Funding search · EIN 760519073 · Houston, TX

Kinder Foundation

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

299
grants reported
$233.7M
total given
2022–2025
filing years
$100,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20222025. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

parkconstructiondesignhoustonawardsplanteacheryear

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Houston park capital construction and 10-year master plans
  • Kinder Institute at Rice for urban research, roughly $12M yearly
  • Kinder Institute for Constitutional Democracy at University of Missouri
  • Houston public education: Good Reason Houston, HISD, charters, teacher awards
  • Homelessness, foster care, and Harris Health safety-net campaigns
  • Park and conservancy endowments plus small arts general operating gifts

Typical grant

Median grant is $100,000 and the middle half runs $25,000 to $333,333, but the money is not in the middle. Eight-figure checks go to park design and construction and to the two Kinder-named institutes, while $5,000 to $50,000 general fund gifts go to Houston arts and civic groups. Nearly every large commitment repeats annually as a multi-year pledge draw, and 299 grants went to only 57 recipients.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • PARK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION - 10 YEAR MASTER PLAN
  • ENHANCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE KINDER INSTITUTE
  • SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN HOUSTON
  • CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
  • ENDOWMENT FUND
  • GENERAL FUND

Positioning adjacent work

  • Tie urban research to the Kinder Institute at Rice rather than pitching a parallel Houston data effort.
  • Frame green space work as design and construction with a master plan and a named site.
  • For a first ask, target $25,000 to $100,000 general fund, matching their smaller-gift pattern.
  • Emphasize Houston or Harris County benefit; connect health work to nature, as with the Center for Health and Nature.

Worth knowing: This is a Houston foundation with 283 of 299 grants in Texas, and the out-of-state money goes entirely to Kinder-named or Kinder-endowed programs at Missouri and a landscape architecture chair at Virginia. Giving is relationship-driven and concentrated: Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Rice, Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Parks Board, and Missouri take the overwhelming majority, with recent additions in homelessness policy, foster care reform, and local news.

14 grants matching “kipp · $1.6M

  • $300,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2025

    Postsecondary gift

  • $120,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2025

    Teacher awards

  • $74,801

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2025

    Teacher awards

  • $6,701

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2025

    Teacher awards

  • $120,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2024

    Teacher awards

  • $95,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2024

    Teacher awards

  • $50,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2024

    Teacher awards

  • $400,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2023

    Postsecondary gift

  • $100,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2023

    Teacher awards

  • $80,217

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2023

    Teacher awards

  • $50,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2023

    Teacher awards

  • $100,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2022

    Teacher awards

  • $72,413

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2022

    General fund

  • $66,657

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2022

    Teacher awards

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Buffalo Bayou Partnership18 grants · $70.3M
  • Rice University23 grants · $52.9M
  • University of Missouri11 grants · $20.0M
  • Memorial Park Conservancy24 grants · $12.8M
  • Houston Parks Board11 grants · $10.6M
  • Discovery Green Conservancy19 grants · $7.5M
  • Houston Local Information Initiative3 grants · $7.5M
  • Good Reason Houston14 grants · $7.5M
  • United Way6 grants · $4.0M
  • Emancipation Park Conservancy8 grants · $3.8M

Giving over time

$54.0M
2022
$54.7M
2023
$58.4M
2024
$66.7M
2025

Grant history

The 100 largest of 299 grants.

  • $19.4M

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2025

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $16.7M

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2022

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $15.8M

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2024

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $15.8M

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2023

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $12.5M

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2022

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $11.9M

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2024

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $11.9M

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2025

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $11.8M

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2023

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $5.4M

    Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2025

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan & memorial groves

  • $5.2M

    Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2025

    Macgregor park design & construction

  • $5.0M

    University of Missouri · Columbia, MO · 2022

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for constitutional democracy

  • $4.7M

    University of Missouri · Columbia, MO · 2024

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for constitutional democracy

  • $4.7M

    University of Missouri · Columbia, MO · 2023

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for constitutional democracy

  • $4.7M

    University of Missouri · Columbia, MO · 2025

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for constitutional democracy

