Jalisco and Texas, a philanthropic alliance redrawing North America’s social and environmental future
- Editorial
- May 16
- 3 min read
Amid a global context marked by climate challenges, migration, and social inequality, binational foundations have emerged as key players at the intersection of philanthropy and citizen diplomacy. In particular, Jalisco and Texas—sister regions with deep migratory, commercial, and cultural ties—intensified their unprecedented collaboration in 2024 through social and environmental projects led by mixed-origin foundations. These organizations are driven by business leaders, academics, migrant communities, and alumni from institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin, ITESO, and the University of Guadalajara.
In 2024, the number of joint projects increased by 35% compared to 2023, according to data from the Border Philanthropy Partnership and the Consulate General of Mexico in San Antonio. This surge is attributed to three key factors: the digitalization of binational philanthropic networks, the growing participation of young Latino leaders in Texas investing in their Jaliscan roots, and new state policies supporting social co-investment, particularly in water, education, and sustainable energy programs.
The most rapidly expanding programs were those focused on ecological restoration in the Los Altos region of Jalisco—with a 41% increase in funding from Texas-based foundations like the Meadows Foundation—and tech training initiatives for vulnerable women in both Houston and Guadalajara. According to the Texas-Mexico Center at SMU, these projects not only contribute to human development but also strengthen long-term economic ties by fostering socially inclusive transregional value chains.
One of the most emblematic cases of the past year was the “Raíces Verdes” (Green Roots) program—an alliance between the Rio Grande Border Foundation and the Fundación Expo Guadalajara. It successfully reforested over 200 hectares in the shared Santiago River basin using Texas-imported technologies adapted to semi-arid climates. Likewise, the “Código Mujer” (Code Woman) initiative enabled over 600 young Mexican and Texan Latinas to earn certifications in digital skills, improving their access to high-value labor markets on both sides of the border.
However, this growth also faced major challenges. Despite increased funding, only 28% of the projects launched in 2024 continued operating for more than six months, revealing critical gaps in follow-up mechanisms, institutional professionalization, and impact evaluation. The lack of standardized legal recognition for binational foundations and fiscal restrictions on cross-border resource transfers remain structural bottlenecks. Furthermore, limited coordination among local governments—many of which overlook or underestimate these transnational civil society efforts—continues to hinder their full transformative potential.
Looking ahead to 2025, the primary challenge will be consolidating legal frameworks that facilitate and formally recognize binational foundations as legitimate cooperation agents. It will also be essential to develop shared digital platforms between Jalisco and Texas for real-time project monitoring, avoiding duplication and ensuring transparency. Universities and think tanks, such as El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, will play a critical role in evaluation and policy co-design.
But beyond logistical and technical hurdles, the most significant challenge will be cultural and political: Are public and private elites ready to acknowledge that local development can also be driven by the diaspora, through horizontal collaboration rather than top-down approaches? The 2024 Jalisco-Texas experience shows that not only is this possible—it is urgently necessary. Building a philanthropic diplomacy that complements traditional economic models with a shared social impact logic is key to the region’s future.
The alliance between foundations in Jalisco and Texas represents, at its core, a grassroots experiment in transborder governance, where community actors are laying the groundwork for a new vision of North America: more just, more sustainable, and more united.
Written by: Editorial
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