Transparency

Issues

AI‑powered oversight. Human‑led truth.
Transparency is the bedrock of democracy. Without it, “government by the people” becomes government at the people—silent, unaccountable, and untested by public scrutiny.
We built the HOLE Foundation to make transparency practical, lawful, and
accessible to everyone—no press pass required.
Donor‑powered: If this mission resonates, please chip in—small gifts keep requests moving. $10 helps file and track a request; $50 covers hosting and redaction; $250 supports a filing or appeal. (GoFundMe link)

What is Transparency?

Transparency means any citizen can ask their government what it did, why it did it, and who decided—and receive the records to prove it. It’s democracy’s feedback loop. Elections are the promise; public records are the proof.
When rules change in the dark—when body‑camera footage is withheld, contracts are hidden, or prosecutors never have to answer for how they wield power—trust collapses. Transparency restores the conversation.
Why It Matters
Power, money, and influence tend to drift toward secrecy. Without sunlight, even good institutions decay. The fights over public records are rarely about paper; they’re about accountability.
We pursue transparency lawfully, carefully, and methodically. Where sensational leaks kick doors, we use the statutes written for you—FOIA, state open‑records laws, the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), and more—to open them.

Why it Matters

Why It Matters
Power, money, and influence tend to drift toward secrecy. Without sunlight, even good institutions decay. The fights over public records are rarely about paper; they’re about accountability.
We pursue transparency lawfully, carefully, and methodically. Where sensational leaks kick doors, we use the statutes written for you—FOIA, state open‑records laws, the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), and more—to open them.

We don’t ask you to take our word for anything. We publish the records so you can see for yourself.

Legitimate Limits (and Why They're Narrow)

Legitimate Limits (and Why They’re Narrow)
Some records should remain confidential: private medical or juvenile information, home addresses and personal identifiers, and other categories protected by law. Beyond these narrow exceptions, the public’s business belongs to the public.
See what’s open where you live: Interactive Records Map (link)

How We Work (Our 4‑Step Process)

How We Work (Our 4‑Step Process)
IDENTIFY — Target records that advance the public interest. Define the questions the records must answer.
REQUEST — Ask precisely for the records and the metadata (who created them, when, and how). Use our templates and AI helpers to scope, narrow, and iterate.
AUDIT — Compare what was asked vs. what was released. Track deadlines, missing pages, improper redactions, fee games, and exemption misuse.
PLAN — When cooperation fails, escalate: appeals, complaints, litigation, and public pressure. Strategy > struggle.

Learn each step in depth on our AI Tools and Legal Strategy pages. (links)

Field Notes: What We’re Uncovering (Ongoing)

We’re actively investigating prosecutorial transparency in a major Texas jurisdiction. Campaign promises of “reform” are colliding with records that tell a different story. Until related filings are complete, we’re withholding operational details—but the documentation will speak for itself when published. Watch the Blog/Updates for releases.

Bottom line: we use the very process we teach. When we claim misconduct, we do it with documents, not adjectives.

Your Role (Yes, You Can Do This)

Transparency isn’t a spectator sport. You can:

Pick a question. What do you want to know? Example: body‑cam policies, use‑of‑force reviews, prosecutor recusal logs, jail medical contracts.
Check your state’s rules. Use our Interactive Records Map to see deadlines, fees, and exemptions.
File your first request. Start with our smart templates. Ask for records and metadata. Request fee waivers when appropriate.
Track the process. Use our request tracker to log dates, extensions, redactions, and what’s missing. If they stall, we escalate together.
Share the proof. Publish to our document repository or bring it to local media. Sunlight scales when you share it.

Ethics & Safety

We redact private information where required, avoid endangering victims or witnesses, and follow lawful processes at every step. Our standard practice is to request segregable (non‑exempt) portions even when limited exemptions apply.

Free Members

Library (Always Free)
We’re rolling out a members‑only library—free forever. If our templates or guides help you, please consider a donation to keep them free for everyone. (GoFundMe link) You’ll get PDF templates and model letters for each stage of the process (Identify, Request, Audit, Plan), in‑depth step‑by‑step guides, and a complete starter kit to run airtight, lawful transparency campaigns. We’re still building the site—if a download isn’t live yet, check back soon. Need help now? Call (302) 314‑3354. We’re a startup in motion, but never too busy to help anyone who shares our commitment to keeping government honest.

CAll to Action

Library (Always Free)

Support the Work (Donate) — Every dollar turns into documents: $10=request, $50=hosting/redaction, $250=filing or appeal. (Donations coming soon)

Become a Free Member — Access the templates, guides, and starter kit. (Members area link)

Subscribe for Updates — Stay current on releases and case milestones.

Send a Tip (Secure) — Share leads or documents safely. (secure form link)

Volunteer — Lawyers, data folks, designers, writers—there’s a role for you. (contact link)

Transparency Shouldn’t Require a Press Pass

The HOLE Foundation exists to prove it. We shine light where democracy goes dark—and we show you how to do the same.