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Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund

EIN 76-0260204 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$28.2 million
Spending
$19.6 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
56.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
0
Volunteers
36,000
Highest pay
$675,829, president

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 56.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 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 (3)
  1. $15.2 million spent. THE HLSR EDUCATIONAL FUND AWARDED $1,400,000 IN 4-H, FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (70 X $20,000); $1,580,000 IN AREA GO TEXAN, FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (79 X $20,000); $600,000 IN EXHIBITORS, FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (30 X $20,000); $1,400,000 IN FFA, FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (70 X $20,000); $300,000 IN HILDEBRAND, FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (15 X $20,000), PLUS A ($500,000) ADDITIONAL DONATION TO THE ENDOWMENT; $7,000,000 IN HOUSTON AREA SCHOLARS, FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (350 X $20,000); $300,000 IN SCHOOL ART, FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (15 X $20,000); $100,000 IN MILITARY, FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS (5 X $20,000); $1,204,000 IN ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS (95 X $4,000 - $16,000); $500,000 IN VOCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING (10 X VARIED AMOUNT); $10,000 IN TEXAS CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY RANCH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (4 X $2,500); $128,000 IN TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY DR VET MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIPS (8 X $16,000); AND $200,000 IN VOLUNTEER DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIPS (10 X $20,000).
  2. $3.7 million spent. AWARDED $3,720,646 IN EDUCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURE GRANTS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. SOME OF THE GRANTS FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, BENEFITTING FFA AND 4-H PROGRAMS AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS AT VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES. THERE ARE ALSO GRANTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AT MANY CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, MAINLY FOCUSED IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
  3. $374,224 spent. IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS AWARDED, RESOURCES ARE ALSO SPENT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE EDUCATIONAL FUND'S PROGRESS AND TO SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS STRIVING TO MEET THEIR DEGREE GOALS. AN ANNUAL EXHIBIT INFORMS RODEO ATTENDEES OF THE EDUCATIONAL FUND'S ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, CAMPUS EVENTS, AND OTHER ENDEAVORS HELP GIVE STUDENTS THE RESOURCES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ONCE A STUDENT HAS GRADUATED, THEY CAN JOIN THE SCHOLARSHIP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, PROVIDING THEM A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATION, CONNECT WITH CURRENT SCHOLARS AND NETWORK WITH PAST SCHOLARS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.