Texas Access to Justice Foundation
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation is a public charity based in Austin, Texas, that funds nonprofit organizations providing free civil legal services to low-income Texans. The Foundation says it was created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984 and is committed to equal access to justice regardless of income.
Texas Access to Justice Foundation at a glance
In short: Texas Access to Justice Foundation gave $29.4M across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $817K), mostly in Texas. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $29,427,997
- +23.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $817,444
- -7.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $170,250
- Total assets
- $203,400,813
- +55.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (8 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% 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 Texas Access to Justice Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 12886, Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 320-0099
Website: https://teajf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Texas Access to Justice Foundation
Basic Civil Legal Services (BCLS) Program
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS) Program
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Texas Access to Justice Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Inc ($9.5M). Together the top 10 received $25.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 34 grants of 120 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s grant programs support eligible legal services in Texas. In filing year 2024, all reported grant dollars went to Texas recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Texas Access to Justice Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 36 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $313K; repeat grants $961K. How we count
Medians: $61K first-time, $245K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11.2M (2021) to $29.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $29.4M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Inc Mercedes, TX | — | $9,506,455 |
| Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Fort Worth, TX | — | $5,220,858 |
| Lone Star Legal Aid Houston, TX | — | $3,538,341 |
| Texas Legal Services Center Austin, TX | — | $2,140,506 |
| Texas Immigration Houston, TX | — | $1,593,274 |
| Disability Rights Texas Austin, TX | — | $1,349,233 |
| Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services El Paso, TX | — | $594,630 |
| Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Services Houston, TX | — | $538,747 |
| Catholic Charities of Dallas San Antonio, TX | — | $518,487 |
| Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas Austin, TX | — | $507,620 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts are in dollars, as reported by filing year.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $203,400,813 | $106,212,738 | $32,875,428 | $29,427,997 | 36 | $7,744,417 |
| 2023 | $130,968,269 | $91,684,776 | $26,500,369 | $23,819,190 | 27 | $3,172,525 |
| 2022 | $66,126,732 | $48,029,764 | $32,243,936 | $29,313,162 | 28 | $393,077 |
| 2021 | $49,857,702 | $15,260,660 | $13,370,094 | $11,159,768 | 29 | $419,321 |
| 2020 | $46,187,436 | $14,532,249 | $16,685,321 | $14,906,890 | Total only | $921,997 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes itself as a funding source for legal services to indigent Texans in civil matters. Its website says it grants funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income Texans.
Grantee missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid says it promotes the dignity, self-sufficiency, security, and stability of low-income residents and provides civil legal aid in Southwest Texas. Disability Rights Texas says it advocates for and protects the human and legal rights of Texans with disabilities. Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services says it provides immigration consulting and legal aid clinics for low-income immigrants and refugees in the West Texas and New Mexico region. Volunteer Legal Services says it helps low-income clients access the civil justice system through volunteer attorneys who provide free legal advice and representation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 36 grants totaling $29,427,997. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $9,506,455, with a median grant of $170,250. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
The largest reported grants included $9,506,455 to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, $5,220,858 to Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, $3,538,341 to Lone Star Legal Aid, $2,140,506 to Texas Legal Services Center, $1,593,274 to Texas Immigration, and $1,349,233 to Disability Rights Texas. Other notable recipients included Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, which received $594,630; Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Services, $538,747; Catholic Charities of Dallas, $518,487; Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, $507,620; American Gateways, $496,390; and Equal Justice Center, $479,251.
The Foundation’s website describes IOLTA, BCLS, and CVCLS grant programs and provides application resources, including grant application protocols, program rules, and general grant provisions. It requires an annual financial audit of each grantee and conducts in-person site visits to assess compliance and evaluate operations and services. The Foundation also encourages collaboration and provides technical assistance. The programs listed in the supplied program information are marked currently open.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Deborah G Hankinson as Chair, G Joseph Barrientos as Vice Chair, Terry O Tottenham as Secretary, and Roland K Johnson as Treasurer. Directors listed were Jose A Aranda Jr, Margarita Sanchez, Lisa M Tatum, Travis A Torrence, Carlos M Zaffirini Jr, and Perla Cavazos.
Texas Access to Justice Foundation is led by Betty Balli Torres, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 4 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Betty Balli Torres
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$195K (2021) → $209K (2024)
Deborah G Hankinson
Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carlos M Zaffirini Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Scofield
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kay Sim
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa M Tatum
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margarita Sanchez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Perla Cavazos
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Travis A Torrence
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Honorable Pete Gallego
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jose A Aranda Jr.
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Vickery
Assistant Director
Associate Director → Assistant Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$157K (2021) → $177K (2024)
Lisa Melton
Special Projects Manager
Special Projects Manager → Special Project Manager, 2022
Special Project Manager → Special Projects Manager, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$108K (2021) → $124K (2024)
Kimberly Schmitt
Communication Manager
Communications Manager → Communication Manager, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$110K (2022) → $111K (2024)
G Joseph Barrientos
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roland K Johnson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry O Tottenham
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Shefali Tewari (2022) — Financial Director
- Former: Pete Gallego (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rod Edens (2020–2021) — 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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $209K, to Betty Balli Torres (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Texas Access to Justice Foundation
How much does Texas Access to Justice Foundation give each year?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation gave $29.4M across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $23.8M across 27 grants.
What is Texas Access to Justice Foundation's typical grant size?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $170,250, and its average grant was $817,444, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Texas Access to Justice Foundation that year got $313K on average.
Where does Texas Access to Justice Foundation give grants?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation 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 (12 grants), Austin, TX (8 grants), Fort Worth, TX (2 grants) and San Antonio, TX (2 grants).
Who are Texas Access to Justice Foundation's largest grantees?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Inc ($9,506,455), Legal Aid of Northwest Texas ($5,220,858) and Lone Star Legal Aid ($3,538,341), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Texas Access to Justice Foundation?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation reported $203.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $106.2M.
What does Texas Access to Justice Foundation fund?
The Foundation describes itself as a funding source for legal services to indigent Texans in civil matters. Its website says it grants funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income Texans. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Texas Access to Justice Foundation?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check teajf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Texas Access to Justice Foundation's EIN?
Texas Access to Justice Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2354575. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 31, 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 November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Texas Access to Justice Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Texas Access to Justice Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/texas-access-to-justice-foundation-morg_2e4974096d6e4361b8d60f2e06cb57cb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742354575_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Texas Access to Justice Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/texas-access-to-justice-foundation-morg_2e4974096d6e4361b8d60f2e06cb57cb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Texas Access to Justice Foundation'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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