Houston in Action Network
Houston in Action Network is a Form 990 public charity based in Houston, Texas. Formed in 2021, it partners with local nonprofits and community organizations to promote civic engagement, develop community leadership, and reduce barriers to participation in civic life.
Houston in Action Network at a glance
In short: Houston in Action Network gave $6.1M across 74 grants in 2024 (avg $83K), mostly in Texas. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,130,476
- +109.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 74
- +27.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $82,844
- +64.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $66,057
- Total assets
- $9,798,403
- -17.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (28 of 74, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Houston in Action Network
- Contact
Mailing address: 5300 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004
Phone: (832) 819-9653
Website: https://houstoninaction.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Houston in Action Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was West Street Recovery ($750K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 196 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Houston in Action Network describes its work as serving the greater Houston area, including Harris County. In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas; the other listed recipient-state shares were Illinois at 4%, California at 3%, Arizona at 1%, and Missouri at 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 74 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Houston in Action Network open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 74 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $108K. How we count
Medians: $39K first-time, $79K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2022) to $6.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 74 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Street Recovery Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $750,483 |
| Org of Chinese Americans Greater Hstn Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $375,157 |
| Trust CHW Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $198,557 |
| Avenue Community Development Corp Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $187,807 |
| Nat'l Korean American Service & Education Consortium Chicago, IL | Support community initiatives | $184,407 |
| Riyaaz Qawwali LLC Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $180,357 |
| People's Legal Clinic Of Houston Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $143,136 |
| Pure Justice Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $129,057 |
| Barbara Jordan Institute Fort Worth, TX | Support community initiatives | $118,557 |
| Houston Area Urban League Houston, TX | Support community initiatives | $115,339 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,798,403 | $8,565,629 | $10,568,871 | $6,130,476 | 74 | $12,572 |
| 2023 | $11,829,365 | $4,072,330 | $5,798,395 | $2,930,706 | 58 | $7,092 |
| 2022 | $13,703,100 | $5,298,202 | $4,181,566 | $2,503,667 | 64 | $1,192 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Houston in Action Network states its mission as promoting civic engagement through education, development, outreach, and grantmaking. Its filing describes grants for collaborative efforts such as nonpartisan voter education and engagement, organizing around a shared local vision, community leadership, and public education about community representation in the greater Houston area. It also supports emerging organizations with needs such as administration, communications, and data.
The organization describes its organizing as centered on Black, Latinx, and AAPI cohorts. Its website identifies work in community organizing, voter engagement, neighborhood coordination, narrative, digital organizing, LGBTQ+ justice, climate justice, cultural organizing, and election protection.
The 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. West Street Recovery describes its mission as helping communities rebuild after climate disasters and become more resilient. Organization of Chinese Americans describes its work as education, culture, art, social justice, and civic participation. Trust CHW says it supports community health workers advancing social and health equity. Pure Justice describes work to advance restorative justice, economic equity, and changes to criminal justice and economic structures in Harris County.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Houston in Action Network reported 74 grants totaling $6,130,476. Grant amounts ranged from $7,100 to $750,483, with a median of $66,057. Grants were recommended through a review process that includes due diligence on grantee legal and tax status and the use of grant proceeds, verification that funds are received, and examination of final grant reports. The organization says it makes grants primarily to other 501(c)(3) organizations.
The largest reported 2024 grants included $750,483 to West Street Recovery, $375,157 to Organization of Chinese Americans Greater Houston, $198,557 to Trust CHW, $187,807 to Avenue Community Development Corporation, and $184,407 to the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium. The filing lists the purpose of these grants as supporting community initiatives.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Oni Blair as chair through January 2024 and Joy Green as chair as of June 2024. It lists Melissa Marschall as secretary, Fred Lazare as treasurer, and Veronica Garcia, Magda Herrera, and Yasmin Yavar as directors. Frances E. Valdez is listed as executive director; Christopher Valdez as communications director; and Veronica Carbajal as climate, civil rights organizer.
Houston in Action Network is led by Frances E Valdez, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Frances E Valdez
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$88K (2022) → $186K (2024)
Oni Blair
Chair
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joy Green
Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Valdez
Communications Director
Director of Communications → Communications Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $131K (2024)
Ana Mac Naught
Placed Base Program Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$134K (2024)
Magda Herrera
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Veronica Garcia
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yasmin Yavar
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Veronica Carbajal
Climate & Civil Rights Organizer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2024)
Melissa Marschall
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred Lazare
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Sacha Lazarre (2023) — Director
- Former: Jen Powis (2022) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $186K, to Frances E Valdez (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Houston in Action Network
How much does Houston in Action Network give each year?
Houston in Action Network gave $6.1M across 74 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 58 grants.
What is Houston in Action Network's typical grant size?
Houston in Action Network's median grant in 2024 was $66,057, and its average grant was $82,844, across 74 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Houston in Action Network that year got $41K on average.
Where does Houston in Action Network give grants?
Houston in Action Network gives mostly in Texas: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (46 grants), Austin, TX (3 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Pearland, TX (2 grants).
Does Houston in Action Network give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 74 grants with a stated purpose on Houston in Action Network's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support community initiatives" (74 grants).
Who are Houston in Action Network's largest grantees?
Houston in Action Network's largest 2024 grantees include West Street Recovery ($750,483), Org of Chinese Americans Greater Hstn ($375,157) and Trust CHW ($198,557), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Houston in Action Network?
Houston in Action Network reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.6M.
What does Houston in Action Network fund?
Houston in Action Network states its mission as promoting civic engagement through education, development, outreach, and grantmaking. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Houston in Action Network?
Houston in Action Network has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check houstoninaction.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Houston in Action Network's EIN?
Houston in Action Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3022489. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Houston in Action Network's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Houston in Action Network funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/houston-in-action-network-morg_7e0e1d14b6294628a74190e4832f2c13
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873022489_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Houston in Action Network funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/houston-in-action-network-morg_7e0e1d14b6294628a74190e4832f2c13},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Houston in Action Network's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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