Workers Defense Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT IS A MEMBER-LED ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZES LATINE IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN TEXAS TO FIGHT FOR DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 17.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $167,837, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $973,408 spent. EMPLOYMENT AND LEGAL SERVICES: THROUGH WORKERS DEFENSE EMPLOYMENT LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WE ORGANIZE WITH WORKERS TO SUPPORT THEM IN ADDRESSING WORKPLACE ISSUES LIKE WAGE THEFT, UNSAFE CONDITIONS, RETALIATION ETC. WE SUPPORT THEM WITH THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THAT WORK AND ENSURE THAT THOSE WORKERS STAY INVOLVED IN OUR LARGER WORK IN SUPPORT OF WORKER JUSTICE IN TEXAS. WE TRAIN WORKERS ON THEIR LABOR RIGHTS SO THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AT THE JOB.
- $1.5 million spent. ORGANIZING: ORGANIZING IS AT THE HEART OF ALL OF OUR WORK, BUT THROUGH THE ORGANIZING DEPARTMENT WE WORK TO INCREASE OUR BASE OF MEMBERS, PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAININGS TO OUR CURRENT MEMBERS AND TOGETHER RUN ISSUE CAMPAIGNS THAT HELP TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WORKERS AND IMMIGRANTS IN TEXAS.
- $1.4 million spent. BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM: WE WORK TO HIGHLIGHT THE DANGERS OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN TEXAS AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH DEVELOPERS OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SET HIGH STANDARDS FOR WORKSITES TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS ARE SAFE AT THE JOB AND HAVE GOOD BENEFITS THAT ALLOW THEM TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
- $37,615 spent. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: THIS PROJECT RECOGNIZES THAT AT TIMES THERE ARE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY; IN 2024 THERE WERE TWO BIG STORMS THAT IMPACTED THE HOUSTON AREA AND THE DALLAS AREA. THOSE STORMS LEFT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS STRUGGLING TO REPLACE LOST FOOD, DAMAGES TO THEIR HOMES AND LOST HOURS OF WORK. THIS PROJECT PROVIDED A SMALL AMOUNT OF GRANTS TO IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THAT REACHED OUT FOR SUPPORT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.