Workers Defense Project, Inc.
Workers Defense Project is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) member-led nonprofit that organizes and provides legal and advocacy services for Latine immigrant construction workers, operating the Better Builder® certification and offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Workers Defense Project, Inc. does
Workers Defense Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, also operating under the name Proyecto Defensa Laboral, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional offices in Dallas and Houston. It is a member-led organization that organizes and advocates for Latine immigrant workers in Texas, particularly in the residential construction industry, with a focus on wage theft, workplace safety, heat exposure, and broader immigrant and worker justice.
The organization delivers a combination of direct services, organizing, and policy work. Direct-service and education offerings include Know Your Rights workshops, Employment Legal Services, and case support for workers facing wage and hour violations. Its signature market-facing initiative is Better Builder®, a voluntary certification standard for contractors and developers that ties eligibility to verifiable workplace practices, creating an accountability mechanism that complements traditional advocacy. The organization also produces original research and publications — including the Build a Better Nation report and other policy briefs — that position it as a credible voice on construction-industry working conditions in Texas and, increasingly, at the national level.
As a 501(c)(3) member-led nonprofit, Workers Defense Project is funded primarily through individual donations, membership contributions, and philanthropic grants, with no disclosed equity, venture, or debt financing. Its strategic reach is amplified through coalition partnerships, most notably its core role in the Power Up Harris County Coalition, and through policy and electoral engagement on issues including heat safety and climate resilience for outdoor workers. The organization's operating model is human-services and organizing-intensive rather than technology-mediated, and growth in scope is driven by geographic expansion (Austin → Dallas → Houston), issue-area broadening, and the scaling of the Better Builder® certification.
Workers Defense Project, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Workers Defense Project, Inc.
- Legal name
- Workers Defense Project, Inc.
- Website
- https://workersdefense.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Workers Defense Project is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) member-led nonprofit that organizes and provides legal and advocacy services for Latine immigrant construction workers, operating the Better Builder® certification and offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Workers Defense Project, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Worker Advocacy and Community Organizing
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workplace & Career Integration for Immigrants (Credentialing, Job Readiness) (EDAAADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN), Work Injury & Workers’ Compensation / Occupational Injury Benefits (BPAIAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Workers Defense Project, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Workers Defense Project, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Workers Defense generates revenue primarily through individual donations from supporters. The donation page accepts contributions at various levels ($25, $50, $75, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $5,000) with options for one-time or recurring monthly/annual contributions. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Membership Contributions: As a member-led organization, Workers Defense receives contributions from its members. Members can join and support the organization's work for immigrant and worker justice in Texas.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Individual donation tiers from $25 to $5,000+ |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Workers Defense Project, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Workers Defense Project is a member-led nonprofit that organizes low-wage Latine immigrant workers in Texas through grassroots advocacy, Know Your Rights workshops, employment-related legal services, research publications, and the Better Builder® certification program for construction industry labor standards. Its core programmatic offerings include worker education, legal referrals, policy advocacy campaigns on worker and immigrant justice, and a certification mark identifying employers meeting higher labor standards.
Product overview
Workers Defense Project is a nonprofit advocacy organization offering programmatic services rather than a commercial product platform. Its core offerings include the Better Builder® certification program for construction industry work standards, Employment Legal Services with offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Know Your Rights educational workshops, and Research Publications documenting worker conditions in Texas. These programs work together as a member-led organizing model focused on immigrant and worker justice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Workers Defense Project, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Workers Defense Project, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Workers Defense Project, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Power Up Harris County CoalitioncoreWorkers Defense leads efforts within the Power Up Harris County Coalition to secure federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate resilient infrastructure that prioritizes those most impacted, with a worker justice lens. The coalition also works on local grid and resiliency initiatives.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Workers Defense Project, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arise Chicago: A faith-labor coalition and worker center in Chicago organizing low-wage and immigrant workers for workplace justice. Comparable member-led organizing with Know Your Rights, legal referrals, and campaigns targeting wage theft and unsafe working conditions.
- Make the Road New York: A membership-based community organization in New York serving immigrant and working-class communities through legal services, organizing, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable structure: multi-service worker center with legal, organizing, education, and policy functions targeting low-wage immigrant workers.
- CASA: A mid-Atlantic immigrant rights and worker advocacy organization providing legal services, organizing, and civic engagement for Latine immigrant communities. Comparable multi-state worker center combining advocacy, services, and membership mobilization for immigrant workers.
- Centro de los Derechos del Migrante: A migrant worker rights organization focused on temporary visa workers, providing legal services, advocacy, and Know Your Rights education. Closely parallels Workers Defense's combination of legal services, worker education, and advocacy for immigrant labor populations.
- Coalition of Immokalee Workers: A worker-led organization of agricultural workers (largely Latine immigrants) in Florida that has pioneered worker-driven corporate accountability and Fair Food Program certification. Directly comparable worker-center model with certification-style program aimed at an industry supply chain.
- National Domestic Workers Alliance: A national worker center federation organizing domestic workers (predominantly immigrant women) for labor rights and dignity at work. Directly comparable member-led, immigrant-worker-centered organizing model with advocacy, legal support, and policy campaigns.
Regional players
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: A statewide Texas legal aid provider serving low-income and migrant communities, including employment-related legal services. Adjacent/regional peer with overlapping legal-services work for the same Latine low-wage population but operating from a legal aid rather than organizing model.
Broad incumbents
- Texas AFL-CIO: The state labor federation coordinating dozens of Texas unions on labor policy and worker advocacy. A broader incumbent in the same space with overlapping worker justice objectives but operating through traditional union structures rather than a worker-center membership model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Workers Defense Project, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceWorkers Defense Project, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Workers Defense Project, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Workers Defense Project, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Workers Defense Project, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Workers Defense Project, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Workers Defense Project, Inc.
What does Workers Defense Project, Inc. do?
Workers Defense Project is a member-led nonprofit that organizes low-wage Latine immigrant workers in Texas through grassroots advocacy, Know Your Rights workshops, employment-related legal services, research publications, and the Better Builder® certification program for construction industry labor standards. Its core programmatic offerings include worker education, legal referrals, policy advocacy campaigns on worker and immigrant justice, and a certification mark identifying employers meeting higher labor standards.
Is Workers Defense Project, Inc. a public or private company?
Workers Defense Project, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Workers Defense Project, Inc. founded?
Workers Defense Project, Inc. was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Workers Defense Project, Inc. based?
Workers Defense Project, Inc. is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Workers Defense Project, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are membership Contributions.
Who are Workers Defense Project, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arise Chicago, Make the Road New York, CASA, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Coalition of Immokalee Workers and National Domestic Workers Alliance. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid is listed as a regional player. Texas AFL-CIO is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Workers Defense Project, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Workers Defense Project, Inc..
What industry is Workers Defense Project, Inc. in?
Workers Defense Project, Inc.'s product category is Worker Advocacy and Community Organizing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAADAE, Workplace & Career Integration for Immigrants (Credentialing, Job Readiness), with a secondary code of BPAIABAN, State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration. Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8600.