Center for Houston's Future Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Program One: Strategic Initiatives (Planning, Research and Action) Center for Houston's Future looks over the horizon at global, national, and local trends that will shape our future, and brings business, government, and community stakeholders together to engage in fact-based strategic planning, collaboration, consensus building and action on issues of great importance to the future of the Houston region. In 2024, the Center worked as follows: Energy Transition Leadership: Our energy transition work focused on ensuring Houston remains the world's energy capital as the world moves toward a low-carbon future. Based on our research and collaboration with many partners, we identified multiple opportunities to build on Houston's infrastructure base, expertise of energy companies, skilled workforce, universities, and energy innovation ecosystem. For over five years, we've led regional efforts to develop and expand a regional and Gulf Coast clean hydrogen ecosystem. CHF has been a key driver, alongside GTI Energy, University of Texas, and other nonprofits, in creating the strategy and vision for the HyVelocity Hub. HyVelocity, which launched in November 2024 and was designated for a $1.2 billion federal grant. Separately, as part of a collaboration with the Greater Houston Partnership on its Houston Energy Transition Initiative, the Center created and led a Clean Hydrogen Steering Committee focused on ecosystem development. In 2024, we had 45 companies and over 200 individuals participating in various activities, including steering committee meetings, working group sessions, workshops, and trade missions. Our five working groups, in sector development, supply chain creation, international trade, marketplace development, and demand creation, each completed efforts that contributed to the region's clean hydrogen ecosystem. We also held a grid interconnection workshop and co-produced a hydrogen pipeline regulatory whitepaper. We planned and implemented an international trade mission to Japan and Korea. Twenty-five delegates from 21 Gulf Coast companies participated in the clean hydrogen trade mission that included an industry roundtable in Tokyo and participating in a major international conference in Seoul. The Center signed MOUs with the Japan Hydrogen Association and H2Korea. We also built our relationships in Europe, signing an MOU with the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Germany's largest trade association. In 2024, we also continued work with Accenture and the Greater Houston Partnership's UpSkill Houston program on clean hydrogen workforce development, creating a framework and a model to provide jobs and career paths in the hydrogen economy. Public and Media Presence: In 2024, CHF appeared at more than 25 conferences, panels, or events, including a major rollout event for the National Petroleum Council's Hydrogen study. It also had more than 25 hydrogen media mentions. Energy Education: In partnership with Children's Museum Houston and with sponsorship from CenterPoint Energy Foundation and bp, we expanded Driving the Future, our out-of-school enrichment program for students in grades 3-8 to learn about achieving a low-carbon future. In 2024, we offered the program at Galena Park ISD both as part of its summer school enrichment program and an afterschool program at two elementary schools in both spring and fall semesters, directly reaching more than 300 elementary students in 2024. Health Care: Building on the strong foundation established by our three health care reports since 2020, the Center continued to expand its health care and health equity work. In 2024, we broadened our focus to include the intersection of climate change and health; and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Our ongoing efforts explore opportunities for collaboration among leaders in health care, business, and social services to improve community health and economic well-being in Greater Houston. Our work was bols

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 55.2%; rating input score 55
• Program expense ratio: 64.2%; rating input score 64
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.85 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 14.7%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.56; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 48.7%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -2.8% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.1% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -6.3% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings