About Texas 2036

Who We Are

In 2036, Texas turns 200.
Are we ready for what’s next?

For nearly two centuries, Texas has been a place of discovery, exploration and possibility. But past prosperity does not automatically mean future success.

By 2036, our state will be home to millions more Texans. That growth represents significant opportunity, but also is expected to strain our infrastructure, water supplies, schools, health care system and economy and increase current inequities in our state.

To be the best place to live and work for the next generation of Texans, and the generations after them, we will need to come together to think strategically and forge the right solutions.

Until Texas’ Bicentennial

Our Mission

To enable Texans to make policy decisions through accessible data, long-term planning and statewide engagement.

Our Vision

Texas is the best place to live and work.

Our Approach

  • Envision a stronger future through data and research
    • Grounded in actionable and transparent data to move Texas beyond partisan, regional and generational politics.
    • Focused on the issues that matter for all Texans across the state and targeting gaps impacting our most vulnerable
  • Spur strategic action through planning, leadership and coalition-building
    • Thinking boldly to energize and engage all Texans in inclusive and collaborative ways
    • Bringing Texans together to support critical decisions and actions for our future.
  • Ensure meaningful change through accountability 
    • Focused on results tracked over time against long-term aggregated goals
    • Driven by the need for sustainability and resiliency, stewarding our resources wisely and well.

Our Values

  • Action. We believe Texans take action when faced with challenges, and that we’re proud and competitive enough to take on any challenge together. We know where the buck should stop, starting with individual and community responsibility, and extending to government accountability.
  • Diversity. We believe a core value of being Texan is to be respectful, friendly and inclusive. We recognize our diversity as a strength and work towards including all Texans when setting future goals.
  • Opportunity. We believe every Texan wants our state to be the best place to live and work, and to do that, we must promote opportunity and make sure everyone has the tools and chance to succeed.
  • Pragmatism. We believe our state’s history of independence has led many Texans to be skeptical of government, but we also know Texans are practical and willing to come together to make the right – and sometimes tough – decisions when the case for action is made.
  • Resilience. We believe Texans are generous, focused on family and community, and willing to help others in need, making us able to overcome any challenge facing our state now and into the future.

Texas 2036 is a nonprofit organization building long-term, data-driven strategies to secure Texas’ continued prosperity for years to come. We engage Texans and their leaders in an honest conversation about our future, focusing on the big challenges. We offer non-partisan ideas and modern solutions that are grounded in research and data to break through the gridlock on issues that matter most to all Texans. Smart strategies and systematic changes are critical to prepare Texas for the future. 

FAQ

About the Formation of Texas 2036 and General Information

Tom Luce, Dallas attorney and long-time civic leader, founded Texas 2036 based upon a belief that Texas has growing challenges, but, by acting now, we can adjust course as needed and overcome those challenges. 

When thinking about the opportunities he had as a young person living and working in Texas, Tom became concerned that not as many young people in future generations would have those same opportunities.

In an effort to ensure future generations had those same chances to succeed, Tom pulled together a team of experts and policy analysts to review the data, determine the biggest challenges facing the state and begin to generate solutions to address those challenges.

Tom wanted to create an organization focused on affecting long-term change over time, so with this time horizon in mind, he named the organization after the state’s bicentennial.

In 1836, Texas gained its independence from Mexico and formed the Republic of Texas. In 2036, our state will celebrate its 200-year anniversary.

Texas 2036 hired its first employee on September 19, 2016. Tom and a small staff spent 18 months working to make sure that there was a need and support for a non-partisan, data-driven organization like Texas 2036. 

The organization has since accumulated hundreds of public data sets and assembled a team of experts and policy analysts to determine where Texas is today and the direction in which we are headed.

In 2019, former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings came on board as President and CEO, the Texas 2036 Board of Directors expanded to 34 members and the organization launched publicly at the Texas Tribune’s TribFest in September.

Texas 2036 is a 501(c)(3). We are statewide, data-driven and non-partisan. Our board reflects our diversity. We are funded by individuals, institutions and businesses who care about the future of Texas.

About the Policy Areas and Long-Term Strategy of Texas 2036

Texas 2036 has a broad focus on six key policy areas: education and workforce, health, natural resources, infrastructure, justice and safety and government performance. 

This comprehensive view was adopted based upon Tom’s extensive experience advocating on issues, such as mental health and education, that are usually addressed in silos. Smart, well-intentioned people head to the state Capitol to make their case for big issues. But at the end of the day, when advocacy is done in silos, key connections can be overlooked. Water supply or access to nutritional food has consequences for educational attainment. Or other challenges can impact school performance. What if children can’t get to school? What if they haven’t had their booster shots? What if they have experienced trauma at home?

Further, the biennial state budget regularly totals more than $250 billion. With so many resources at stake, it is critical that taxpayers receive a return on their investment and that state government uses those resources effectively and efficiently.

Most problems that government faces are similar to the problems that businesses face. We’re dealing with an enormous amount of disruption and social change, which requires system transformation. That does not occur overnight or in the course of one election cycle. It occurs when you have a long-term plan and you’re disciplined about implementing change over time. 

It takes a long-range vision, incremental change over time, and continuous improvement and focus. Our political system is not geared to those principles today, and political actors are not using data to drive decision-making.

Texas 2036 updated its long-term Strategic Framework that includes a set of aspirational goals related to our six policy areas in late 2022.

These goals provide the framework for an elevated conversation about what matters the most to Texans. They are informed by data, analysis and conversations with experts and community leaders from across the state, and are intended to help us collectively set priorities in order to ensure future quality of life and shared economic prosperity for all Texans. 

Each of these goals are supported by the performance indicators, datasets, and context so that Texans can further explore the driving forces behind the challenges and opportunities we face now and will continue to face, until 2036 and beyond.

About Texas 2036's Goals and How You Can Help

We engage Texans in a data-driven conversation about Texas’ growth, priorities, needs and potential. From there, we work with state legislators to advance an agenda supporting job creation, economic opportunity and better outcomes in everything from education to health policy. See our 2023 Legislative Agenda.

Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram  We need your voice in this important conversation about the future of our state. 

Also, please consider adding your name to Texas 2036’s list of donors. We will be wise stewards of your generosity and use it to help safeguard Texas’ future.

Finally, we’re working to introduce Texas 2036 to the state and engage as many people as possible. If you are part of a business or organization and would be interested in sharing information about the bigger challenges facing our state with your fellow employees, members, or others — please let our Texas 2036 team know by sending an email to info@texas2036.org.

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Annual Report

 2022 Annual Report

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