  • $2.5M

    Houston Local Information Initiative · Houston, TX · 2024

    Support of an independent news publication in houston

  • $2.5M

    Houston Local Information Initiative · Houston, TX · 2023

    Support of an independent news publication in houston

  • $2.5M

    Houston Local Information Initiative · Houston, TX · 2022

    Support of an independent news publication in houston

  • $2.4M

    University of Virginia · Charlottesville, VA · 2025

    Endowed chair in landscape architecture

  • $2.4M

    Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024

    Memorial groves

  • $2.4M

    Emancipation Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2025

    Stage and endowmenet

  • $2.4M

    Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2023

    Macgregor park design & construction

  • $2.4M

    Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2024

    Macgregor park design & construction

  • $2.2M

    Project Row Houses · Houston, TX · 2022

    Renovation of historic eldorado ballroom in third ward

  • $2.1M

    Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2023

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $2.0M

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2022

    Endowment fund

  • $1.9M

    Willow Waterhole Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2022

    General fund - expansion of greenspace in houston

  • $1.9M

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2024

    Support of public education in houston

  • $1.9M

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024

    Endowment fund & strategic plan

  • $1.6M

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2022

    Support of education research in houston

  • $1.5M

    Spark Parks · Houston, TX · 2024

    Greenspace in public schools

  • $1.4M

    Coalition for the Homeless of Houstonharris County · Houston, TX · 2025

    Mayor whitmire's homelessness plan

  • $1.4M

    Buffalo Soldiers Museum · Houston, TX · 2024

    Capital campaign and junteenth celebration

  • $1.4M

    Depelchin Children'S Center · Houston, TX · 2025

    Texas foster care transition to the cbc model

  • $1.4M

    Cristo Rey Jesuit · Houston, TX · 2025

    Capital campaign/steam building

  • $1.1M

    Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $1.0M

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2023

    Support of education research in houston

  • $1.0M

    Emancipation Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2025

    Stage and endowment

  • $1.0M

    Harris Health Strategic Fund · Bellaire, TX · 2025

    Campaign for harris health 2025

  • $1.0M

    United Way · Houston, TX · 2025

    General fund

  • $1.0M

    Hisd Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024

    Students trip abroad - japan and washington dc

  • $1.0M

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2023

    Support of public education in houston

  • $1.0M

    Spark Parks · Houston, TX · 2023

    Greenspace in public schools

  • $1.0M

    Buffalo Soldiers Museum · Houston, TX · 2022

    Preservation of buffalo soldiers museum

  • $1.0M

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2022

    Support of public education in houston

  • $1.0M

    Spark Parks · Houston, TX · 2022

    Greenspace in public schools

  • $1.0M

    Trees for Houston · Houston, TX · 2022

    General fund - expansion of greenspace in houston

  • $1.0M

    United Way · Houston, TX · 2022

    General fund

  • $954,113

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2024

    Support of public education in houston

  • $951,651

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2023

    Support of public education in houston

  • $951,651

    United Way · Houston, TX · 2023

    General fund

  • $945,137

    United Way · Houston, TX · 2024

    General fund

  • $942,483

    Archdiocese of Galveston Houston · Houston, TX · 2023

    Bishop fiorenza plaza & parking lot capital campaign

  • $940,531

    Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2024

    General fund

  • $938,233

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2025

    Endowment fund

  • $903,206

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2023

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $750,000

    Trees for Houston · Houston, TX · 2023

    General fund - expansion of greenspace in houston

  • $721,050

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2024

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $700,000

    Buffalo Soldiers Museum · Houston, TX · 2023

    Preservation of buffalo soldiers museum

  • $695,053

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2025

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $680,705

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2023

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $650,000

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2025

    Hisd strategic fund

  • $533,893

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2024

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan

  • $500,000

    Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2025

    Houston next (5 year strategic plan)

  • $500,000

    Trees for Houston · Houston, TX · 2024

    General fund

  • $500,000

    Houston Arts Alliance · Houston, TX · 2023

    Bipoc arts & network fund

  • $500,000

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2022

    Support of public education in houston

  • $455,000

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024

    Spring 2025 jazzy sunday series

  • $454,515

    Rice University · Houston, TX · 2025

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for urban research

  • $410,054

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2023

    Spring 2024 jazzy sundays series

  • $400,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2023

    Postsecondary gift

  • $400,000

    Yes Prep Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2023

    Postsecondary gift

  • $351,000

    Contemporary Arts Museum Houston · Houston, TX · 2024

    Freedmen's town

  • $350,000

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2022

    Spring 2023 jazzy sundays series

  • $333,333

    Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation · Houston, TX · 2025

    Center for health and nature

  • $333,333

    Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024

    Center for health and nature

  • $333,333

    Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation · Houston, TX · 2023

    Center for health and nature

  • $315,000

    Teach for America · Houston, TX · 2024

    50% of stipend - 2024-2026 houston core members

  • $300,000

    Kipp · Houston, TX · 2025

    Postsecondary gift

  • $300,000

    Yes Prep Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2025

    Postsecondary gift

  • $300,000

    Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association · Houston, TX · 2022

    Renovation of historic building

  • $300,000

    Buffalo Soldiers Museum · Houston, TX · 2022

    Preservation of buffalo soldiers museum

  • $297,756

    University of Missouri · Columbia, MO · 2023

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for constitutional democracy

  • $291,030

    University of Missouri · Columbia, MO · 2024

    Enhancement and expansion of the kinder institute for constitutional democracy

  • $277,500

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2025

    Spring 2026 jazzy sundays series

  • $263,286

    Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2025

    Macgregor park design & construction

  • $253,804

    Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2025

    Park design & construction - 10 year master plan & memorial groves

  • $250,000

    Memorial Park Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024

    Storm damage

  • $250,000

    Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2024

    General fund and exhibitions

  • $250,000

    Project Row Houses · Houston, TX · 2023

    General fund

  • $250,000

    Trees for Houston · Houston, TX · 2023

    General fund - expansion of greenspace in houston

  • $250,000

    Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2022

    Support of public education in houston

  • $250,000

    Houston Arts Alliance · Houston, TX · 2022

    Bipoc arts & network fund

  • $220,000

    Prounitas · Houston, TX · 2022

    Development and implementation of mobile app

  • $202,100

    Teach for America · Houston, TX · 2025

    50% of stipend - 2024-2026 houston core members

  • $200,000

    Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2025

    Director's donor advised funds

  • $200,000

    Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2025

    Exhibitions

  • $200,000

    Discovery Green Conservancy · Houston, TX · 2024

    Endowment fund

  • $200,000

    Cristo Rey Jesuit School · Houston, TX · 2023

    Postsecondary gift

  • $200,000

    Museum of Fine Arts Houston · Houston, TX · 2023

    General fund and exhibitions

  • $200,000

    Lucille'S 1913 · Houston, TX · 2022

    Meal production program - third ward

View all 299 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.