Support LION’s Government Oversight Work
Donations expand LION’s independent oversight of local government in North Texas. Every dollar accelerates the work — more districts covered, more records pulled, more reports published.
A note from the founder:
LION was founded to do something no other organization in North Texas does: provide detailed, fact-based, fully-cited oversight of local government at a hyperlocal level.
I’ve personally funded the launch of LION’s government oversight work — 16-hour days, seven days a week since early April, and over $1,500 of my own funds invested in records requests, research tools, and operating infrastructure. LION’s oversight work is operating, and it will continue operating regardless of donor support. What donor support changes is how much oversight LION can take on, how quickly findings get published, and how many districts and government bodies LION can credibly cover at once.
Funded at current levels, LION continues at its current pace. Funded at the goal below, LION’s oversight capacity expands significantly across North Texas.
The launch goal: $7,500
Our launch goal is $7,500, raised from supporters across North Texas counties. This amount does not pay the founder a single dollar of income. It funds the infrastructure that determines how broadly and quickly LION’s oversight work can scale:
- Legal entity formalization (Texas nonprofit registration)
- Equipment, research tools, and data infrastructure that expand investigative capacity
- Public information request fees across multiple jurisdictions
- Operational capacity to take on additional districts, cities, and county-level government bodies
- Resources to accelerate completion and publication of the oversight campaigns currently in progress (Allen, Wylie, Van Alstyne, and Whitewright ISDs)
Hitting this goal positions LION to expand oversight into new districts and new domains of local government accountability — faster than the founder’s personal investment alone makes possible.
Secure donation processing via Donorbox
What donor funding does — and doesn’t
Donor support funds LION’s government oversight work — the watchdog reporting on school districts, cities, counties, and the boards and offices that operate them. Donations expand the scope, speed, and reach of that work.
Donor support is not tied to LION’s other operations, including LION Concierge, which is funded independently and operates at full capacity.
Per-district funding
A per-district funding model is in development. When ready, residents of a specific district will be able to fund LION’s oversight of their district directly. Until then, donations support LION’s current oversight work across all jurisdictions.
Two ways to help
LION’s oversight work scales on people as much as money. If you have time, we welcome volunteer research agents — community members who help file public information requests, review documents, and verify findings under LION’s protocols. If you have less time but want to support the work, donations of any size make a direct difference.
LION is working toward formal nonprofit status. Contributions are not currently tax-deductible and are received as support for LION’s government oversight operations and mission. To volunteer, contact us at info@lionwatchtx.org.
