Workers Defense Project
Workers Defense Project is a member-led organization that organizes latine immigrant workers in Texas to fight for dignity and respect.
Workers Defense Project at a glance
In short: Workers Defense Project gave $871K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $290K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $870,874
- +101.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $290,291
- +101.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $10,427,896
- -13.9% 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 Workers Defense Project funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Public Policy Priorities DBA Everytexan ($494K). Together the top 3 received $871K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 27 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Workers Defense Project gives
- Giving grew 122% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $110K (2019) to $871K (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $871K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Public Policy Priorities DBA Everytexan Austin, TX | To support continued work with member organizations through non-partisan and non-lobbying efforts | $494,064 |
| Workers Defense Action Fund Austin, TX | Engage Working Texans in Electoral and Legislative Activities | $250,000 |
| Texas Riogrande Legal Aid Inc Mercedes, TX | Cover administrative and programmatic expenses related to project connect program | $126,810 |
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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 | $10,427,896 | $3,814,186 | $4,711,359 | $870,874 | 3 | $22,278 |
| 2023 | $12,109,187 | $3,835,536 | $3,073,654 | $432,500 | 3 | $41,147 |
| 2022 | $11,333,051 | $8,576,258 | $2,724,058 | $346,506 | 6 | $11,839 |
| 2021 | $5,969,244 | $3,939,258 | $3,707,932 | $392,500 | 12 | $9,648 |
| 2020 | $5,804,864 | $7,693,227 | $6,321,977 | $120,000 | 3 | $11,265 |
| 2019 | $3,957,273 | $2,277,932 | $2,838,930 | $109,751 | 3 | $9,833 |
About Workers Defense Project
Based on IRS filings
Workers Defense Project is a public charity focused on Education, based in Austin, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $10.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $871K. Net investment income was $22K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Workers Defense Project is led by Lizeth Chacon, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lizeth Chacon
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isaac Faz
Board Chair
Presodent Elect → President-Elect, 2022
President-Elect → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Schmandt
Secretary
Director → Ally Board Member, 2022
Ally Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Ruth Webber
Board Member
Director → Ally Board Member, 2022
Ally Board Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Myrna Mendez
Board Member
Director → Worker-Board Member, 2022
Worker-Board Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Huerta
Board Member
Worker-Board Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mirna Rodriguez
Board Member
Worker-Board Member → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elsa Flores
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eva Marroquin
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia De Leon
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Juliana Cruz Kerker
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oscar Torres Mendez
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Adrian Rizo (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Claudia Golinelli (2019–2023) — Vice President & Worker B
- Former: Emily Timm (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Mario Ontiveros (2019–2023) — Worker-Board Member
- Former: Parisa Fatehi-Weeks (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Sharon Medina (2020–2023) — Worker-Board Member
- Former: Jose Cabada (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Laura Olvera (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Maria Huetra (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mima Rodriguez (2021) — Director
- Former: Eva Deluna Castro (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gerardo Tovar (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jose Garza (2019–2020) — Co-Executive Director
- Former: Remberto Apaza (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Valerie Benavidez (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Myma Mendez (2020) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Workers Defense Project
How much does Workers Defense Project give each year?
Workers Defense Project gave $871K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $433K across 3 grants.
What is Workers Defense Project's typical grant size?
Workers Defense Project's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $290,291, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Workers Defense Project give grants?
Workers Defense Project 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 (2 grants).
Does Workers Defense Project give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Workers Defense Project's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Workers Defense Project?
Workers Defense Project reported $10.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What is Workers Defense Project?
Workers Defense Project is a public charity focused on Education, based in Austin, TX. It holds $10.4M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Workers Defense Project's EIN?
Workers Defense Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2296166. 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
(7)
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 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 2, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 11, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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