Dallas-based Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church said its Horizon Outreach Fund has distributed several grants amid projections to gift more than $1 million to local community organizations by the end of 2028.

The Horizon Outreach Fund focuses grantmaking on bringing about systemic changes to some of Dallas’s most pervasive challenges. The fund is a first-of-its-kind endeavor for Saint Michael and a part of the church’s commitment “to building God’s kingdom and ensuring lasting change in the Dallas area.”

“The Horizon Outreach Fund is a representation of Saint Michael’s commitment to bold, life-changing and strategic initiatives beyond our own doors,” Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata, rector of Saint Michael and All Angels, said in a statement. “We’ve taken intentional steps to invest in our property, located in the heart of Dallas, while remaining focused on broader community impact. We challenged ourselves to be creative in capitalizing the assets we are blessed with, and now it is incredibly rewarding to see one of our boldest visions realized. The ground lease not only allows our church membership and immediate neighbors to enjoy a premier development, but it also enables us to pour financial resources into organizations we know are doing important work in the Dallas area.”

Fund fueled by Lincoln Property’s lease of church property

St. Michael said The Horizon Outreach Fund is fueled entirely by the income it receives from the
ground lease on the north portion of its property.

In 2016, Saint Michael signed a 99-year ground lease with Lincoln Property Group to develop a multiuse space, including an office tower, restaurant, parking garage, 1.3 acres of green space and a residential tower.

The church said that once the city of Dallas gave zoning approval in 2020, lease payments and construction were able to begin.

Over half of the income generated from the ground lease is deposited directly into the Horizon Outreach Fund—not into church operating funds. The Horizon Outreach Fund is directed by the Horizon Outreach Fund Committee and held by the All Angels Foundation.

The balance of the Horizon Outreach Fund on Dec. 31, was $3.4 million, St. Michael said.

Venture philanthropy model

The church said that substantial grants have been distributed to several nonprofits, including a $50,000 grant to Bachman Lake Together (2023); a $112,500 multi-year grant to Dallas Leadership Foundation (2024-26) to support a 25% expansion of its prison ministry and community re-entry program; and a $50,000 grant to Heart House (2025).

“We’re deeply grateful for this new community resource, made possible by Saint Michael through the Horizon Outreach Fund,” Wil McCall, CEO & president of Dallas Leadership Foundation, said in a statement. “Their generosity enables us to expand our re-entry program, equipping men with the resources, mentorship, and Christian leadership needed to rebuild their lives. With this support, we can foster hope, healing, and lasting transformation for those seeking a second chance.”

This year, the Horizon Outreach Fund Committee is said it is implementing a venture philanthropy model of grantmaking, which will allow for long-term investment in time, talent, and treasure, with nonprofit organizations as strategic partners versus short-term grants to grantees.

“Saint Michael has always played a significant role in the community with a deep commitment to partnerships. The Horizon Outreach Fund is an opportunity to grow that commitment in a much deeper way,” Girata said. “It is a unique—and more importantly, sustainable—model. It’s also replicable by other churches, organizations, real estate developers, and more. As our communities continue to grow, we must be inventive and bold in how we meet challenges, both old and new.”

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.