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Harris Center Foundation

EIN 20-2318571 · Houston, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD, FORMERLY THE MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY.

Income
$536,159
Spending
$472,171
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
20.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 99% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (7)
  1. $225,000 spent. JPMORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION - THE PROJECT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ADDRESSING COMMUNITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE GRANT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THREE SUB RECIPIENTS BY THE FOUNDATION, INCLUDING THE HARRIS CENTER, AND TWO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, IMAGINE EXCELLENCE, INC. AND HOPE OVER HURT.
  2. $25,000 spent. SAFE SPACES - THE GOAL OF THE SAFE SPACES INITIATIVE IS TO ENHANCE STAFF AWARENESS OF LGBTQIA+ ISSUES, FOSTERING SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR BOTH CLIENTS AND COLLEAGUES. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR SUCH INITIATIVES, AS STIGMA AND LACK OF CULTURAL SENSITIVITY CAN HINDER EFFECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
  3. $25,000 spent. RESILIENCY TEAM - THE RESILIENCY TEAM RECEIVED A SECOND GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION. THE TEAM CONSISTS OF 25 TRAINED EMPLOYEES SPECIALIZING IN CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM). THE TEAM OFFERS SUPPORTIVE PROCESS GROUPS, DEBRIEFING, CRISIS COUNSELING, AND REFERRALS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES HEAL.
  4. $12,000 spent. PBS ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 3.0 - PBS 3.0 UTILIZES AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF LEARNING BY IMPLEMENTING A VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) PLATFORM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERAPY TO ALLOW NEURODIVERGENT INDIVIDUALS TO INSERT THEMSELVES INTO VARIOUS SITUATIONS, NO MATTER WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL IS PHYSICALLY. ONE OF THE PRIMARY BENEFITS OF INTEGRATING VR TECHNOLOGY INTO THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENTS IS THAT IT PROVIDES INTERACTIVE LEARNING, ENABLING THE INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE CONTROL OF HIS OR HER LEARNING PROCESS BY USING EVIDENCE BASED AND CLIENT INTERFACED MODULES TO TEACH DIFFERENT SKILLS.
  5. $20,000 spent. PAWS ANIMAL ASSISTED SERVICES - THIS WAS A SECOND GRANT TO SUPPORT ANIMAL ASSISTED SERVICES FOR HARRIS CENTER CLIENTS TO RECEIVE A NON-TRADITIONAL METHOD OF CARE PROVEN TO INCREASE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. THE GRANT FUNDING PROVIDES EIGHT WEEK SESSIONS WITH HEALING SPECIES PARTNER WITH THE HOSPITAL TO HOME PROGRAM.
  6. $20,000 spent. EMPOWERHER - THE "EMPOWERHER" WORKSHOP, LAUNCHING IN JANUARY 2025, WILL BRING TOGETHER TEEN GIRLS AND THEIR PARENTS TO FOCUS ON PERSONAL GROWTH AND FAMILY COMMUNICATION. IT COVERS THREE KEY AREAS: BUILDING CONFIDENCE, PROMOTING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, AND OFFERING TOOLS FOR MANAGING FAMILY DYNAMICS. THE WORKSHOP AIMS TO FOSTER STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTHIER SELF PERCEPTIONS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
  7. $10,000 spent. THE HARRIS CENTER - ONE-OFF DONATIONS TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF THE HARRIS CENTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.