News Release

Austin, TX: Texans for Public Justice today announced that its research foundation has been awarded a $7,500 grant from the Magnolia Charitable Trust for its continuing work to track campaign finance money in Texas.  The grant raises the organization’s foundation support for money and politics research in Texas to more than $252,000 for 1999 and 2000.

 “We are thrilled to receive support from the Magnolia Trust and the other public policy foundations that value our work,” said Craig McDonald, Director of the non-partisan, non-profit research and advocacy organization.  “Many philanthropic institutions are rightly concerned about special interest influence on democracy.  We appreciate the fact that many of these institutions have recognized the quality and utility of TPJ’s research and educational projects.”

 Texans for Public Justice relies upon foundation grants for the bulk of its funding.  For the current fiscal year, TPJ is expected to raise approximately $275,000 from public foundation grants, accounting for 85 percent of its $325,000 operating budget.

 Texans for Public Justice receives no corporate or government funding.  TPJ, which is not a membership-based organization, enjoys support from a network of approximately 1,000 individual donors within Texas who have contributed an average of less than $150.

 The following foundations have awarded grants to Texans for Public Justice projects totaling $252,000 for 1999-2000:

The Alliance For Better Campaigns, Washington, DC  (The Alliance is supported by grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts.)
The Arca Foundation, Washington, D.C
 The Magnolia Charitable Trust, Houston, TX
The National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL), Washington, D.C
The Proteus Fund, Amherst, MA
The Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Los Angeles, CA
The Margaret Cullinan Wray Charitable Trust, Houston, TX

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