Ground Game Texas

What it reported doing in 2024

In 2024, Ground Game Texas mobilized thousands of working-class Texans across the state to take action through direct organizing, policy education, and ballot initiative campaigns rooted in the lived experiences of their communities. We collected over 60,000 signatures to advance progressive local ballot initiatives in cities across Texas including Dallas, Lockhart, Bastrop, and McAllen engaging primarily young, Black, and Latino residents who are often excluded from traditional campaign efforts. These campaigns led to the successful placement of ballot measures for marijuana decriminalization, local democracy reform, and campaign finance accountability. Our team trained and activated over volunteers and trained over 100 local field staff, many of them first-time participants, and to engage infrequent voters, connect neighbors around shared values, and organize local coalitions. When state officials and city attorneys attempted to block or delay implementation of voter-approved policies, we launched rapid response campaigns to defend the will of Texans including organizing public pressure, earned media, and direct action. These defensive strategies helped protect local autonomy and reinforce our broader fight against state interference and preemption. By centering campaigns around tangible, winnable issues and meeting people where they are Ground Game Texas is building the next generation of organizers and shaping a new political future for Texas from the ground up.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 92.8%; rating input score 93
• Program expense ratio: 67.4%; rating input score 67
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.46 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.9%; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -37.6%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.35; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.96; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 22.3%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -29% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -34.2% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -5.4% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings