The M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation is a family foundation committed to supporting individuals and families as they build productive and meaningful lives. Our approach is relationship-driven, community-informed, and grounded in a trust-based philanthropy model, with a growing emphasis on flexibility, multi-year support, and grantee partnership.

Primary Program Areas 

Workforce Development 

We support programs that help young people build skills, access employment, and achieve long-term economic mobility. 

Basic Needs 

We fund efforts that ensure young people, especially young mothers, have access to essential supports such as housing, childcare, food, and other stabilizing resources necessary to participate in workforce opportunities.

Population Focus 

Workforce Development: Unemployed, underemployed, or disconnected youth and young adults ages 16–24+ 

Basic Needs: Unemployed, underemployed, or disconnected youth and young adults ages 16–24+, with a particular focus on young mothers facing barriers to employment

Geographic Focus 

-Workforce Development: 

• El Paso 

• Amarillo 

• Shared learning and exploration in Rural East Texas 

-Basic Needs: 

• El Paso 

• Dallas (currently focused on zip codes 75215/75216) 

• Shared learning and exploration in Rural East Texas

Grant Size and Duration 

The M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation has two grantmaking levels. 

Learning Grants - These are smaller grants of approximately $20,000 to $50,000, that provide a path for the foundation to establish relationships with organizations of interest. The grant amount is determined based on the organization’s budget and size. 

Anchor Grants - These are larger grants of approximately $50,000 to $100,000, for organizations with high alignment with the foundation’s priorities and demonstrated impact.

Types of Support We provide: 

• General operating support 

• Flexible program funding 

• Optional capacity-building support

We are also open to: 

Smaller, grassroots organizations, particularly those deeply embedded in their communities.

While most organizations are identified through our outreach, we welcome brief inquiries from organizations that closely align with our priorities.