Partner and Support the Community Exchange by Impact Hub Houston

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Our common ground for what matters. Less noise. More connection. Pay what you want — everyone gets the whole thing.

Our common ground for what matters. Less noise. More connection.

Houston is full of people doing good work: neighbors, organizations, agencies, projects. The Community Exchange puts it all in one place, so you can look around, explore what you are interested in, and get involved.

How Houston’s Home Base Came to Life

Over more than 18 months, David poured thousands of hours of blood, sweat, tears, and trial and error into building The Community Exchange—driven by an obsession with bringing a true home base to life for neighbors and all Houstonians to get involved in their community. Coming at it as an artist and a community builder rather than a traditional software engineer, he learned by breaking things, hitting dead ends, and starting over whenever a design felt too complicated or institutional. That persistence produced a single, welcoming place that maps the connected layers of government, community, civic life, social and communal spaces, culture, the arts, economics, the environment, family, and neighborhoods—and makes all of it easy to understand across English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

88 Houston neighborhoods
21 layers of government
10,000+ ways to plug in
3 languages (English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

Open to everyone: 10,000+ ways to plug in, 88 neighborhoods, 0 paywalls, 0 logins to look around

Open to everyone. Zero paywalls. Zero logins to look around.

We made a promise on day one: The Community Exchange will never put Houston’s civic and community life behind a paywall.

Whether you’re a parent looking for a Saturday youth program, a neighbor checking who represents your block, or a grassroots organizer sharing a food distribution—you get the whole platform, free and in plain language, without ever hitting a login wall.

Knowledge is power, and it stays free for everyone because neighbors and local organizations chip in to keep the lights on.

1. For Neighbors: Every Month ($1/mo and up)

$1 a month gets you in. Or pick your own number ($3, $8, $15, $25, or whatever fits your budget).

When you chip in every month, you’re keeping Houston’s home base open and accurate for the next family who needs it. Cancel or change your amount anytime.

For Neighbors · Every Month: $1 a month gets you in. Or pick your own number.

2. For Organizations: Every Year ($50/yr and up, Sliding Scale)

A home on the Guide. Same tools for every partner, whatever level you pick.

Every organization partner gets the exact same standing on The Community Exchange: your verified organization profile, your events and programs connected across all 88 neighborhoods and 8 topic doors, and clear visibility into how Houston neighbors use them.

We ask organizations to pick the annual band that matches their operating budget—or pay what you can starting at $50/year (with full fee waivers available on request):

Under $50K: $250 a year
$50K to $100K: $500 a year
$100K to $250K: $1,000 a year
$250K to $500K: $2,500 a year
$500K and up: $5,000 a year
Pay what you can: From $50 a year (Waivers on request at hello@thechangelab.net)

For Organizations · Every Year: annual levels by operating budget

Want to go further?

Sustaining Partner: $5,000 a year. For any organization that wants to give above its budget band so smaller neighborhood groups can join.

Stakeholder Partner: $10,000 a year. For institutions investing in Houston’s long-term civic home base. Stakeholders help keep partnership within reach for every grassroots group in the city. With your OK, that includes named recognition, regular impact updates, and a seat in partner learning conversations.

Sustaining Partner $5,000 and Stakeholder Partner $10,000 a year

Public agencies

Our annual information service is $1,000 a year: we publish and maintain your approved public information, connect residents to your official services across all 88 neighborhoods, and keep a clear correction process. Email hello@thechangelab.net to set it up.

What money doesn’t buy.

Ranking. Editorial control. A say over public facts. Every listing earns its place the same way, whoever pays and whoever doesn’t. We only name supporters and partners who say yes.

What money doesn't buy

Three Easy Ways to Get Involved Today

Look around: Visit communityexchange.us—free, open, and zero login walls.
Explore what you care about: Type in your ZIP code or pick one of the 8 topic doors to see who is doing good work near you.
Get involved: Join as a Monthly Neighbor or Annual Organization Partner on this page, or email hello@thechangelab.net (713-416-2633).

The Community Exchange is a project of The Change Lab, fiscally sponsored by Impact Hub Houston (501(c)(3), EIN 82-4377438).

Our common ground for what matters. Less noise. More connection. Pay what you want.

Photo Credit: Impact Hub Houston / Houston Hackathon

Knowledge is power, and now it belongs to everyone.

GIVING LEVELS

Donation Levels

GENERAL

$3 Keep a tab open. (Monthly)

For Neighbors · Every Month: Helps keep 10,000+ Houston listings accurate, so the next neighbor finds the real thing the first time.

$8 Make it a habit. (Monthly)

For Neighbors · Every Month: Covers the everyday work: checking hours, adding neighborhood events, and keeping Houston’s home base running.

$15 Know your block. (Monthly)

For Neighbors · Every Month: Supports the tools that connect all 88 neighborhoods and 21 layers of local government right where you live.

$25 Bring the neighbors. (Monthly)

For Neighbors · Every Month: Keeps the whole platform free in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese so every family in Houston can find their way in.

$50 Come as you are. (Annual Partner)

For Organizations · Every Year ($50+ Pay What You Can): Full partner profile, verified events and programs, and the same standing as every partner on the Guide.

$250 Open the door. (Under $50K Budget)

For Organizations · Every Year (Budget under $50K): Your verified profile, your listings, and how Houston neighbors connect with your work.

$500 Get on the map. ($50K–$100K Budget)

For Organizations · Every Year (Budget $50K to $100K): Connects your work across all 88 Houston neighborhoods and 8 topic doors. Same tools, same standing.

$1,000 Show your work. ($100K–$250K Budget)

For Organizations · Every Year (Budget $100K to $250K): Shares what your organization knows and does with neighbors looking for ways to plug in.

$2,500 Bring your people. ($250K–$500K Budget)

For Organizations · Every Year (Budget $250K to $500K): Helps weave Houston’s organizations, civic clubs, and neighbors into one shared common ground.

$5,000 Make room. ($500K+ Budget)

For Organizations · Every Year (Budget $500K and up): Anchors your organization on the Guide while helping keep access open for grassroots groups.

$5,000 Keep it going. (Sustaining Partner)

Sustaining Partner · Every Year: For any organization that wants to give above its budget band so smaller neighborhood groups can join.

$10,000 Hold common ground. (Stakeholder Partner)

Stakeholder Partner · Every Year: An investment in Houston’s shared civic home base that keeps partnership within reach for smaller organizations.

Pick your own number.

Community Supporter, for individuals. Pay what you want every month, from $1.

Come as you are.

Community Partner, for organizations. Pay what you can, from $50 a year. Same tools as every partner. Need a waiver? Email hello@thechangelab.net.

$250 Open the door.

Community Partner, for organizations. Budget under $50K. Your verified profile, your listings, and how neighbors use them.

$500 Get on the map.

Community Partner, for organizations. Budget $50K to $100K. Same tools, same standing.

$1,000 Show your work.

Community Partner, for organizations. Budget $100K to $250K. Same tools, same standing.

$2,500 Bring your people.

Community Partner, for organizations. Budget $250K to $500K. Same tools, same standing.

$5,000 Make room.

Community Partner, for organizations. Budget $500K and up. Same tools, same standing.

$5,000 Keep it going. (Sustaining Partner)

Sustaining Partner, for organizations. For any organization that wants to give above its band.

$10,000 Hold common ground. (Stakeholder Partner)

Stakeholder Partner, for organizations. An investment in Houston’s long-term community infrastructure that keeps partnership within reach for smaller organizations.

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