The Kinder Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) family philanthropic foundation established in 1997 by Richard D. Kinder and Nancy Kinder of Houston, Texas. The foundation is funded solely by Rich and Nancy Kinder, who signed the Giving Pledge in 2011, committing to donate 95 percent of their wealth to charity. The foundation operates as a transformational grantmaker focused on making sizable, impactful gifts that create significant change in the Greater Houston area rather than distributing numerous small grants.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$173.4M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$58.5M
+5.0% YoY
Grant Count
83
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$705K
+1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kinder Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To enrich the lives of people in the Greater Houston area through transformational grants that impact urban green space, education, and quality of life.
The foundation operates through three primary funding areas:
- Urban Green Space — The foundation's most prominent focus area, supporting transformational urban park projects
- Education — Supporting educational initiatives and institutions
- Quality of Life — Supporting programs and projects that enhance community well-being
The foundation is intentional about "transformational giving," focusing on making visionary projects succeed through significant gifts that might not otherwise be achieved.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $30,000 to $150,000,000
Invitation Only
** Invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Greater Houston, Texas area. The foundation is primarily, but not exclusively, focused on the Greater Houston community.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $173,359,442
- Total Revenue: $84,468,068
- Total Expenses: $61,251,054
- Total Giving: $58,500,762
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $162,000,000
- Total Revenue: $67,600,000
- Total Expenses: $58,400,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $173,359,442 | $162,035,942 | $148,818,599 |
| Revenue | $84,468,068 | $67,607,405 | $65,311,294 |
| Expenses | $61,251,054 | $58,437,619 | $57,050,695 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $59,894,419 | $57,233,266 | $55,804,166 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,134,006 | $11,473,482 | $8,847,647 |
| Distributable Amount | $13,742,836 | $11,873,552 | $11,212,966 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Buffalo Bayou Partnership ($15,816,766), Houston Local Information Initiative Inc ($2,500,000), Houston Parks Board ($2,368,987).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | TEACHER AWARDS | $60,000 |
| BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP HOUSTON, TX | PARK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION - 10 YEAR MASTER PLAN | $533,893 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP HOUSTON, TX | PARK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION - 10 YEAR MASTER PLAN | $22,717 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP HOUSTON, TX | PARK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION - 10 YEAR MASTER PLAN | $30,472 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP HOUSTON, TX | PARK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION - 10 YEAR MASTER PLAN | $15,816,766 |
| BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM HOUSTON, TX | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND JUNTEENTH CELEBRATION | $1,422,655 |
| BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM HOUSTON, TX | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND JUNTEENTH CELEBRATION | $75,089 |
| BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Nancy G. Kinder — President and Chief Executive Officer
- Richard D. Kinder — Chairman
- Gary C. Dudley — Chief of Staff and Board Member
- Guy Hagstette, FAIA — Senior Vice President of Parks and Civic Projects
- Sabrina W. Kirwin — Assistant Treasurer
- Aarti K. Garehgrat — Staff member
The foundation employs 5 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD D KINDER | CHAIRMAN | 10 | — |
| NANCY G KINDER | PRESIDENT/CEO/TREASURER | 40 | — |
| KARA K VIDAL | BOARD MEMBER | — | — |
| DAVID D KINDER | BOARD MEMBER | — | — |
| GARY C DUDLEY | CHIEF OF STAFF & BOARD MEMBER | 10 | $71,874 |
| ROXANN S NEUMANN | BOARD MEMBER | 10 | — |
| JAMES V DERRICK JR | SECRETARY & BOARD MEMBER | — | — |
| GINGER A CORLEY | BOARD MEMBER | — | — |
| TODD V ADAM | BOARD MEMBER | — | — |
| POLLY K WHITTLE | BOARD MEMBER | — | — |
| KATHRYN DOLLINS | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 20 | $58,009 |
| SABRINA W KIRWIN | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 6 | $31,103 |
| AARTI K GAREHGRAT | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 6 | $28,344 |
| SARAH NEWBERY | DIRECTOR OF PARKS & GREENSPACE | 40 | $260,886 |
| GUY HAGSTETTE | SR. VP OF PARKS & CIVIC PROJECTS | 40 | $398,622 |
| PATRA BRANNON | DIR. OF EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROJECTS | 40 | $225,561 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2026:** The Kinder Foundation awarded $55 million to Rice University's Kinder Institute to secure the institute's future and advance solutions for Houston.
Kinder Foundation gives $55M to Rice University Kinder Institute**Recent Major Gifts:**
$150 million donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's Hospital for a new childhood cancer facility
Kinder Foundation donates $150 million to MD Anderson, Texas Children\u2019\Significant ongoing support for Buffalo Bayou Park and Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Support for Discovery Green, a downtown Houston urban park that opened in 2008 with $10 million from the Kinder Foundation as part of a $125 million overall project
Kinder Foundation gives $55M to Rice University Kinder InstituteContact Information
Address: 2229 San Felipe St, Suite 1700, Houston, TX 77019-5648
Website: kinderfoundation.org
EIN: 76-0519073
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kinder Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To enrich the lives of people in the Greater Houston area through transformational grants that impact urban green space, education, and quality of life. The foundation operates through three primary funding areas: • **Urban Green Space** — The foundation's most prominent focus area, supporting transformational urban park projects • **Education** — Supporting educational initiatives and institutions • **Quality of Life** — Supporting programs and projects that enhance community well…
How do I apply for a grant from Kinder Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $30,000 to $150,000,000 **Application Process:** Invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Buffalo Bayou Partnership: $15,816,766 (Park Design & Construction - 10 Year Master Plan) • Houston Landing: $2,500,000 (Support of An Independent News Publication in Houston) • Memorial Park Conservancy: $2,376,174 (Memorial Groves) • Made 83 gra…
Where does Kinder Foundation make grants?
Greater Houston, Texas area. The foundation is primarily, but not exclusively, focused on the Greater Houston community.
What size grants does Kinder Foundation award?
In 2024, Kinder Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $58.5M — an average of about $705K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kinder Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kinder Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kinder Foundation's EIN?
Kinder Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0519073. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kinder Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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