Liberty Hill council hears pitches from local nonprofits for $45,000 in community support funding

Liberty Hill city council heard brief presentations from 11 local nonprofits at a 5:00 p.m. workshop, where organizations outlined program services and requested shares of $45,000 the council set aside in the current fiscal-year budget.

City staff explained the format and timeline at the start of the workshop and said council will vote on funding allocations at the May 13 council meeting. Presenters had three minutes each; staff asked any council questions be submitted to the city secretary by April 29.

CareFirst Foundation asked for $15,000 to provide targeted short-term assistance in four areas, including medical support, food assistance, clothing and crisis stabilization. James Schumard, speaking for CareFirst, described the group’s clinic-based nonprofit work and said the grant would help “take care of critical things in people's lives before it's too late.”

CASA Williamson County requested $10,000 to support court-advocacy volunteers for children in foster care. Bianca Pacisceros, CASA’s director of philanthropic partnerships and a Liberty Hill resident, said CASA served nine local children last year and that the average cost per child is about $2,500 annually.

Hope Alliance asked for $15,000 to support services for survivors of abuse. Dr. Rick Brown, CEO of Hope Alliance, read a victim statement and provided 2025 program statistics: 5,388 hotline and crisis chats, 565 shelter clients and 9,169 sheltered nights. Brown said Hope Alliance tracks clients by city of residence to report local outcomes.

Several presenters sought support for community programs and facilities. Liberty Hill Lacrosse president Danny Oliver asked for $20,000 to help permanently repair a shared athletic field, saying the group would pair the city's contribution with $30,000 the program expects to raise and that the work would remain as a permanent gift to Liberty Hill ISD property. "Where else can $20,000 immediately and permanently impact 520 people?" Oliver asked.

Adam Stone of Hope House described residential services for adults and children with profound intellectual disabilities and asked the council to clear permitting or procedural barriers so the nonprofit can place a permanent pavilion on its campus; no specific dollar amount for the pavilion was stated in the presentation.

Operation Liberty Hill requested $20,000 to be divided equally between its blessing-bag program and its back-to-school program. Executive Director Susan Baker said blessing bags have provided 3,000 bags (more than 8,000 meals) to schools since October, and that the 2025 back-to-school package value was $52,875.

Other presenters included CAS for Kids (an adaptive-fishing event for children with special needs; speaker asked the council to partner on the November event but did not state a dollar figure during the pitch), L4 Cares (expanding "Hero Camp" retreats and long-term plans for a permanent camp site), LJ Acres Animal Life Center (veteran-run animal care and adoption services), Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties (Meals on Wheels — requested $10,000 and reported local meal counts and program funding splits), and Yesterday's Gone Women's Shelter (requested $20,000 with a $6,000 housing line, $12,000 for counseling and case management, and $2,000 for immediate phone assistance).

No formal motions or votes took place at the workshop. City staff said they will compile responses to any council questions, follow up with presenters by email the next day, and bring final allocation decisions to the council meeting on May 13.

Council members did not make funding decisions at the workshop; the council’s May 13 meeting will include the formal vote to allocate the $45,000 among applicants.