Fortress

There is balance in everything, and Fortress depends on its donors to help achieve balance in a myriad of ways. For every child we educate, every parent we support, every activity we provide, every light we turn on, every meal we serve, and every teacher we pay - those outputs have to be balanced with a budget to support them. Donors like you help us achieve that balance. In fact, without you, we'd have shuttered long ago. Thank you for standing in the gap so that we can continue building bridges from poverty to promise!

Fortress's no-cost early childhood education, after school, and parent engagement programs provide year-round support for families who are working hard to break cycles of poverty and trauma. We prioritize enrollment for parents who are working or are in school. We know that parents can't work without childcare, and that corporations lose $23billion annually due to childcare challenges in the workforce. Low income parents often work second jobs just to pay the childcare that they need for their full-time job. An average family in Fort Worth can expect to spend 12% of their income on childcare, but for low-income families, that percentage creeps closer to 35%, making it near impossible to move out of "survival mode" and into stability. Considering that there is a 15%-18% ROI on every child who engages in excellent early childhood education, we also know that investing in as many children as we can is an investment worth making!

In lieu of tuition, families participate in L.E.A.D. - our parent engagement program - which offers parenting classes, personal empowerment workshops, parent-child activities, and community involvement opportunities. This unique model ensures that change and hope is taking root across multiple generations in a family.

We are proud to be CNM Certified-Prime, a partnership with Center for Nonprofit Management that ensures fidelity in the planning, data collection, and outcomes measurement for each of our programs.

FORTRESS PRESCHOOL enrolls 104 children ages 6 weeks through 4 years. This outcomes-rich early childhood education program balances an emphasis on achieving developmental milestones with creative play, nature play, and social-emotional learning. 

FORTRESS AFTER SCHOOL places an emphasis on literacy, supported by creative and outdoor play and social-emotional learning. 1st-5th graders are matched with adult mentors who visit weekly to help with homework, play games, and develop meaningful relationships that open new doors and make room for big dreams.

FORTRESS PARENTS L.E.A.D. (Learn, Engage, Achieve, Disciple) provides classes and activities designed to encourage, empower, and equip the parents of children enrolled at Fortress. In lieu of student tuition, minimum parent participation is required for continued enrollment, with a leadership track available for parents who want to pursue it. 

Fortress hosts multiple community events each year, houses an on-site community pantry, and collaborates with multiple fellow nonprofit organizations to provide specialty services for the families we serve. In fact, after you've made your gift to Fortress, we'd love for you to consider supporting one or more of our partnering agencies! LinkEd, Teleios Approach, YogiSquad, EmpathyHQ, ChristianWorks, Hope Supply Co., The Welman Project, and Presbyterian Night Shelter are a few of our favorites.

"I'm able to work and actually earn a living for my family because my childcare is taken care of. Just knowing my kids are safe and happy, that's everything. I don't trust anyone else to take care of my kids."