Lone Star Legal Aid logo

Lone Star Legal Aid

Public charity · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 74-1537787 Website

Lone Star Legal Aid's ("lsla") mission is to protect and advance the civil legal rights of the millions of texans living in poverty by providing free advocacy, legal representation, and community education that ensures equal access to justice. Lsla's service area covers one-third of the state of Texas. Headquartered in houston, lsla serves 72 gulf coast and east Texas counties as well as Four counties in the state of Arkansas from 13 additional branch offices.

Key facts about Lone Star Legal Aid

In short: Lone Star Legal Aid gave $514K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $171K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
74-1537787
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$513,819
Grants made (2024)
3
Average grant
$171,273
Median grant
$200,000
Total assets
$18,671,089
Primary geography
Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

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

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$18.7M

-7.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$514K

+2.2% YoY

Grant Count

3

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$171K

+2.2% YoY

How Lone Star Legal Aid gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Lone Star Legal Aid

Based on IRS filings

Lone Star Legal Aid is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $18.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $514K. Net investment income was $1K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

States

Cities

HoustonBeaumont

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K3 grants2020 3 grants2021 3 grants2022 3 grants2023 3 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $442K (2021) to $514K (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $514K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2024

Houston Volunteer Lawyers: $250KHouston Volunteer Lawyers$250KAid to Victims of Domestic Abuse: $200KAid to Victims of DomesticAbuse$200KJefferson County Bar Association Foundation: $64KJefferson County BarAssociation Foundation$64K

The largest 2024 recipient was Houston Volunteer Lawyers ($250K). Together the top 3 received $514K.

Grant Size Distribution

15 grants across all recorded years

<$50K5$50–100K7$100–250K3$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 7 grants of 15 (47%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Houston, TXFree Legal Services to Underpriviledged$250,000
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Houston, TXFree Legal Services to Underpriviledged$200,000
Jefferson County Bar Association Foundation Beaumont, TXFree Legal Services to Underpriviledged$63,819

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$40M$60M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$18,671,089$20,236,789$20,192,923
Revenue$43,596,410$40,719,207$43,487,751
Expenses$43,421,735$41,096,547$43,388,767
Net Investment Income$1,357$1,953$602

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Lone Star Legal Aid is led by Paul Furrh Jr., Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 9 of 34 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Paul Furrh Jr.

    Chief Executive Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $192K (2020) → $223K (2024)

  • Elizabeth Kroger

    Chair & Executive Committee

    Director → Vice Chair & Executive Committee, 2021

    Vice Chair & Executive Committee → Chair & Executive Committee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James L. Germany

    Chair & Nominating Committee

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James M. Douglas

    Chair & Facilities Committee

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Lukin

    Chair, Pai & Pro Bono Attorn

    Chair, Pai & Pro Bono Attorney → Chair, Pai & Pro Bono Attorn, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard E. Roberts

    Chair, Personnel & Governa

    Chair, Personnel & Governance → Chair, Personnel & Governa, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Clen Burton

    Chair & Audit Committee

    Director → Chair & Audit Committee, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brenda G. Willett

    Director of Litigation

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $144K (2020) → $180K (2024)

  • Sue Sere

    Director of Planning

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $143K (2020) → $180K (2024)

  • Sonia Lopez

    Director of Innovative Program

    Director of Innovative Programming → Director of Innovative Program, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $140K (2023) → $140K (2024)

  • Bachtuyet Nguyen

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Frank Rynd

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Josefina Rendon

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Maudester Cooper

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Lewis

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ruby Jackson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vera Montes Cloudy-Schwab

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vicente Gonzalez

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roosevelt Terry Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carlos Lopez Garza

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amelia Ruiz Fischer

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Larry Thorne

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Travis J. Wofford

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sheryl Swanton

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ernest Brown Jr.

    Deputy Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $154K (2020) → $191K (2024)

  • Rhonda Campbell

    Executive Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $79K (2020) → $107K (2024)

  • Robyn Rice

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $146K (2020) → $176K (2024)

  • Carolyn Turley

    Directing Attorney

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $144K (2022) → $153K (2024)

  • Kristy Rodgers

    Directing Attorney

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $137K (2022) → $151K (2024)

  • Benny Agosto Jr.

    Co-Chair & Development Committee

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brenda Cherry

    Long Range Planning Committee

    Director → Long Range Planning Committee, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel D. Hu

    Executive Committee & Perso

    Chairman of the Board → Executive Committee & Personnel Committee, 2021

    Executive Committee & Personnel Committee → Executive Committee & Perso, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lydia Clay-Jackson

    Finance Committee

    Chair, Finance Committee & Executive Committee → Chair & Finance Committee, 2022

    Chair & Finance Committee → Finance Committee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Kruse

    Co-Chair & Development Committee

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (11)
  • Former: Professor David Swenson (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Jamie J. Elick (2020–2022) — Chair & Audit Committee
  • Former: John W. Alexander (2020–2022) — Chair & Long Range Planning
  • Former: Richard Tomlinson (2020–2022) — Director of Extended Litig
  • Former: Thomas J. Brandt (2020–2022) — Chair & Finance Committee
  • Former: Debra Furrh (2020–2021) — Director of Advocacy
  • Former: James L. Garrett (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Roslyn Jackson (2020–2021) — Directing Attorney
  • Former: Carlos Lopez Garcia (2021) — Director
  • Former: Delores Murray (2020) — Director
  • Former: Robert Blunt Sr. (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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

Paul Furrh Jr — Chief Executive Officer: $223KPaul Furrh JrChief Executive Officer$223KErnest Brown Jr — Deputy Director: $191KErnest Brown JrDeputy Director$191KBrenda G Willett — Director of Litigation: $180KBrenda G WillettDirector of Litigation$180KSue Sere — Director of Planning: $180KSue SereDirector of Planning$180KRobyn Rice — Chief Financial Officer: $176KRobyn RiceChief Financial Officer$176KCarolyn Turley — Directing Attorney: $153KCarolyn TurleyDirecting Attorney$153KKristy Rodgers — Directing Attorney: $151KKristy RodgersDirecting Attorney$151KSonia Lopez — Director of Innovative Pro: $140KSonia LopezDirector of Innovative Pro$140KRhonda Campbell — Executive Secretary: $107KRhonda CampbellExecutive Secretary$107K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $223K, to Paul Furrh Jr (Chief Executive Officer). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Lone Star Legal Aid

How much does Lone Star Legal Aid give each year?

Lone Star Legal Aid gave $514K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $503K across 3 grants.

What is Lone Star Legal Aid's typical grant size?

Lone Star Legal Aid's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $171,273, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Lone Star Legal Aid give grants?

Lone Star Legal Aid gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (2 grants).

Does Lone Star Legal Aid give general operating support?

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

How large is Lone Star Legal Aid?

Lone Star Legal Aid reported $18.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $43.6M.

What is Lone Star Legal Aid?

Lone Star Legal Aid is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Houston, TX. It holds $18.7M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Lone Star Legal Aid's EIN?

Lone Star Legal Aid's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1537787. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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