Connecther
Connecther is an Austin, Texas public charity that supports women and girls through storytelling, film, locally led projects, education, and relief efforts. Its website describes work that includes an annual film festival, support for community projects, and filmmaking workshops led by youth and past filmmakers.
Connecther at a glance
In short: Connecther reported $417K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $416,953 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +40.3% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $203,844
- -20.4% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $697,282
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $114
- -74.8% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $745,549
- +24.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Connecther
- Next open deadline
- December 15, 2026 (ConnectHER Fellowship)
- Contact
Mailing address: 9311 Simmons Road, Austin, TX 78759
Phone: (512) 560-5608
Website: https://connecther.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Connecther
Who Connecther funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Connecther describes its project work as global. Its website lists projects in countries including Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Uganda, Somaliland, and Gaza, among others. The Fellowship is described as global and open internationally to eligible past Film Festival filmmakers.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Connecther gives
- Giving fell 70% from 2020 to 2023. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2023) to $417K (2025). In 2025 it reported $417K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rohingya Women's Developmnet Network Sugar Land, TX | Skills Training & Advocacy | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Connecther?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $203,844 | $697,282 | $745,549 | $416,953 | Total only | $114 |
| 2024 | $256,063 | $631,986 | $600,897 | $297,188 | Total only | $452 |
| 2023 | $227,060 | $394,010 | $347,126 | $6,000 | 1 | $298 |
| 2022 | $179,688 | $240,576 | $292,932 | $19,607 | 2 | $149 |
| 2021 | $232,676 | $382,799 | $232,584 | $38,453 | Total only | — |
| 2020 | $113,910 | $244,778 | $270,965 | $19,865 | 2 | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Connecther’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is to invest in women and girls by elevating their status through stories, film, and relief projects. Its programs include the ConnectHER Film Festival, the ConnectHER Fellowship, scholarships for girls and young women, and relief and rapid-response initiatives.
The organization says it has supported women-founded, locally led organizations working on women’s and girls’ rights and wellbeing, including in maternal health, education, and leadership. Its 2023 impact report says grants to 14 women-led organizations in 11 countries supported activities such as girls’ education, health, and leadership. The website also describes project work inspired by submitted films, including scholarships in Bangladesh and humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data lists one grant totaling $6,000 in 2023, and no grants in 2024 or 2025. Connecther’s 2023 impact report says it made grants to 14 women-led organizations in 11 countries, but does not state the total amount. Its 2022 impact report reports $48,000 donated to 12 partners in 10 countries. The available information does not establish a typical grant size or provide amounts for named grantees.
The ConnectHER Fellowship is a participant program for past Film Festival filmmakers, offering training, mentorship, a stipend, and support to lead filmmaking workshops. It is not described as a grant program for outside applicants. The listed June 3–17, 2026 application cycle is past; another listed deadline is December 15, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists FAYRUZ BENYOUSEF as president and JENNA WESSAM YOUSSEF as treasurer. It lists SAMIRA KHAN, LILA KING, AMANI AHMED, MARNE KELLER KRIKAVA, SABA TERNIKAR, and COURTNEY HAWKINS as members. The organization’s website identifies Lila Igram as its founder.
Connecther is led by Fayruz Benyousef, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fayruz Benyousef
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amani Ahmed
Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Wessam Youssef
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lila King
Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marne Keller Krikava
Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Saba Ternikar
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samira Khan
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Hawkins
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Chelsea Toler (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Gretchen Canter (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Saba Rizvi (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Zarmeena Vendal (2020) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Connecther
How much does Connecther give each year?
Connecther reported $417K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it reported $297K in grants paid.
How large is Connecther?
Connecther reported $204K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $697K.
What does Connecther fund?
Connecther’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is to invest in women and girls by elevating their status through stories, film, and relief projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Connecther?
Connecther has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check connecther.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Connecther make grants?
Connecther describes its project work as global. Its website lists projects in countries including Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Uganda, Somaliland, and Gaza, among others. The Fellowship is described as global and open internationally to eligible past Film Festival filmmakers.
What is Connecther's EIN?
Connecther's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4235366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Connecther funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Connecther's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Texas
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
The BNSF Railway Foundation funds civic, cultural, education, health and human services, environmental, and youth programs, including operating costs and specific projects. Its 2025 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged from $100 to $500,000; it supports eligible organizations serving communities near BNSF rail lines across its 28 operating states. The foundation provides an online application process, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$23.0M
Grants
993
Total Given
$7.0M
Baker Hughes Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
990
Total Given
$3.2M
Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax
Fort Worth, TX
The foundation supports nonprofits and community projects in areas including animal welfare, nonprofit capacity building, first responders, land conservation, neighborhood development, opportunity and access, and scholarships. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1.5 million, with a median of $14,250; its service area covers 11 North Texas counties. It accepts applications for some competitive grant programs through its online portal, but donor-advised grants are not open to nonprofit applications.
Assets
$544.9M
Grants
872
Total Given
$41.3M
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Austin, TX
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation funds education, health, jobs and livelihoods, and family economic stability, with its deepest U.S. focus in Texas and additional work across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024 it awarded 835 grants totaling about $164.6 million; grants ranged from $75 to $50 million, with a median of $19,324. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online application process.
Assets
$7.8B
Grants
835
Total Given
$164.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Connecther's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Connecther down — hundreds of funders to go?