Good Reason Houston
Good Reason Houston reported $9.5 million in revenue and $10.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.15 went to program services, $12.33 to management and general costs and $4.52 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 79.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $387,921 (COO). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 16% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $10MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $9.5M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$79.33 $7.5M
- Government grants$0.40 $38,301
- Program service revenue$13.13 $1.2M
- Investment income$7.14 $677K
Other revenue was negative: −$20,643. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 79.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 13.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $387,921 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.72% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThrough Advising, Good Reason Houston helps districts implement best in class strategies for improvement. This includes working alongside district leaders to bring bold ideas to life - from strategic planning to day-to-day implementation. Advising services blend deep local context with national expertise to help school systems adopt proven strategies, increase coherence, and improve student outcomes
Through Awareness, Good Reason Houston analyzes data and conducts original research to drive informed action, producing timely data, clear analysis and original research to ensure that families, district leaders, and policymakers have what they need to make informed decisions for students
Through Advocacy, Good Reason Houston works with Pk-12 systems and policymakers to implement best-in-class strategies. Advocacy efforts include engaging communities, district leaders, school boards, and policymakers to advance policies that support excellent public education, especially in ways that expand access, remove barriers, and create longterm opportunities for all students
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $358,191 | $0 | $29,730 | $387,921 |
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $356,779 | $0 | $19,908 | $376,687 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $228,601 | $0 | $16,154 | $244,755 |
| Chief Programs Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $217,991 | $0 | $26,130 | $244,121 |
| Chief Policy Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,191 | $0 | $25,806 | $232,997 |
| Public Engagement Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $197,341 | $0 | $15,133 | $212,474 |
| Program Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,279 | $0 | $14,148 | $166,427 |
| District Partnerships Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $115,963 | $0 | $32,157 | $148,120 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Good Reason Houston (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 532
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MGT Impact Solutions District services | $1,064,978 |
| Strike Marketing Marketing | $512,874 |
| Minerva Consulting District services | $431,377 |
| Contigo Ed CCMR support to districts | $426,900 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Good Reason Houston totaling $14M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Good Reason Houston's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Good Reason Houston, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Good Reason Houston spent in FY2025, $83.15 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Universal Alcorn Charter SchoolPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $9.5M · programs 77.3% · FY2025
- Depaul College Prep FoundationChicago, IL · revenue $9.5M · programs 98.8% · FY2025
- Skyline EducationChandler, AZ · revenue $9.4M · programs 89.5% · FY2025
- Foundation for Educational Funding IILincoln, NE · revenue $9.6M · programs 85.7% · FY2025
- AIDS UnitedWashington, DC · revenue $9.3M · programs 72.8% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of Good Reason Houston's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Good Reason Houston reported that 83.1% of its $10.4 million in expenses went to program services, 12.3% to management and general and 4.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Good Reason Houston pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Good Reason Houston reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $387,921, for the role of COO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Good Reason Houston get its money?
Of $9.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 79.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 13.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Good Reason Houston a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 82-0946654 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631349349308228 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511149349300046 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430479349300138 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340879349301609 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202200429349301040 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202100369349300035 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 82-0946654: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.