Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

About Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation makes its largest gifts to Houston-based biomedical institutions, led by an $8,093,300 grant to Baylor College of Medicine in 2025 for medical research, education and patient care. That same pattern appears across multiple years: Baylor also received $6,002,500 in 2023, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center received $1,000,000 in both 2023 and 2025 for medical research. The foundation’s work is built around large institutional awards rather than a high volume of small grants, with support often tied to research, education infrastructure, capital campaigns, and long-term organizational capacity. Alongside medical giving, the foundation supports selected cultural and educational institutions in Texas. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston received $1,200,000 in 2023 for an endowment for the museum director, while Houston Symphony Society received operational support in both 2023 and 2025. Texas State University, St. Mary’s University, and Southwestern University also appear in the grant list, showing that the foundation backs universities through library improvements, building renovations, and scholarships. The pattern is consistent with a funder focused on established organizations serving Texas, especially in Houston.

What Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Funds

Biomedical research is the clearest throughline in the foundation’s giving. In 2025, Texas A&M Foundation received $150,000 for Alkek Early Career Investigator Fellowships, and in 2023 it received $150,000 for the Institute of Biosciences and Technology. Baylor College of Medicine also received major support tied to medical research and education, including capital for the Health Sciences Tower. Education grants show a mix of facilities, library support, and student aid. Texas State University received $200,000 in both 2023 and 2025 for technology and programs for the Alkek Library, while St. Mary’s University received $200,000 in 2023 and again in 2025 for renovations to the Albert B. Alkek Building. Scholarships also appear at Southwestern University and TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas. Cultural and community support is narrower but steady. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston received endowment support for the museum director, and Houston Symphony Society received operational support.

How Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Gives