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Grassroots Leadership Inc

EIN 58-1581743 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRANSFORMING THE NARRATIVE OF CRIMINALIZATION: AN ABOLITIONIST APPROACH. ENDING THE RELIANCE ON THE PRIVATE PRISON INDUSTRY DECARCERATION: ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION, SUCH AS BAIL REFORM AND FUNDING ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES LIKE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY: CHALLENGING THE IDEA THAT PRISONS ARE THE PRIMARY SOLUTION TO CRIME AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES THAT PRIORITIZE PREVENTION, REHABILITATION, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. NON-PUNITIVE MEASURES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: FOCUSING ON REPAIRING THE HARM CAUSED BY CRIME THROUGH DIALOGUE, MEDIATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE RATHER THAN PUNISHMENT. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION: ENCOURAGING THE USE OF MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS PEACEFULLY AND AVOID THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HARM REDUCTION: IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER HARMFUL BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND SAFE CONSUMPTION SITES. COMMUNITY SAFE

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
19
Volunteers
52
Highest pay
$118,220, executive di

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

Weak: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $609,043 spent. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS - THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS WORK TO END FOR- PROFIT PRIVATE PRISONS AND JAILS AND END CRIMINALIZATION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHILE BUILDING A BASE OF IMPACTED PEOPLE AND ALLIES FOR CHANGE. CAMPAIGNS UNDER THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE A CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE INCARCERATION IN TEXAS AND CLOSE PRISON AND JAIL FACILITIES AND A CAMPAIGN TO END THE CRIMINALIZATION OF ACTIONS DRIVING MASS INCARCERATION. TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE (TAJ) IS A PROJECT OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE STRIVING TO END THE CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES, BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS OF REENTRY FROM JAIL AND PRISON IN TEXAS, AND DEMOLISH THE LEGACY OF RACISM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TAJ UNITES FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES, PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, AND ALLIES TO BUILD SAFE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH ORGANIZING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZING MODEL FOR PEOPLE FACING CHARGES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO IMPACT THE OUTCOME OF CASES AND TRANSFORM THE LANDSCAPE OF POWER IN THE COURT SYSTEM. STATISTICALLY, WE MEASURE THE PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE PROGRAM ON THE NUMBER OF CASES WE CAN TAKE ON AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME SAVED FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE CASE COUNT AGAIN THIS YEAR, WITH A TOTAL OF 79 CASES COMPLETED IN 2023 (COMPARED TO 27 CASES IN 2022) AND 10 MORE ACTIVE CASES CARRIED INTO 2024 BY THE PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE ORGANIZERS IN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON. THEIR TIRELESS WORK IN 2023 SAVED A TOTAL OF 1425 YEARS, 10 MONTHS, AND 16 DAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT TO BE HELD IN CAGES. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS - THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS WORK TO END FOR- PROFIT PRIVATE PRISONS AND JAILS AND END CRIMINALIZATION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHILE BUILDING A BASE OF IMPACTED PEOPLE AND ALLIES FOR CHANGE. CAMPAIGNS UNDER THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE A CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE INCARCERATION IN TEXAS AND CLOSE PRISON AND JAIL FACILITIES AND A CAMPAIGN TO END THE CRIMINALIZATION OF ACTIONS DRIVING MASS INCARCERATION. TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE (TAJ) IS A PROJECT OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE STRIVING TO END THE CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES, BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS OF REENTRY FROM JAIL AND PRISON IN TEXAS, AND DEMOLISH THE LEGACY OF RACISM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TAJ UNITES FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES, PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, AND ALLIES TO BUILD SAFE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH ORGANIZING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZING MODEL FOR PEOPLE FACING CHARGES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO IMPACT THE OUTCOME OF CASES AND TRANSFORM THE LANDSCAPE OF POWER IN THE COURT SYSTEM. STATISTICALLY, WE MEASURE THE PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE PROGRAM ON THE NUMBER OF CASES WE CAN TAKE ON AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME SAVED FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE CASE COUNT AGAIN THIS YEAR, WITH A TOTAL OF 79 CASES COMPLETED IN 2023 (COMPARED TO 27 CASES IN 2022) AND 10 MORE ACTIVE CASES CARRIED INTO 2024 BY THE PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE ORGANIZERS IN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON. THEIR TIRELESS WORK IN 2023 SAVED A TOTAL OF 1425 YEARS, 10 MONTHS, AND 16 DAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT TO BE HELD IN CAGES.
  2. $266,486 spent. IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS - THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO CHANGE THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT FEED THE FOR-PROFIT DETENTION SYSTEM AND RESULT IN DEPORTATIONS, IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND END CRIMINALIZATION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WHILE BUILDING A BASE OF IMPACTED PEOPLE AND ALLIES FOR CHANGE. CAMPAIGNS UNDER THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE CAMPAIGNS TO END CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF MIGRANTS, SUCH AS OPERATION LONE STAR, THE HUTTO VISITATION PROGRAM, THE SHUT DOWN HUTTO CAMPAIGN, AND THE HUTTO HOTLINE. IN ADDITION, ICE OUT OF AUSTIN AND MUJERES LUCHADORAS ARE PROJECTS OF INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY DETENTION AND CRIMMIGRATION TO REDEFINE SAFETY AND BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH ORGANIZING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
  3. $375,239 spent. NARRATIVE CHANGE - THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING THE NARRATIVE SURROUNDING CRIMINALIZATION AND ADVOCATING FOR NON-PUNITIVE POLICIES. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY CHALLENGING HARMFUL STEREOTYPES, AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS, PROMOTING ACCURATE NARRATIVES OF RESILIENCE AND HOPE, BUILDING COALITIONS WITH DIVERSE PARTNERS, CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY HARMFUL POLICIES, AND DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE AIM TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR ALL.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1984.

    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 November 4, 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.