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Parris Foundation

EIN 26-4041884 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Foundation provides free services to Houston's underserved communities, driving personal, academic, and professional growth.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
36
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$81,129, vp/vice-chair/dir. edu & outreach

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. Educational Services Program - The Foundation provides educational support to first-generation, low-income, and under-represented populations. Post-secondary services include assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations, in completing college admission applications, and with financial aid applications. The Foundation offers guidance on and assistance with secondary school reentry, entry to General Education Development (GED) programs, and other alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts. Career exploration and job shadowing are offered when students are exposed to careers requiring a post-secondary degree. Credit Recovery alternative programs allow high school students to recover course credits from classes they have missed or failed. 1,280 students were served by these programs.
  2. $189,028 spent. Crime Victim Services - This program assists with crime victim compensation, information and referral, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, assistance with victim impact panels and statements, and crime victim follow-up and advocacy. Five hundred and forty-six (546) victims were served through this program. From September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, three (3) volunteer graduate counseling interns donated 2,008 hours of counseling sessions. The fair market value of these donated services is approximately $60,000.
  3. $6,575 spent. Training and Leadership Development Program - Provides training, continuing education seminars, curriculum-based community educational workshops, and clinical supervision for licensed professional counselors, law enforcement professionals, social workers, and other helping professionals. Seventy-five (75) were trained through this program. From September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, ninety-six (96) hours of clinical services plus supervision and training sessions were provided for graduate counseling interns. The fair market value of these donated services is approximately $12,000.
  4. $5,500 spent. Scholarship & Educational Funding Program awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors for up to four years of undergraduate study, provided that the recipient maintains a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. nine (9) recipients have received scholarships from this program.

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 March 2010.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Parker Foundation Inc (Piscataway, NJ), EIN 36-4858938. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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