We unite executives and inmates through character development, entrepreneurial passion and servant leadership to transform lives, restore families and rebuild communities.
Founded in 2004, PEP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating inside Texas Department of Criminal Justice units. Beginning inside prison, we build genuine relationships between incarcerated entrepreneurs and business executives that continue long after release. The result: one of the most measurably effective criminal justice programs in America.
To unite executives and inmates through character development, entrepreneurial passion and servant leadership to transform lives, restore families and rebuild communities.
PEP will scale across the major release pathways of Texas, creating a seamless continuum from incarceration to reentry to economic mobility, while codifying the intellectual property, culture, and operating standards required for mission-aligned partners to replicate the model with fidelity in other regions.
Inspired by the God-given dignity of every person, the hope created by a community of second chances, and entrepreneurship as a transformative tool for character, skill, work, and ownership, PEP increases the success of men returning to society after incarceration.
PEP was founded on a simple but radical premise: that the men inside Texas prisons are not problems to be managed, they are potential waiting to be unlocked. What was needed wasn't charity. It was opportunity, accountability, and the belief that transformation is possible for anyone willing to do the work.
Over two decades, we have built a program that operates in two phases. Inside, we deliver rigorous business education, character formation, and servant leadership taught by real executives who volunteer their time.
Outside, we don't disappear at the gate. PEP surrounds graduates with housing, employment and mentorship, as well as access to business loans through Entre Capital. Our Reentry team walks alongside graduates throughout the critical post-release window.
PEP is led by a team of experienced practitioners, many of them alumni or long-tenured staff who have devoted their careers to this mission.
Chris has served in the non-profit and education sector for over 25 years. He holds a BA in Communications from St. Edward's University, a Master's in Education from Canisius College, a Master's in Divinity from the University of Toronto, and is a proud alumnus of Leadership Houston. As a former Roman Catholic Priest, Chris has lived and worked in multiple countries, specializing in the intersection of technology and spirituality. Chris was drawn to PEP because of the joy, community, and practical pathways of reconciliation he found.
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Phi Tran has dedicated over 20 years to the non-profit sector, spending nearly his entire career in service to the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). He joined the organization in 2004 as its second employee and has grown alongside it ever since. He held roles in office management, financial oversight, and program leadership before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2009. He holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Houston and is certified in Servant Leadership by the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. Phi brings a people-first, mission-driven approach to building systems that support PEP's transformative work from the inside out.
PEP's board is a working board — members provide financial support, offer expertise, and stay deeply engaged in the organization's direction.
PEP honors its donors' trust by delivering outstanding results and ROI. Our financials are available for public review.
When you account for reduced incarceration costs, increased tax revenue, and strengthened families, PEP delivers 3.0x in societal value for every dollar contributed.
To request additional audited financials, tax returns, or financial data, please contact us directly.
financials@pep.org