The Stanford & Joan Alexander Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Houston, making a small number of very large grants that primarily support higher-education research and cultural institutions. Major gifts go to the University of Houston and the Museum of Fine Arts—along with targeted support for health research (notably palliative care), K–12 educational programming, and Jewish cultural education. The foundation appears to favor institutional capacity and research initiatives over many small community grants.
The Stanford & Joan Alexander Foundation’s largest recent grant was $9,253,750 to the University of Houston in 2024, a signal that university research is central to its giving. Across the recent record, the foundation pairs that scale with a small number of large awards to Houston institutions, especially in higher education, medical research, and the arts. The Museum of Fine Arts received $1,196,742 in 2023 and another $46,780 in 2024, while UT Health Palliative Medicine received $997,289 in 2023. Those gifts sit alongside support for education programming, Jewish cultural organizations, and selected social impact groups. The foundation’s pattern suggests a preference for institutional support rather than many small community grants. University infrastructure, research institutes, and major cultural organizations account for the most visible awards, and several recipients appear more than once across the recent grant list. Houston organizations dominate the record, but the grant history also includes named recipients in Washington, DC, New York, Seattle, Beaumont, Boston, and Austin.
Higher education and research are the clearest focus. The foundation gave $250,000 in 2025 to Wonderland Educational Estate Association for education programs, and $50,000 in 2024 to UT Health McGovern Medical School for education programs. Its Jewish cultural giving includes $41,900 in 2025 to The Irvin M Shlenker School of Congregation Beth Israel, $15,100 in 2024 to Holocaust Museum of Houston, and $10,000 in 2023 to Foundation for Jewish Camp. In the arts, it supported the Houston Symphony Endowment with $10,000 in 2025 and the Museum of Fine Arts with multiple awards. Health-related support also appears in the record. The foundation gave $10,000 in 2024 to Gift of Life Program and $10,000 in 2023 to Happy Lungs Project, showing a mix of medical and community health interests.
Typical grants are small, with a p25 of $500, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $5,000. The recent file also shows a much larger set of institutional awards above that range, including major gifts to universities and museums. Several recipients recur across years, including the University of Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, Jewish Family Service, Holocaust Museum of Houston, and Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The foundation appears to make grant decisions directly from a family or private-funder structure rather than through an open application process, because no application channel is shown in the data.
$2.7M
$32K
$151K
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $500 and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Highly concentrated giving: few, large grants with repeat support to flagship local institutions (notably multi‑million gifts to the University of Houston and multiple gifts to the Museum of Fine Arts). Emphasis on institutional grants for research and capacity rather than broad, small-dollar community distributions.
Notable grantees: University of Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, UT Health Palliative Medicine, Wonderland Educational Estate Association, The Irvin M Shlenker School (Congregation Beth Israel)
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Houston-centered: 75% of grants go to recipients in Texas, and the listed recipients are mostly in Houston. Outside Texas, the recent file includes Washington, DC; New York, NY; Seattle, WA; Beaumont, TX; Boston, MA; and Austin, TX. The top state by grant count is DC, reflecting repeated support for organizations there even though the headquarters is in Houston.
The recent grants point to universities and research institutes, museums and cultural organizations, Jewish cultural institutions, and selected health and education programs. Large awards went to the University of Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts, and UT Health Palliative Medicine, while smaller grants also reached organizations such as Holocaust Museum of Houston and Houston Food Bank.
The grant-size distribution is small at the center: p25 is $500, median is $1,500, and p75 is $5,000. The recent record also includes a few much larger institutional grants, including a $9,253,750 award to the University of Houston.
Most grants go to recipients in Texas, which accounts for 75% of grants in the data. Houston is the main city in the recipient record, with additional grants in Washington, DC; New York; Seattle; Beaumont; Boston; and Austin.
Yes. The University of Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, Jewish Family Service, Holocaust Museum of Houston, and Washington Institute for Near East Policy each appear multiple times in the recent grants list, showing recurring support for some institutions.
