The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity, also known as the Houston Equity Fund, is a public charity based in Houston, Texas. It invests in organizations and initiatives intended to empower and uplift the Black community, communities of color, and other economically challenged communities.
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity at a glance
In short: The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity gave $2.2M across 73 grants in 2024 (avg $30K), mostly in Texas. 58% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,187,550
- -57.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 73
- -52.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,966
- -9.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $24,000
- Total assets
- $2,737,540
- -59.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (42 of 73, 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 September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity
- How to Apply
-
The announced 2023 Open for Business round used an online application portal. The stated application period was May 15–31, 2023.
- Review Cycle
- May 31, 2023, for the announced 2023 application round.
- Deadline
- May 31, 2023, for the announced 2023 application round.
- Contact
Mailing address: 515 Post Oak Blvd 1000, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 333-2200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Career Gear Houston ($100K). Together the top 10 received $715K.
Grant Size Distribution
340 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 289 grants of 340 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. The 2023 Open for Business application announcement specified that eligible applicants had to be located within Houston city limits.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 73 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 42 of 73 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $24K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 29% 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 $2.2M (2024) to $5.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 73 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Career Gear Houston Houston, TX | Employment-employment preparation & procurement and open for business grant | $100,000 |
| KC Events & Florals LLC Houston, TX | Toward approved tangible assets described in open for business grant agreement | $100,000 |
| Three Keys Coffee LLC Houston, TX | Toward approved tangible assets described in open for business grant agreement | $99,750 |
| William a Lawson Institute for Peace & Prosperity Houston, TX | Education-elementary & secondary schools and open for business grant | $79,000 |
| Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation Houston, TX | Human services-human service organizations and open for business grant | $71,700 |
| S & R Truck Driving Institute Houston, TX | Employment-Job Training and Open for Business Grant | $65,000 |
| Chinese Community Center Inc Houston, TX | Human services-personal social services and open for business grant | $50,000 |
| My Connect Community Houston, TX | Community improvement & capacity building-community & neighborhood development and open for business grant | $50,000 |
| Hope Disaster Recovery LLC Cypress, TX | Public safety, disaster preparedness & relief-search & rescue squads and open for business grant | $50,000 |
| Knowledge-First Houston, TX | Education-Educational Services and Open for Business Grant | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,737,540 | $1,161,951 | $5,181,592 | $2,187,550 | 73 | $230,574 |
| 2023 | $6,689,654 | $846,038 | $9,964,071 | $5,085,188 | 154 | $489,171 |
| 2022 | $15,670,102 | $712,498 | $5,674,237 | $2,655,433 | 113 | $246,633 |
| 2021 | $20,616,010 | $20,706,147 | $135,320 | — | — | $62 |
| 2020 | $40,109 | $54,799 | $14,690 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund states that its mission is to enact transformational change by investing resources in organizations and initiatives that empower and uplift the Black community, communities of color, and other economically challenged communities.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in employment, education, human services, community development, disaster recovery, and arts and cultural awareness. For example, grantee Career Gear Houston says it promotes the economic independence of low-income men through financial literacy, career development, job-readiness, and life-skills support. The Chinese Community Center says its mission is to bridge East and West through educational, cultural, and social programs. Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum says it promotes preservation, education, archaeology, and research focused on African Diaspora history in the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 73 grants totaling $2,187,550. Grant amounts ranged from $7,400 to $100,000, with a median of $24,000. The largest awards included $100,000 to Career Gear Houston and $100,000 to KC Events & Florals LLC; both were associated with the Open for Business grant program. Other notable recipients included Three Keys Coffee LLC ($99,750), William A. Lawson Institute for Peace & Prosperity ($79,000), and Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation ($71,700).
The fund’s filing reports 113 grants totaling $2,655,433 in 2022 and no grants in 2023. Separately, a 2023 announcement described an $8 million second phase of the Open for Business program, funded by Wells Fargo and administered by the fund. The program offered awards of $5,000 to $100,000 to eligible Houston-area businesses and nonprofits. For that application round, organizations had to be established before December 31, 2021, located within Houston city limits, and have no more than 100 employees. Businesses also had to be mission-aligned and diverse-owned, with no more than $3 million in 2022 gross revenue; eligible nonprofits had to be historically underserved organizations. Grants could be used for specified tangible assets, including land, construction or renovation, inventory, equipment, and technology.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sylvester Turner as board honorary chair and director; Thomas Jones as board president and director through June 1, 2024; Barron Wallace as board vice president and director; Winell Herron as board treasurer and director; and Stephanie Nellons-Paige as board secretary and director. It also lists Gerald Alley, Gaurdie Banister Jr., Paul Cannings, Shauna Clark, and Vanessa Gilmore as directors.
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity is led by Gena Jerkins, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gena Jerkins
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$100K (2022) → $208K (2024)
Thomas Jones
Board President & Director
President → President & Director, 2022
President & Director → Board President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sylvester Turner
Board Honorary Chair & Director
Honorary Chair → Honorary Chair & Director, 2022
Honorary Chair & Director → Board Honorary Chair & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barron Wallace
Board Vice President & Director
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2022
Vice President & Director → Board Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bernard Harris
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Cannings
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Nellons-Paige
Board Secretary & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2022
Secretary & Director → Board Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Winell Herron
Board Treasurer & Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2022
Treasurer & Director → Board Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gaurdie Banister Jr.
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerald Alley
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Slaughter
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shauna Clark
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Marshall Williams
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Gilmore
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elliott Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
L'sheryl Hudson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raquel Olivier
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Edwin C Padar (2020) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Michael D Pawson (2020) — President & Director
- Former: Michael Trout (2020) — Secretary & 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 $208K, to Dr Gena Jerkins (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity
How much does The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity give each year?
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity gave $2.2M across 73 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $5.1M across 154 grants.
What is The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's typical grant size?
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's median grant in 2024 was $24,000, and its average grant was $29,966, across 73 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity that year got $31K on average.
Where does The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity give grants?
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity 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 (61 grants), Cypress, TX (2 grants) and Humble, TX (2 grants).
Does The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 73 grants with a stated purpose on The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's largest grantees?
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's largest 2024 grantees include Career Gear Houston ($100,000), KC Events & Florals LLC ($100,000) and Three Keys Coffee LLC ($99,750), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity?
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity fund?
The fund states that its mission is to enact transformational change by investing resources in organizations and initiatives that empower and uplift the Black community, communities of color, and other economically challenged communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity?
The announced 2023 Open for Business round used an online application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's EIN?
The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3674651. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 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 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-houston-fund-for-social-justice-and-economic-equity-morg_7ea8756676434d459928c910197e005c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853674651_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-houston-fund-for-social-justice-and-economic-equity-morg_7ea8756676434d459928c910197e005c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity'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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