East Harris County Empowerment Council

What East Harris County Empowerment Council does

East Harris County Empowerment Council (EHCEC) is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 27-0377576) founded in 2008 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, that delivers free community empowerment programs to underserved populations across six contiguous East Harris County communities: Channelview, Crosby, Galena Park, Jacinto City, North Shore, and Sheldon. Its core offerings are organized around three pillars — connecting communities, empowering people, and transforming lives — and span benefits navigation (SNAP, Medicaid/CHIP, WIC, TANF, housing, utility assistance), disaster preparedness training, and three education academies consolidated under the EmpowerU umbrella: the Community Builders Academy (leadership), Community Entrepreneurship Academy (business skills, powered by MOBI at Santa Clara University), and Community Organizing Academy (environmental justice). Auxiliary services include the EHCTX Neighbor Program (resource matching), the LINK convening network (cross-sector coordination), the Reproductive Health Access Fund (maternal/infant health), the Unforgettable Christmas Experience (youth holiday program), volunteer engagement, and fundraising tools.

The organization's technology infrastructure is conventional rather than proprietary: a WordPress-based website (eastharriscounty.org), a Galaxy Digital-powered volunteer portal (ehcec.galaxydigital.com), a Donor Support donation portal (eastharriscounty.donorsupport.co), and standard social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X. No APIs, SDKs, AI/ML capabilities, or integrations are disclosed. Operationally, EHCEC relies on 11-50 staff supplemented by hundreds of annual volunteers contributing thousands of service hours, with headquarters at 11821 East Freeway Suite 500, Houston.

EHCEC's revenue model is entirely donation- and grant-driven, as is typical for a community-focused 501(c)(3). Documented 2025 funding includes a $105,000 grant from CVS Health for workforce expansion and a $3,500 grant from Crane Charitable Funds for Back to School programming; additional support flows from ACAM, Episcopal Health Foundation, IKAR Texas Relief Fund, and individual donors via matching gift and fundraising campaign tools. All services are provided free of charge to residents. Leadership is founder-led by Terence Narcisse (Founder & CEO, who established the organization at age 18), with Miranda Bonton as CFO, Christina Alley as Chief People & Culture Officer, Dwayne Morrow as Director of Community Impact, and Michelynne Bell as Director of People & Culture; the board was expanded in August 2025 with LaKeisha LeBlanc and Shanisha Smith. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, GuideStar Platinum transparency status, a 2024 Great Nonprofits Top Rated Award, and 601 Google reviews at a 5-star rating.

Name

East Harris County Empowerment Council

Legal name

East Harris County Empowerment Council

Website

https://eastharriscounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

East Harris County Empowerment Council (EHCEC) is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free benefits navigation, disaster preparedness, and education programs to underserved residents across six East Harris County communities, funded by grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

Keywords

• Community empowerment services
• Disaster preparedness training
• Public benefits navigation
• Nonprofit community programs
• Leadership development academies

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations supporting EHCEC's mission to connect communities, empower people, and transform lives in East Harris County. The organization offers matching gift programs and fundraising campaign tools for supporters.
2. Grants: EHCEC receives grant funding from corporate partners (CVS Health $105,000 grant for workforce expansion), foundations (Crane Charitable Funds $3,500 for Back to School), and government/federal programs to support organizational operations and community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

East Harris County Empowerment Council (EHCEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects residents of East Harris County communities (Channelview, Crosby, Galena Park, Jacinto City, North Shore, and Sheldon) to free resources and opportunities. It delivers programs including benefits navigation for SNAP/Medicaid/CHIP/WIC/TANF, disaster preparedness training, community health workshops, and EmpowerU academies covering leadership, entrepreneurship, and community organizing. The organization also operates as a regional convener through the EHCTX LINK network and EHCTX Events platform.

