AI-powered oversight. Human-led truth.
About
Our Mission
Honest Oversight & Legal Ethics
The HOLE Foundation (Honest Oversight & Legal Ethics) was founded on one simple belief: artificial intelligence can help ordinary citizens hold power accountable in a HOLE new way.Our first initiative—The HOLE Truth Project—puts that belief into action.This project is a hub for uncovering what public institutions would rather keep hidden. We teach everyday citizens how to use transparency laws to access government records—no press credentials required, no gatekeepers allowed.
How it all started
Our founder, Dr. Joseph T. Herrmann, knows what it means to fight against impossible odds. In 2004, he was a patient who wasn’t expected to survive. Thanks to a doctor who stood up for him, he did—and eventually became a doctor himself, determined to pay that gift forward. He was doing just that in El Paso, Texas - serving some of the most vulnerable patients imaginable: children separated from their parents at the border, mothers and daughters rescued from trafficking, people carrying scars the world preferred not to see. But when he stood up for his principles, refused to look the other way, instead of being thanked for his courage he was ignored by the people and institutions whose job it was to the public. After colliding against corrupt cops, corrupt officials, and corrupt institutions over and over again he decided to do something about it. So he left medicine and started the HOLE Foundation where we uncover these issues, bring them to light, and do something about it.
Our mission, right now
The HOLE Truth Project is our first public campaign. We’re building tools and tutorials for citizens to uncover the truth for themselves—and we’re taking stonewalling agencies to court.We aim to raise $15,000 to fund these initial legal battles. Dr. Herrmann has pledged to fight them himself, with minimal legal help—because he wants to prove what one determined citizen, armed with facts and technology, can do against a system that has forgotten who it serves.This is a David vs. Goliath story. And it’s not just personal—it’s about protecting the rights of anyone who’s ever been silenced by bureaucracy, misconduct, or the quiet violence of apathy.
Join us
Your donation—large or small—fuels this mission.It pays for court fees, record processing, and the AI-powered tools that help hold power to account.Join the fight. Demand transparency. Watch the truth come out.We promise: you won’t be disappointed.
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.