The Sarofim Foundation
The Sarofim Foundation is a private foundation established in 1968 by Fayez Sarofim and based in Houston, Texas. The foundation was created in gratitude for the opportunities provided to Mr. Sarofim during his lifetime as an emigrant from Egypt. Following Mr. Sarofim's death in May 2022, the foundation received a substantial bequest that significantly expanded its philanthropic capacity. The foundation operates as a perpetual entity designed to create positive and lasting impact in its community.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$574.8M
+1945.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
+87.0% YoY
Grant Count
64
+255.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
-47.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sarofim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.8M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is driven by Mr. Sarofim's legacy of deliberate and disciplined philanthropy. According to the foundation's statement, it aligns itself with trusted partners capable of achieving long-term results and comes alongside the community to tackle complex challenges with relentless optimism.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Health Care
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
- Arts
Grantmaking
The foundation is currently in a formative period and **is not accepting unsolicited grant requests** while it establishes its formal giving strategy. Current grantmaking is limited to organizations with existing relationships to the founders' philanthropic legacy.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Texas (particularly Houston)
- New York
- Connecticut
- Maryland
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of 2024):
- Total assets: $2,567,962,045
- Total revenues: $246,503,858
- Total expenses: $32,651,721
- Investment income and dividends: $26,891,603
- Total grants and contributions received: $201,378,167
Historical Assets:
- 2023: Approximately $575 million (prior to major bequest)
- 2024: $2.567 billion (following estate settlement)
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $574,846,742 | $28,099,480 | $8,225,415 |
| Revenue | $501,433,307 | $21,865,705 | $1,739,610 |
| Expenses | $4,809,409 | $1,967,588 | $1,846,477 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,783,125 | $1,942,000 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $102,891,288 | $1,854,811 | $1,730,358 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,793,508 | $2,327,640 | $1,960,451 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Episcopal High School ($810,000), The Museum of Fine Arts Houston ($311,258), Awty International School ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE BEACON FORMERLY HOUSTON COMPASS INC HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $35,000 |
| STAR OF HOPE MISSION HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| HOUSTON BALLET HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $125,000 |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL BELLAIRE, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $810,000 |
| THE CHINATI FOUNDATION MARFA, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| HOUSTON FOOD BANK HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Hagerstown, MD | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA Houston, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Christopher B. Sarofim – Trustee and Chairman of Fayez Sarofim & Co.
- Raye G. White – Trustee
- William Gentry Lee Jr. – Trustee
Staff:
- Ryan Dolibois – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER B SAROFIM | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| RAYE G WHITE | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| William Gentry Lee Jr | Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been engaged in strategic planning to define its approach as one of Houston's largest philanthropic entities. Recent grantmaking activity includes partnership with Houston philanthropy on a historic healthcare project. The foundation has also supported educational initiatives, including a major gift that named the Sarofim Pavilion in Princeton University's new engineering buildings.
Major Venture Forward gift names Sarofim Pavilion in Princeton's ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sarofim Foundation fund?
The foundation is driven by Mr. Sarofim's legacy of deliberate and disciplined philanthropy. According to the foundation's statement, it aligns itself with trusted partners capable of achieving long-term results and comes alongside the community to tackle complex challenges with relentless optimism. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Health Care • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education • Arts
How do I apply for a grant from The Sarofim Foundation?
The foundation is currently in a formative period and **is not accepting unsolicited grant requests** while it establishes its formal giving strategy. Current grantmaking is limited to organizations with existing relationships to the founders' philanthropic legacy. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $9,669,500 • Total giving (2023): $7,973,681 • Typical award range: $2,500–$2,000,000 • Recent notable grants include: • Baylor College of Medicine: $2,000,000 (2024) • United Way of Greater…
Where does The Sarofim Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Texas (particularly Houston) • New York • Connecticut • Maryland
What size grants does The Sarofim Foundation award?
In 2023, The Sarofim Foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sarofim Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Sarofim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sarofim Foundation's EIN?
The Sarofim Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7065248. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sarofim 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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