AJF is a non-profit volunteer organization supporting women, children and the elderly in the Austin area through community service and fund raising.

Austin Junior Forum serves the community in many different ways from hands on community service to raising funds and providing grants to other non-profits in our Austin community. We have two internal community service projects, the Teddy Bear Program which donates stuffed Teddy Bears and Dalmatians to Austin Emergency Services for children in crisis situations and Kids on the Block (KOB) an International educational puppet show addressing difficult issues that children face in today’s world. For more information on our community service projects, please visit our Community Service and Outreach Projects page.

AJF’s annual fundraiser, Christmas at Caswell, raises funds that are distributed to other local area non-profits through our grants program.  Since the inception of the grants program in 1983, AJF has contributed more that $1.3 Million dollars towards causes benefiting women, children and the elderly in the Austin community.

Austin Junior Forum is also the proud owner of the Historical Daniel H. Caswell House . This beautiful Victorian home was built at the turn of the 20th Century and was purchased and restored by the ladies of Austin Junior Forum in 1979. It was opened to the public in 1983 as a venue for weddings and events as well as a center for Community Service. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Press (link under construction)

History of Austin Junior Forum

AJF was founded on March 28, 1969. That spring, eighteen young women joined together to promote civic, educational and philanthropic interests in Austin. Application was made with Junior Forum, Incorporated to initiate a local chapter and in the fall of 1969, the charter of Austin Junior Forum was established. AJF is one of ten JFI chapters in Texas, with Houston Junior Forum being the initial chapter founded in the 1940’s.

Junior Forum, Inc. Chapters around the state include:
Dallas
Georgetown
Nacogdoches
Beaumont
Pasadena-Bay Area
Baytown
Cypress Woodlands
Houston
San Antonio

In November 1978, AJF submitted a bid to the City of Austin for the purchase of the Daniel H. Caswell House. The City Council awarded the home to AJF for the purchase price of $125,830 and the closing took place on January 5, 1979. The Daniel H. Caswell House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. AJF members and their families spent many laborious hours working to rehabilitate the interior of this stately home. 

Mission

AJF is a non-profit volunteer organization supporting women, children, and the elderly in the Austin Area through community service and fund raising.

Executive Board

Becky Conditt, President
Seanna Henry, President Elect 
Claire Branson, Treasurer
Kristen Caldwell, Membership VP
Christi VanRite, Fundraising VP
Grace Holland, Grants VP
Kathy Phillips, Community Service VP
Liza Chen, Public Relations VP
Elaine Perez, Development VP
Linda Cavazos, Caswell House Chair
Nicole Chargualaf, Recording Secretary
Coralinn Young, Parliamentarian
Betsy Bird, JFI Representative
Geri Blancken, Advisor

Tax-exempt Information:
AJF is sales tax exempt under Chapter 151, section 151-310 of the sales tax law.
AJF also has a 501(C)(3) designation under the IRS code.