Thursday, December 20, 2001

Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) announced today that it received a major grant from the Open Society Institute’s Program on Law and Society. The grant supports TPJ’s ongoing research into how private money influences Texas’ judicial elections. The $50,000 grant will fund the first year of a proposed multi-year research agenda. Investor George Soros is the founder, funder and chairman of the New York-based Open Society Institute.

TPJ Receives $50,000 Soros Research Grant

For Immediate Release:
For More Information Contact:
December 20, 2001
Craig McDonald, 512-472-9770

Austin, TX: : Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) announced today that it received a major grant from the Open Society Institute’s Program on Law and Society. The grant supports TPJ’s ongoing research into how private money influences Texas’ judicial elections. The $50,000 grant will fund the first year of a proposed multi-year research agenda. Investor George Soros is the founder, funder and chairman of the New York-based Open Society Institute.

“We are pleased that such a respected institution is supporting our legal reform work,” said TPJ Director Craig McDonald. “No other state in the union has a greater need for fundamental judicial reform.”

Receiving no corporate or government funding, TPJ relies on foundation grants for most of its funding. In 2001, it raised $275,000 from foundation grants, or enough to cover 85 percent of its $325,000 annual operating budget. TPJ also receives financial support from approximately 1,000 individual Texans.


The following foundations support Texans for Public Justice research and advocacy projects:

o Alliance For Better Campaigns, Washington, DC [Pew Charitable Trusts supports ABC]
o Arca Foundation, Washington, D.C
o Deer Creek Foundation, St. Louis, MO
o Magnolia Charitable Trust, Houston, TX
o National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL), Washington, D.C
o The Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation), New York, NY
o The Ottinger Foundation, New York, NY
o The Piper Fund, Amherst, MA
o Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund, Los Angeles, CA
o Rockefeller Family Fund, New York, NY
o The Solidago Foundation, Northampton, MA
o The Stern Family Fund, Arlington, VA
o Margaret Cullinan Wray Charitable Trust, Houston, TX