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Texas Rural Funders

EIN 86-1401662 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEXAS RURAL FUNDERS IS A DIVERSE COALITION OF FUNDERS WORKING WITH RURAL COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS TO THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. WE FOCUS ON PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE COLLECTIVE ACTION AND WHICH CANT BE SOLVED BY ONE ORGANIZATION ALONE. WE SEEK TO BRING ADDITIONAL ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO RURAL TEXAS, INCLUDING USING COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY TO ELEVATE RURAL VOICES. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED AND THAT THE FUTURE OF TEXAS DEPENDS ON STRONG, RURAL COMMUNITIES. TEXAS RURAL FUNDERS IS DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, INCLUDING, FOR SUCH PURPOSES, THE MAKING OF DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, OR CORRESPONDING SECTION OF ANY FUTURE FEDERAL TAX CODE.

Income
$852,286
Spending
$578,093
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$144,179, 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    6 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 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 (1)
  1. $472,435 spent. TEXAS RURAL FUNDERS MOBILIZES THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPY TO STRENGTHEN RURAL TEXAS. WE HELP FUNDERSGENERATE RESOURCES AND ATTENTIONTOWARD RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE, ANDENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE ACTION. IN 2024, WE REVISED OUR MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE TO BETTER SUPPORT SMALL AND RURAL MEMBERS, CONVENED OUR RURAL LIBRARY WORKING GROUP, AND CELEBRATED RURAL RESILIENCE BY HOSTING OUR ANNUAL IN-PERSON MEMBER MEETING IN AMARILLO. WE RESEARCHED AND PUBLISHED TOOLS FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING:BOOSTING BROADBAND WITH E-RATE, A GUIDE TO HELP SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ACCESS FEDERAL BROADBAND FUNDING ANDPLANTING SEEDS OF PROSPERITY: HOW CDFIS CAN TRANSFORM RURAL TEXAS. WE OFFERED MANY WEBINARS IN 2024, BUT OURVIRTUAL TOUR OF MARATHON HEALTH CENTERTHROUGH OURRURAL HEALTHCARE DISCUSSION SERIESWAS PARTICULARLY NOTABLE BECAUSE IT SHOWCASED CUTTING-EDGE HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. TEXAS RURAL FUNDERS IS DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO CHARITABLE, RELIGIONS, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, INCLUDING, FOR SUCH PURPOSES, MAKING DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, OR CORRESPONDING SECTION OF ANY FUTURE FEDERAL TAX CODE. TEXAS RURAL FUNDERS MOBILIZES THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPY TO STRENGTHEN RURAL TEXAS. WE HELP FUNDERSGENERATE RESOURCES AND ATTENTIONTOWARD RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE, ANDENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE ACTION. IN 2024, WE REVISED OUR MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE TO BETTER SUPPORT SMALL AND RURAL MEMBERS, CONVENED OUR RURAL LIBRARY WORKING GROUP, AND CELEBRATED RURAL RESILIENCE BY HOSTING OUR ANNUAL IN-PERSON MEMBER MEETING IN AMARILLO. WE RESEARCHED AND PUBLISHED TOOLS FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING:BOOSTING BROADBAND WITH E-RATE, A GUIDE TO HELP SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ACCESS FEDERAL BROADBAND FUNDING ANDPLANTING SEEDS OF PROSPERITY: HOW CDFIS CAN TRANSFORM RURAL TEXAS. WE OFFERED MANY WEBINARS IN 2024, BUT OURVIRTUAL TOUR OF MARATHON HEALTH CENTERTHROUGH OURRURAL HEALTHCARE DISCUSSION SERIESWAS PARTICULARLY NOTABLE BECAUSE IT SHOWCASED CUTTING-EDGE HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. TEXAS RURAL FUNDERS IS DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO CHARITABLE, RELIGIONS, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, INCLUDING, FOR SUCH PURPOSES, MAKING DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, OR CORRESPONDING SECTION OF ANY FUTURE FEDERAL TAX CODE.

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 October 13, 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 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 October 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 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.