Heart of Variety Grant Program
Financial Support for Texas Families Raising Young People with Disabilities
Grants for children and young people with disabilities — helping families access equipment, therapy, mobility tools, camps, and other essentials that remove barriers to participation.
Every child deserves the opportunity to participate, explore, and thrive. If your child needs support that insurance, schools, or programs don’t fully cover, Heart of Variety grants may be able to help.
Access • Inclusion • Opportunity • Autonomy • Belonging • Joy • Dignity • Participation • Community • Access • Inclusion • Opportunity • Autonomy • Belonging • Joy • Dignity • Participation • Community
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A Simple Two-Step Grant Process
We designed the Heart of Variety grant process to be clear, accessible, and guided by lived experience. The application happens in two steps so families can quickly raise their hand for support without completing a long application right away.
step two:
Advisory Committee Review
Families selected from the waitlist will be invited to complete the second part of the application.
Applications are then reviewed by the Variety Texas Advisory Committee, a group that includes people with disabilities and advocates with lived experience.
Their insight helps guide final grant decisions.
Submitting the first request form does not require a long application and helps us understand how we can best support your family.
Understanding the Waitlist
High Demand for
Heart of Variety Support
The need for disability support across Texas continues to grow.
Right now, more than 900 families representing over 3,000 Texans are currently waiting for Heart of Variety assistance.
Because demand is so high, we use a random selection process from the waitlist for each grant cycle. This helps ensure that families across Texas have a fair opportunity to be considered for support.
If your family is selected for a grant cycle, our team will reach out with next steps and invite you to complete the second part of the application.
Even if you are not selected right away, your request helps us better understand the needs of families across Texas and strengthens our ability to advocate for more support.
our approach
Guided by Lived Experience
Heart of Variety grants are guided by the voices and experiences of people with disabilities and the families who support them.
Our goal isn’t to change who someone is. Our goal is to remove barriers that make life harder than it needs to be. We believe families know their needs best, and we trust them to share their own stories and priorities.
To help ensure our grants reflect real needs in the disability community, final applications are reviewed by the Variety Texas Advisory Committee — a group that includes individuals with disabilities and advocates with lived experience.
Their insight helps guide funding decisions so that support is rooted in real-world understanding.
We also review and refine our grant process each year to ensure it continues to reflect the values of access, dignity, and inclusion.
Serving Texas Families Since 1936 • 90 Years of Expanding Access • Serving Texas Families Since 1936 • 90 Years of Expanding Access • Serving Texas Families Since 1936 • 90 Years of Expanding Access • Serving Texas Families Since 1936 • 90 Years of Expanding Access • Serving Texas Families Since 1936 • 90 Years of Expanding Access •
Grant Timeline
Heart of Variety Grant Cycles
Heart of Variety grants are awarded throughout the year in scheduled funding cycles.
Families on the waitlist may be randomly selected to participate in an upcoming cycle. If your family is selected, our team will contact you with next steps for completing the full application.
FY26 Grant Cycle 2
March 11 – April 30, 2026
Applications open / Random selection from waitlist: March 11
Advisory Committee review: April 11
Funds awarded by: April 30
FY26 Grant Cycle 3
May 6 – June 19, 2026
Applications open / Random selection from waitlist: May 6
Advisory Committee review: June 6
Funds awarded by: June 19
FY26 Grant Cycle 4
August 19 – September 30, 2026
Applications open / Random selection from waitlist: August 19
Advisory Committee review: September 19
Funds awarded by: September 30
FY27 Grant Cycle 1
October 7 – November 20, 2026
Applications open / Random selection from waitlist: October 7
Advisory Committee review: November 7
Funds awarded by: November 21
Families do not need to reapply for each cycle. Once you submit your request, your family will remain on the waitlist for consideration in future cycles.
Need Help Applying?
We want every family to be able to access Heart of Variety support.
If you need help completing the request form, need translation support, ASL interpretation, or would prefer to share your information by phone, our team is here to help.
Call 512-328-5437, press 1, and leave your name and a good callback number.
A member of our team will return your call as soon as possible.
We are happy to support families in whatever way makes the process easiest for you.
Translation support is also available so families can request assistance in the language they are most comfortable using.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Both names are printed on the card. You and the secondary named cardholder can attend together. You may use the card to bring a separate guest Or the second named cardholder may attend with a guest.
The card is not transferable beyond the two named individuals. A valid photo ID is required.
About Variety
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Texas is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access, inclusion, and opportunity for young people with disabilities and their families across the state. Through adaptive equipment, services, and inclusive experiences, Variety supports children with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities in ways that promote autonomy, confidence, and joy in everyday life.
Since 1936, Variety of Texas has partnered with families and communities to strengthen environments where children can thrive — honoring each child’s strengths and supporting joyful engagement in all areas of life.
Financial support for texas families
How Heart of Variety Can Help
The Heart of Variety program provides financial assistance grants to Texas families raising children and young people with disabilities.
These grants help cover experiences, equipment, and everyday essentials that make life more accessible, supportive, and inclusive.
Heart of Variety grants may help support needs such as:
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Barrier-free summer camps
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Electric wheelchairs or adaptive strollers
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Therapy and care services
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Home repairs or accessibility improvements
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Adaptive equipment or communication tools
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Transportation access
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Emergency support when families face unexpected challenges
Our goal is simple: remove barriers so young people with disabilities can participate fully in life.
