Texas Center for Justice and Equity
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
In 2000, our organization was established as ProTex: Network for a Progressive Texas and was most recently known as the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. In 2021, the organization changed its name to the Texas Center for Justice and Equity (TCJE), better reflecting both our 20-year history of commitment to people most impacted by the criminal punishment system, as well as our vision for a better Texas. TCJE advances solutions and builds coalitions to end mass incarceration and foster safer Texas communities. We advocate at the state Capitol and in counties throughout Texas to shift funding towards community supports, and to reduce racial inequities in the criminal punishment system.
- Income
- $487,301
- Spending
- $712,255
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 19.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $82,587, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 58% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
10 of 10Gave 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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)
- $180,680 spent. County-Level Advocacy: TCJE advocates in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio - Texas largest local drivers of people into state incarceration. Ultimately, this work is a local microcosm of TCJE's statewide reform efforts; our local program goals and objectives include: (1) helping kids feel safe and heard in schools, including by advocating for - and building partnerships that improve - opportunities for in-school programming and community based resources for kids and their families. (2) Reducing the flow of people into local jails and the state prison system, including by identifying and addressing policing, prosecutorial, and judicial practices that send people into the system. (3) Prioritizing investments in local resources that can both prevent kids and adults from entering the system and support them after leaving confinement. (4) Ensuring transparent and accountable local justice systems, including by providing critical data, information-sharing, and community engagement in support of effective advocacy and informed decision-making.
- $169,387 spent. Adult Justice: Our program goals and objectives include: (1) reversing the pipeline thats pushing people into the criminal punishment system addressing not just incarceration, but arrest, pretrial detention, probation, and more; that means engaging with other, intersecting systems that wrap people into the criminal punishment system. (2) Shrinking the number of people who are currently under correctional control (in prison or jail, on probation or parole) or who are impacted by prior system involvement, including by giving people the tools and opportunities to overcome the harsh, long-term consequences of a conviction. (3) Protecting the rights and wellbeing of people behind bars, specifically to ensure their humane treatment, safety, and dignity (especially during weather- or health-related crises). And (4) investing in approaches outside the criminal punishment system that support individual and community wellbeing, including programs and services that can help people address their needs like substance use disorder, mental health problems, or past trauma. This work is supported by TCJEs Statewide LeadershipCouncil, comprised of formerly incarcerated and system-impacted Texans who advocate locally and at the Texas Capitol to end mass incarceration and help people return successfully to the community.
- $112,925 spent. Youth Justice: Our program goals and objectives include: (1) reducing the number of students who are over-disciplined and, ultimately, arrested or referred to the juvenile system, including by prioritizing restorative justice and mental health supports for students, and, where possible, defunding school police. (2) Reducing the number of kids entering youth or adult prisons, including by limiting the number of 10- to 12-year-olds sent into the system, implementing decriminalization and diversion measures, and shuttering Texas' five remaining youth prisons through staggered facility closures, And (3) advocating for investments in non institutional, non-punitive, community-based programs and services that can address kids underlying needs - both preventing kids from entering the system and supporting them after leaving confinement. This work has been supported by TCJE's Youth Justice Ambassadors - four high school and early college students who have partnered with our youth justice team to advocate for changes in punitive school culture and address the over-criminalization of young people.
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: County-Level Advocacy: TCJE advocates in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio - Texas largest local drivers of people into state incarceration. Ultimately, this work is a local microcosm of TCJE's statewide reform efforts; our local program goals and objectives include: (1) helping kids feel safe and heard in schools, including by advocating for - and building partnerships that improve - opportunities for in-school programming and community based resources for kids and their families. (2) Reducing the flow of people into local jails and the state prison system, including by identifying and addressing policing, prosecutorial, and judicial practices that send people into the system. (3) Prioritizing investments in local resources that can both prevent kids and adults from entering the system and support them after leaving confinement. (4) Ensuring transparent and accountable local justice systems, including by providing critical data, information-sharing, and community engagement in support of effective advocacy and informed decision-making.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.