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Texas Southern University Foundation

EIN 74-1620415 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceFair58 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO AID IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF RESEARCH CAPABILITIES, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, AND STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$15.1 million
Spending
$16.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
15.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
0

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $2.5 million spent. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES AND ADMINISTERS PRIVATE GRANTS THAT ENHANCE THE RESEARCH CAPABILITIES OF DIFFERENT UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS. FOR THE FILING PERIOD, THERE WERE OUTSTANDING RESEARCH RESULTS THAT WERE PRODUCED BY TSU BULLARD CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND TSU CENTER FOR JUSTICE RESEARCH. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE RESEARCH IS A RESEARCH CENTER DEVOTED TO DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR AN EQUITABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE CENTER PROVIDES A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE RESEARCH APPROACH TO MASS INCARCERATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. ITS MISSION IS TO REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION THROUGH TARGETED, CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE, EVIDENCE-SUPPORTED SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENTS. THE CENTER'S RESEARCHERS TURN DATA INTO SOLUTIONS. HOUSTON, TEXAS, HAS THE THIRD LARGEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN AMERICA, GIVING OUR RESEARCHERS OPPORTUNITIES TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. FROM INITIAL CONTACT TO RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY, THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE RESEARCH ADVOCATES FOR REFORM IN CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND APPROACHABLE SOLUTIONS. SINCE 2018, THE CENTER HAS WORKED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH RESEARCH AND COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENTS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED POLICIES AND PARTNERING WITH STAKEHOLDERS. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES AND ADMINISTERS PRIVATE GRANTS THAT ENHANCE THE RESEARCH CAPABILITIES OF DIFFERENT UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS. FOR THE FILING PERIOD, THERE WERE OUTSTANDING RESEARCH RESULTS THAT WERE PRODUCED BY TSU BULLARD CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND TSU CENTER FOR JUSTICE RESEARCH. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE RESEARCH IS A RESEARCH CENTER DEVOTED TO DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR AN EQUITABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE CENTER PROVIDES A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE RESEARCH APPROACH TO MASS INCARCERATION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. ITS MISSION IS TO REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION THROUGH TARGETED, CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE, EVIDENCE-SUPPORTED SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENTS. THE CENTER'S RESEARCHERS TURN DATA INTO SOLUTIONS. HOUSTON, TEXAS, HAS THE THIRD LARGEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN AMERICA, GIVING OUR RESEARCHERS OPPORTUNITIES TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. FROM INITIAL CONTACT TO RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY, THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE RESEARCH ADVOCATES FOR REFORM IN CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND APPROACHABLE SOLUTIONS. SINCE 2018, THE CENTER HAS WORKED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH RESEARCH AND COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENTS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED POLICIES AND PARTNERING WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
  2. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION ALSO RECEIVES AND ADMINISTERS PRIVATE GRANTS THAT ENHANCE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT HEALTH SERVICES.
  3. $11.9 million spent. THE FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO AID IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES.
  4. THE FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO AID IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES.

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 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 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 June 2021.

    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.