opportunities between the big three. Some of these include wine tasting courses, which will be available again soon.

wine tasting small businesses wineries nonprofits galas