The Sarofim Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established by Fayez Sarofim in gratitude for the opportunities provided to him as an emigrant from Egypt. The foundation was created as part of Mr. Sarofim's estate to exist in perpetuity and has become one of Houston's largest philanthropic entities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6B
Annual Giving
$9.7M
Grant Count
62
Avg Grant Size
$156K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sarofim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $104.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is guided by Fayez Sarofim's principles of "steadfast and disciplined approach to excellence, hard work and trust in others," with a philosophy of "betting on people as the most important thing." The foundation's leadership is currently engaged in strategic planning to define its approach as a major philanthropic force.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Healthcare
- The Arts
- Science and STEM Education
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation is **not currently accepting unsolicited grant requests**. The foundation is in a formative period while establishing its formal giving strategy. Current grantmaking is limited to organizations with existing relationships to the founder's philanthropic legacy.
Ready to take the next step with The Sarofim Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Houston, Texas
- Texas (statewide)
- New York
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of June 2024):
- Total assets: $2,567,962,045
- Total revenues: $246,503,858
- Total expenses: $32,651,721
- Annual income: $567.2 million
- Investment income and dividends: $26,891,603
Tax Status:
- EIN: 37-2090276
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
- IRS ruling year: 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,567,962,045 | — |
| Revenue | $246,503,858 | — |
| Expenses | $32,651,721 | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,603,899 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $41,832,884 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $104,384,375 | — |
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
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include United Way of Greater Houston ($375,000), Episcopal High School ($250,000), Yellowstone Schools ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE BEACON FORMERLY HOUSTON COMPASS INC HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $35,000 |
| STAR OF HOPE MISSION HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| HOUSTON BALLET HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL BELLAIRE, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $250,000 |
| THE CHINATI FOUNDATION MARFA, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| HOUSTON FOOD BANK HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Houston, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA Houston, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON Houston, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Christopher Sarofim – Chairman of Fayez Sarofim & Co., President of Sarofim International Management Company, and a Director of The Sarofim Group. He holds an AB in History from Princeton University and serves on multiple boards including the Brown Foundation, Inc., Baylor College of Medicine, and the George R. Brown Partnership.
Staff:
- Ryan Dolibois – Executive Director
Trustees:
- Christopher B Sarofim
- Raye G White
- William Gentry Lee Jr.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER B SAROFIM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| RAYE G WHITE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| William Gentry Lee Jr | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| Ryan Dolibois | Executive Director | — | $298,549 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation received a significant $1.35 billion bequest from founder Fayez Sarofim, who passed away in May 2022. This bequest substantially increased the foundation's assets and positioned it as a major force in Houston philanthropy.
In Partnership with Houston Philanthropy, Sarofim Foundation Funds HistoricRecent grant activity includes partnership with Houston Philanthropy to fund a historic healthcare project, and contributions to institutions including Baylor College of Medicine, United Way of Greater Houston, and Episcopal High School.
In Partnership with Houston Philanthropy, Sarofim Foundation Funds HistoricThe foundation is currently in a strategic planning phase to establish its formal giving priorities and approach as one of Houston's largest philanthropic entities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sarofim Foundation fund?
The foundation is guided by Fayez Sarofim's principles of "steadfast and disciplined approach to excellence, hard work and trust in others," with a philosophy of "betting on people as the most important thing." The foundation's leadership is currently engaged in strategic planning to define its approach as a major philanthropic force. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Healthcare • The Arts • Science and STEM Education • Philanthropy and Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Sarofim Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $9,669,500 (most recent fiscal year) • Typical award range: $2,500 to $2,000,000 • Recent grants include $2,000,000 to Baylor College of Medicine, $375,000 to United Way of Greater Houston, and $250,000 to Episcopal High School **Application Status:** The foundation is **not currently accepting unsolicited grant requests**. The foundation is in a formative period while establishing its formal giving strategy. Current grantmaking is limited to organizations wi…
Where does The Sarofim Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Houston, Texas • Texas (statewide) • New York • Connecticut
What size grants does The Sarofim Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sarofim Foundation awarded 62 grants totaling $9.7M — an average of about $156K 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 2024, The Sarofim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $104.4M 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 37-2090276. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sarofim Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$13.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.9M
Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn
LUBBOCK, TX
Assets
$329K
Grants
9
Total Given
$90K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Sarofim Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Sarofim Foundation to a real strategy.