Texans for Lawsuit Reform
Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) is a Houston-based public charity formed in 1994. It works on Texas civil-justice and court-system policy through public education, legislative advocacy, and efforts to build public support for a fair, competent judiciary and a fair, balanced, and predictable dispute-resolution system.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform at a glance
In short: Texans for Lawsuit Reform gave $424K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in Texas. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $423,500
- +179.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +83.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $38,500
- +52.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $9,520,596
- +8.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- 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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Texans for Lawsuit Reform
- Contact
Mailing address: 1233 West Loop S 1375, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 963-9363
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Texans for Lawsuit Reform funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency & Reform ($250K). Together the top 10 received $414K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 35 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2024 went to recipients in Texas. This describes the reported 2024 grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Texans for Lawsuit Reform open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2018–2024). 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 2018 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2020) to $424K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $424K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency & Reform Houston, TX | General support | $250,000 |
| Lone Star Economic Alliance Austin, TX | General support | $35,000 |
| Texas Conservative Coalition Austin, TX | General support | $21,000 |
| Texas House Republican Caucus Austin, TX | General support | $20,000 |
| Texas Tribune Inc Austin, TX | General support | $20,000 |
| Texas State History Museum Foundation Austin, TX | General support | $15,000 |
| Texas Southern University Foundation Houston, TX | General support | $15,000 |
| Texas Business Leadership Council Austin, TX | General support | $15,000 |
| Texas Young Republican Federation Conroe, TX | General support | $12,500 |
| University of Texas Austin, TX | General support | $10,000 |
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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 | $9,520,596 | $5,937,200 | $5,201,014 | $423,500 | 11 | $435,027 |
| 2023 | $8,796,810 | $4,479,701 | $4,643,887 | $151,500 | 6 | $-13,754 |
| 2022 | $8,959,011 | $4,039,216 | $3,495,494 | $136,200 | 8 | $53,747 |
| 2021 | $8,382,168 | $3,976,607 | $3,963,031 | $73,718 | 5 | $109,496 |
| 2020 | $8,339,111 | $3,265,025 | $2,753,806 | $71,658 | 5 | $43,345 |
| 2018 | $8,164,840 | $3,349,738 | $2,825,313 | $96,000 | 6 | $42,037 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
TLR’s stated mission is to foster freedom, innovation, and job creation by advocating for a fair, efficient, and predictable civil justice system, with competent and independent judges applying the Constitution and laws as written. Its filing also describes work on other public-policy issues at times, including criminal justice and administrative or regulatory processes.
The 2024 grants were reported as general support. Among the grantees, the Texas Tribune says its mission is to promote civic engagement and public education through public data, events, and reporting on Texas policy, politics, and current events. The Texas State History Museum Foundation says its mission is to promote awareness of and raise funds for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, TLR reported 11 grants totaling $423,500. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $15,000. All listed grants were for general support.
The largest grants were $250,000 to Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency & Reform in Houston; $35,000 to Lone Star Economic Alliance in Austin; $21,000 to Texas Conservative Coalition in Austin; and $20,000 each to Texas House Republican Caucus and Texas Tribune Inc., both in Austin. Other recipients included Texas State History Museum Foundation ($15,000), Texas Southern University Foundation ($15,000), Texas Business Leadership Council ($15,000), Texas Young Republican Federation ($12,500), University of Texas ($10,000), and Texas Senate Republican Caucus ($10,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Richard W. Weekley as senior chairman; Emerson Hankamer, Alan Hassenflu, Fred Heldenfels, Steve Oden, Joe Popolo, Jeff Shellebarger, and Danny Signorelli as directors; Hugh Rice Kelly as ex officio; and Frederick Rowe as a director, marked deceased.
TLR’s website identifies Dick Weekley as chairman of the board, Emerson Hankamer as vice chairman, Ryan Patrick as chief executive officer, Lee Parsley as senior policy and legislative counsel and a board member, and Mary Tipps as executive director. It also lists Fred W. Heldenfels IV as treasurer and board member.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform is led by E Lee Parsley, President & General Counsel since 2023 (on filings since 2018); 4 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
E Lee Parsley
President & General Counsel
General Counsel → President & General Counsel, 2023
On filings since 2018
40 hrs/week
$240K (2018) → $372K (2024)
Mary Tipps
Executive Director
On filings since 2018
40 hrs/week
$197K (2018) → $225K (2024)
Richard W Weekley
Senior Chairman
Senior Chairman → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Senior Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2018
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Nashed
Communications Director
On filings since 2018
40 hrs/week
$101K (2018) → $122K (2024)
Alan Hassenflu
Director
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Heldenfels IV
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederick Rowe
Director -
Director → Director -, 2024
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Watts
Director
On filings since 2018
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Shellebarger
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danny Signorelli
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emerson Hankamer
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Popolo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Oden
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denis Calabrese
Chief Strategist
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$143K (2021) → $189K (2024)
Hugh Rice Kelly
Executive Officio
Senior General Counsel & Director → Senior General Counsel, 2023
Senior General Counsel → Executive Officio, 2024
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Michael Weekley (2018–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard J Trabulsi Jr. (2018–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Amy Befeld (2023) — Assistant General Counsel
- Former: Jeffrey Shellebarger (2023) — Director
- Former: Lilyanne McClean (2018–2020) — President to
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2024. "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 $372K, to E Lee Parsley (President & General Counse). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Texans for Lawsuit Reform
How much does Texans for Lawsuit Reform give each year?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform gave $424K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $152K across 6 grants.
What is Texans for Lawsuit Reform's typical grant size?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $38,500, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Texans for Lawsuit Reform that year got $52K on average.
Where does Texans for Lawsuit Reform give grants?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform 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 Austin, TX (8 grants) and Houston, TX (2 grants).
Does Texans for Lawsuit Reform give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Texans for Lawsuit Reform's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Texans for Lawsuit Reform's largest grantees?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform's largest 2024 grantees include Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency & Reform ($250,000), Lone Star Economic Alliance ($35,000) and Texas Conservative Coalition ($21,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Texans for Lawsuit Reform?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform reported $9.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.
What does Texans for Lawsuit Reform fund?
TLR’s stated mission is to foster freedom, innovation, and job creation by advocating for a fair, efficient, and predictable civil justice system, with competent and independent judges applying the Constitution and laws as written. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Texans for Lawsuit Reform?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Texans for Lawsuit Reform's EIN?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0439129. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS January 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Texans for Lawsuit Reform funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Texans for Lawsuit Reform's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Texans for Lawsuit Reform funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/texans-for-lawsuit-reform-morg_5300ed808fb2445697edde962f8a0be5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760439129_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Texans for Lawsuit Reform funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/texans-for-lawsuit-reform-morg_5300ed808fb2445697edde962f8a0be5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Texans for Lawsuit Reform'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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform down — hundreds of funders to go?