The Throwdown Fund will have the largest challenge fund in TFNEF’s history
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2026
CONTACT:
Andrew Freeman, 512-746-8404, [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Freedom Network Education Fund (TFNEF) today announced the launch of the Throwdown Fund, an initiative to raise $500,000 to organize, mobilize, and empower Texans advocating for strong public schools, religious freedom, and advancing democracy. The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation is fueling the effort with a dollar-for-dollar matching commitment of up to $250,000 in general operating support.
The announcement comes as voting rights, public education, and civil liberties face mounting legislative pressure across all levels of government in Texas. The Throwdown Fund is TFNEF’s direct response, channeling the momentum of a growing resistance movement into strategic, lasting infrastructure.
“Texas is at a crossroads, and we are not sitting on the sidelines,” said Felicia Martin, President and Executive Director of the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund. “The Throwdown Fund is how we go all in. With this support, TFN staff will be in a good financial position as we work to organize our communities, protect the ballot box, and fight back against the censorship threatening Texas children’s education. The extraordinary commitment from the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation reminds us that we are not alone in this fight, and that the urgency of this moment calls on all of us to act.”
The Throwdown Fund will support a suite of programs and infrastructure investments, including:
- Pledge to Power voter engagement efforts, including registering thousands of Texans to vote — with an emphasis on historically underrepresented communities — and running Get Out the Vote programs using peer-to-peer texting, canvassing, phone banking, and more.
- Voter rights education to address suppression tactics and ensure Texans know and can exercise their rights at the ballot box.
- The #TeachTheTruth campaign, strengthening TFN’s advocacy at the State Board of Education and local school boards to monitor curriculum standards and fight book bans.
- Expanded coalition and grassroots organizing to advocate for local reforms that make voting more accessible and equitable.
- Double down on base-building efforts around issues such as climate, reproductive freedom and LGBTQIA+ equality.
“We are proud to offer this challenge grant in support of Texas Freedom Network’s vital work to strengthen democracy across our state,” said Elizabeth Love, CEO of the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation. “We hope it serves as an invitation – an invitation to join us in the work of bringing true and lasting change to Texas.”
The challenge match is designed to multiply the impact of every dollar donated. Contributions to the Throwdown Fund made before the end of November will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation once TFN reaches the $250,000 threshold.
Gifts to the Throwdown Fund can be made at tfn.org/fightback.
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The Texas Freedom Network (tfn.org) is a grassroots organization of religious and community leaders and young Texans building an informed and effective movement for equality and social justice.
The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation is a private philanthropic grantmaking foundation dedicated to the environment; the health of the public, air, water, and nature; reproductive rights; and the interdependent relationship between humans and the natural world.
