Legal Aid of Northwest Texas logo

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas

Public charity · Grantmaker Fort Worth, TX EIN: 75-0856086 Website

Ensure equal access to justice and improve the lives of low-income communities by providing high-quality legal representation, strategic litigation, valuable legal advice, and meaningful collaborations, outreach, and community education.

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas at a glance

In short: Legal Aid of Northwest Texas gave $168K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $56K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$168,194
Grants made (2024)
3
Average grant
$56,065
Median grant
$21,766
Total assets
$15,287,549
-1.3% vs 2023
Primary geography
Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Legal Aid of Northwest Texas funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2024

Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid: $141KTexas Rio Grande Legal Aid$141KThe Beacon of Downtown Houston: $22KThe Beacon of Downtown Houston$22KTexas Legal Services Center Inc: $5KTexas Legal Services CenterInc$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid ($141K). Together the top 3 received $168K.

Grant Size Distribution

3 grants across all recorded years

2<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 3 (67%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

States

Cities

AustinHoustonMercedes

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K0 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 3 grants2024

In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $168K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Mercedes, TXLegal Aid Services Statewide$141,195
The Beacon of Downtown Houston Houston, TXLegal Aid Services Statewide$21,766
Texas Legal Services Center Inc Austin, TXLegal Aid Services Statewide$5,233
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$15,287,549$34,177,391$34,043,943$168,1943$390,313
2023$15,482,854$33,355,284$33,147,074——$373,620
2022$15,572,071$31,443,762$31,422,398——$112,988
2021$16,657,040$28,236,606$28,291,744——$7,212
2020$17,896,583$25,357,861$25,773,896——$17,086
2019$9,524,736$23,705,204$24,105,387——$63,280

About Legal Aid of Northwest Texas

Based on IRS filings

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Fort Worth, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $15.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $168K. Net investment income was $390K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas is led by Maria Tomas-Jones, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2019; 6 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Maria Tomas-Jones

    Chief Executive Officer

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $149K (2019) → $199K (2024)

  • Penny R. Robe

    Chair

    Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2021

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • George A. Elliott

    Director of Administration

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $111K (2019) → $147K (2024)

  • Thomas J. Stutz

    Director of Litigation

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $111K (2019) → $150K (2024)

  • Lisa Wassell

    Director of Human Resources

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $130K (2024)

  • Brett A. Christiansen

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brit C. Swanson

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristin E. Postell

    Director

    Board Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2021

    Board Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Larry Long

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Meredith J. Hatch

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sylvia Ortiz

    Director

    Secretary → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dorothy Johnson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Ramos

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Trevino

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Hurst

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Tobey

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vincent Bhatti

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dwight McDonald

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Holton Westbrook

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sharon Troy

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristin K. Horzen

    Chief Financial Officer

    Cheif Financial Officer → Chief Financial Officer, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $97K (2019) → $146K (2024)

  • Merrit M. Klapperich

    Deputy Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $109K (2020) → $143K (2024)

  • Ruth R. Lane

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tonya Winchester

    Vice Chair

    Member at Large → Secretary, 2021

    Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Preston Moore

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (26)
  • Former: Crystal L. Gayden (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Erika Kaiser (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Maria Ochoa (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Ophelia Perez (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Samuel M. Prince (2022–2023) — Director of Development
  • Former: Diane M. Sumoski (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jean R. Anderson (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Pamela Pam St John (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Starlett A. Carter (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Yu-Cheng Jack Fan (2019–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: P. Christopher Parks (2021–2022) — Managing Attorney
  • Former: Angelina Lapenotiere (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: John D. Householter (2021) — Director of Development
  • Former: Derbha H. Jones (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Desire' Robinson (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Mary E. Wilson (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Michael W. Johnston (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Robin R. Malone (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Gary Allen Orren (2020) — Managing Attorney
  • Former: Patrick Chris Parks (2020) — Managing Attorney
  • Former: Carolyn Moore (2019) — Director
  • Former: Celestina Flores (2019) — Director
  • Former: Charles Grimm (2019) — Managing Attorney
  • Former: Mandy S. Price (2019) — Director
  • Former: Marcus Edwards (2019) — Director
  • Former: Tina Davis-Rincones (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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

Maria Tomas-Jones — Chief Executive Officer: $199KMaria Tomas-JonesChief Executive Officer$199KThomas J Stutz — Director of Litigation: $150KThomas J StutzDirector of Litigation$150KGeorge a Elliott — Director of Administration: $147KGeorge a ElliottDirector of Administration$147KKristin K Horzen — Chief Financial Officer: $146KKristin K HorzenChief Financial Officer$146KMerrit M Klapperich — Deputy Director: $143KMerrit M KlapperichDeputy Director$143KLisa Wassell — Director of Human Resources: $130KLisa WassellDirector of Human Resources$130K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $199K, to Maria Tomas-Jones (Chief Executive Officer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Legal Aid of Northwest Texas

How much does Legal Aid of Northwest Texas give each year?

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas gave $168K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990.

What is Legal Aid of Northwest Texas's typical grant size?

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas's median grant in 2024 was $21,766, and its average grant was $56,065, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Legal Aid of Northwest Texas give grants?

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.

Does Legal Aid of Northwest Texas give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Legal Aid of Northwest Texas's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Legal Aid Services Statewide" (3 grants).

How large is Legal Aid of Northwest Texas?

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas reported $15.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $34.2M.

What is Legal Aid of Northwest Texas?

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Fort Worth, TX. It holds $15.3M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Legal Aid of Northwest Texas's EIN?

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-0856086. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 22, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 30, 2025)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Legal Aid of Northwest Texas'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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