The available data shows the foundation’s grant history and size pattern, but it does not show an application portal or solicitation process. The record instead points to direct institutional grants and repeated support for named organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST (THROUGH JPMORGAN) | JENKINTOWN, PA | $1,749,645 | 2026 | TO ESTABLISH NEW DONOR ADVISED FUND |
| GLADNEY CENTER FOR ADOPTION | FORT WORTH, TX | $743,694 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND SUPPORT |
| JUDAISM AND DEMOCRACY ACTION ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND SUPPORT |
| UTHEALTH MCGOVERN MEDICAL SCHOOL A COMPONENT OF UTHEALTH HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER HOUSTON INC | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND SUPPORT |
| PATH WITH HEART COMMUNITY INC | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND SUPPORT |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER A COMPONENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HATIKVAH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | SUGAR LAND, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND SUPPORT |
| ASCENSION LIVING FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,005 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND SUPPORT |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | FINE ARTS |
| CHABAD AT RICE INC | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| KERUSSO GRACE CHURCH | HOUSTON, TX | $3,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP |
| HADASSAH THE WOMEN'S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA INC-HOUSTON CHAPTER | HOUSTON, TX | $500 | 2026 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| HARVESTERS - THE COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK | KANSAS CITY, MO | $500 | 2026 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE | HOUSTON, TX | $250 | 2026 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| WONDERLAND EDUCATIONAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION | HOUSTON, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| THE IRVIN M SHLENKER SCHOOL OF CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL | HOUSTON, TX | $41,900 | 2025 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE | HOUSTON, TX | $11,164 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| JULIE ROGERS GIFT OF LIFE PROGRAM | BEAUMONT, TX | $11,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH INSTITIUTES |
| HOUSTON SYMPHONY ENDOWMENT | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FINE ARTS |
| LEO BAECK EDUCATION CENTER FOUNDATION | BELLAIRE, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| HOUSTON SPCA | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CHABAD AT RICE INC | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| HOUSTON FOOD BANK | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | FINE ARTS |
| HAPPY LUNGS PROJECT | AUSTIN, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | FINE ARTS |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $3,500 | 2025 | FINE ARTS |
| HOUSTON AREA PARKINSON SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION | CLARKSBURG, MD | $700 | 2025 | HEALTH SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON TEXAS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $450 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| MOUNT ST SCHOLASTICA INC | ATCHISON, KS | $400 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| THE 100 CLUB | HOUSTON, TX | $300 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| C G JUNG EDUCATIONAL CENTER OF HOUSTON TEXAS | HOUSTON, TX | $250 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| MENIL FOUNDATION INC | HOUSTON, TX | $250 | 2025 | FINE ARTS |
| CONGREGATION EMANU-EL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $250 | 2025 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| CONGREGATION BRITH SHALOM | BELLAIRE, TX | $250 | 2025 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE | HOUSTON, TX | $250 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA | HOUSTON, TX | $250 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $250 | 2025 | FINE ARTS |
| THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS INC | WIXOM, MI | $200 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| KEREN OR | NEW YORK, NY | $180 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $150 | 2025 | JEWISH CULTURAL |
| TEMPLE SINAI | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT |
| SUSAN G KOMEN | DALLAS, TX | $100 | 2025 | RESEARCH INSTITIUTES |
TO ESTABLISH NEW DONOR ADVISED FUND
GLADNEY CENTER FOR ADOPTION
$743,694GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
JUDAISM AND DEMOCRACY ACTION ALLIANCE
$125,000GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
UTHEALTH MCGOVERN MEDICAL SCHOOL A COMPONENT OF UTHEALTH HOUSTON
$50,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
PATH WITH HEART COMMUNITY INC
GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER A COMPONENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
$10,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
HATIKVAH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
ASCENSION LIVING FOUNDATION
$5,005GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
CHABAD AT RICE INC
$5,000JEWISH CULTURAL
KERUSSO GRACE CHURCH
$3,000SOCIAL IMPACT
CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL
$1,000ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
HADASSAH THE WOMEN'S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA INC-HOUSTON CHAPTER
$500JEWISH CULTURAL
THE IRVIN M SHLENKER SCHOOL OF CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL
$41,900JEWISH CULTURAL
JULIE ROGERS GIFT OF LIFE PROGRAM
$11,000RESEARCH INSTITIUTES
HOUSTON SYMPHONY ENDOWMENT
$10,000FINE ARTS
LEO BAECK EDUCATION CENTER FOUNDATION
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAMS
CHABAD AT RICE INC
$5,000JEWISH CULTURAL
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ASSOCIATION INC
$5,000FINE ARTS
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON
$5,000FINE ARTS
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY
$500SOCIAL IMPACT
EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON TEXAS
$500SOCIAL IMPACT
MOUNT ST SCHOLASTICA INC
$400EDUCATION PROGRAMS
C G JUNG EDUCATIONAL CENTER OF HOUSTON TEXAS
$250SOCIAL IMPACT
MENIL FOUNDATION INC
$250FINE ARTS
CONGREGATION EMANU-EL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$250JEWISH CULTURAL
CONGREGATION BRITH SHALOM
$250JEWISH CULTURAL
HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA
$250ANNUAL FUND
THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS INC
$200ANNUAL FUND
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN
$150JEWISH CULTURAL
TEMPLE SINAI
$100SOCIAL IMPACT
SUSAN G KOMEN
$100RESEARCH INSTITIUTES