Product overview

EHCEC offers a comprehensive portfolio of community empowerment programs and services organized around connecting communities, empowering people, and transforming lives. The core programs include EHCTX Neighbor Program (resource connection), EHCTX LINK (regional collaboration network), and EHCTX Events (community gatherings). Education and training offerings under EmpowerU include the Community Builders Academy (leadership development), Community Entrepreneurship Academy (business skills), and Community Organizing Academy (environmental justice advocacy). Additional services span disaster preparedness training, health and safety initiatives, benefits navigation assistance, fundraising tools, and volunteer opportunities. The organization serves Channelview, Crosby, Galena Park, Jacinto City, North Shore, and Sheldon communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EHCTX Neighbor Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of volunteers and thousands of service hours annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Safe Kids Greater HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025Safe Kids Greater Houston donated 10 new infant car seats valued at $1,000 for EHCEC's Infant Health and Safety Workshop on July 17, 2025. Partnership includes ongoing collaboration for child passenger safety initiatives.
• North Channel WICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025North Channel WIC partnered with EHCEC for the Infant Health and Safety Workshop, recruiting and registering participants for the event focused on maternal health navigation and car-seat safety education.
• Women's Care CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025Women's Care Center provided certified technicians for car-seat installation demonstrations at EHCEC's Infant Health and Safety Workshop, offering personalized instruction to mothers.
• University of Houston (Office of Governmental Relations, Athletics)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022University of Houston partnered with EHCEC for the Unforgettable Christmas Experience, providing campus tours and a basketball game event for 100 high school students.
• Reliant (NRG Company)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Reliant supported the Unforgettable Christmas Experience program as a partner providing resources for East Harris County high school students.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Amazon partnered with EHCEC for the Unforgettable Christmas Experience, contributing to support of 100 high school students in East Harris County.
• Community Health ChoiceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Community Health Choice supported the Unforgettable Christmas Experience program as a partner for East Harris County youth.
• Frost BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Frost Bank partnered with EHCEC for the Unforgettable Christmas Experience, contributing to financial literacy programming for 100 high school students.
• Harris County Precinct 2minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Harris County Precinct 2 partnered with EHCEC for community programs supporting East Harris County residents.
• Hankin Patent Law FirmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Hankin Patent Law Firm supported the Unforgettable Christmas Experience as a partner for East Harris County high school students.
• Judge Joe StephensminorOthersJustice of the Peace Judge Joe Stephens donated 150 backpacks to EHCEC's Back to School efforts, exemplifying community leadership and commitment to youth education in East Harris County.
• ComcastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComcast supports EHCEC's Community Entrepreneurship Academy as a Power Partner, providing resources and sponsorship for entrepreneurship education programs.
• Houston MethodistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston Methodist supports EHCEC programs as a partner, contributing to community health and wellness initiatives in East Harris County.
• San Jacinto CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Jacinto College partners with EHCEC to support educational programs and workforce development initiatives in East Harris County communities.
• My Own Business Institute (MOBI) at Santa Clara UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOBI provides expert-developed curriculum for EHCEC's Community Entrepreneurship Academy, offering free online business education content trusted by over a million learners worldwide.
• Episcopal Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpiscopal Health Foundation supports EHCEC's Community Builders Academy, providing funding and resources to develop community leadership skills in East Harris County residents.
• Union Pacific RailroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion Pacific Railroad supports EHCEC's disaster preparedness training initiatives as a community partner in East Harris County.
• TC EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTC Energy (Problem Solvers program) supports EHCEC's disaster preparedness training as a community partner providing resources for East Harris County residents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Coastal Plains Region of the American Red Cross: Provides disaster preparedness training, emergency response, and recovery services across the Gulf Coast region. Most directly comparable to EHCEC's Disaster Preparedness Training program and disaster relief mission, though at substantially larger national-institutional scale.
• Avenue 360 Health and Wellness: Federally qualified health center providing primary care, behavioral health, and HIV services in underserved Houston neighborhoods. Comparable to EHCEC's health-focused programming (maternal health, community health fairs, health navigation) with overlapping target population in East Houston communities.
• ACAM (Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries): Houston-area interfaith network of ministries providing benefits navigation, emergency assistance, and self-sufficiency programs. ACAM is both a peer and an active EHCEC funder; their service model and target population overlap directly with EHCEC's benefits assistance and emergency services programs.
• Houston Area Urban League: Affiliated with the National Urban League, serving Greater Houston with workforce development, entrepreneurship training, civic engagement, and youth programs. Direct overlap with EHCEC's Community Builders Academy, Community Entrepreneurship Academy, and youth programming.

Broad incumbents

• Neighborhood Centers Inc. dba BakerRipley (legacy entity): Legacy Houston settlement-house model offering English-language classes, tax assistance, citizenship help, and senior services. Operates similar programs to EHCEC (education academies, benefits navigation) but with multi-site infrastructure and decades of institutional funding relationships.
• United Way of Greater Houston: Large regional funder and convener supporting health, education, and financial stability programs across Greater Houston, including East Harris County. Comparable as a regional convener and disaster-response coordinator, with overlapping thematic priorities (ALICE population, disaster recovery, education) but vastly greater resources.
• BakerRipley: One of the largest community development nonprofits in the Houston region, offering education, immigration, financial coaching, and senior services. Comparable to EHCEC across multiple program categories (community education, benefits navigation, family services) but operates at significantly greater scale and broader geographic scope.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: Provides disaster relief, refugee resettlement, benefits navigation, and family services across the Houston region. Directly comparable to EHCEC's disaster preparedness and benefits assistance work, with overlapping service population and program taxonomy, but at substantially larger organizational scale.

Others

• Episcopal Health Foundation: Houston-region foundation that funds community health, mental health, and social determinants of health initiatives. Both an active EHCEC funder (Community Builders Academy) and a thematic peer focused on community health equity in the same service area.
• Greater Houston Community Foundation: Regional grantmaking and donor-advised fund organization that supports community-level nonprofits across Greater Houston. Indirectly comparable as a funding ecosystem participant — both are nonprofit actors in the East Harris County philanthropic landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ehcec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/myehcec
• Facebookfacebook.com/ehcec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ehcec
• Instagraminstagram.com/ehcec/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East Harris County Empowerment Council