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The Sarofim Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Sarofim Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$105M
Granted FY2025still arriving
90
Grants FY2025still arriving
6
States reached
$8.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2024 to 2025.

Education$49MArts & Culture$19MHealth$15MPhilanthropy$9.8MHuman Services$5.6MYouth Development$5.3MCommunity Improvement$5.3MFood & Nutrition$1.6MOther$0
02FY2025 · 90 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k1 grant · $25k
  • $50k–250k38 grants · $5.2M
  • $250k+51 grants · $100M
$250,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$3.2B
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
University of St Thomas$8,000,000
St John's School$6,000,000
Kinkaid School Inc$6,000,000
Harris Health Strategic Fund$6,000,000
Alley Theatre$5,150,000
Foundation for Jones Hall$5,017,647
Buffalo Bayou Partnership$5,000,000
McCombs School of Business$5,000,000
Houston Charter Seed Fund$5,000,000
The Hobby Center Foundation$5,000,000
JESUIT CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL OF HOUSTON$5,000,000
Camp For All Foundation$5,000,000
Baylor College of Medicine$4,100,000
Princeton University$4,000,000
Goldman Sachs Donor Advised Fund$3,020,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY24–25, $5.8M) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $2.0M → 16%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $75k → 16%Boys & Girls Country of Houston: $100k → 16%Target Hunger: $1.0M → 16%Memorial Assistance Ministries: $1.0M → 16%DePelchin Children's Center: $1.5M → 16%DePelchin Children's Center: $25k → 16%Kids' Meals Inc: $150k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

38%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$43M · 43 repeat orgs$71M to everyone else

43 repeat relationships: 43 still active in FY2025, 0 since wound down; 46 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

43
19

Total granted

$43M
$953k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+8%
+16%

Still filing today

81%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 33% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $70M went to new ones.

50%100%’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’24’25
EducationArts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • UO
    University of St Thomas
    2× · 2024–2025 · $8.0M · revenue +14%
  • BC
    Baylor College of Medicine
    2× · 2024–2025 · $6.1M · revenue +8%
  • The Trustees of Princeton University
    2× · 2024–2025 · $6.0M · revenue +4%

Funded once

  • CR
    Cristo Rey Jesuit
    one grant, 2024 · $200k
  • BA
    BLOOM ACADEMY INC
    one grant, 2024 · $150k · revenue -22%
  • TB
    THE BEACON FORMERLY HOUSTON COMPASS INC
    one grant, 2024 · $100k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Houston Botanic Garden

To enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Environment
2
Houston Museum of Natural Science

The mission of the Houston Museum of Natural Science shall be to preserve and advance the general knowledge of natural science; to enhance in individuals the knowledge of and delight in natural science and related subjects; and to maintain…

Arts & Culture
3
Trees for Houston

Plant, protect and promote trees all over the greater Houston area.

—
4
Breakthrough Houston

The mission of Breakthrough Houston (BTH) is to work with highly motivated students to achieve post-secondary success and empower aspiring leaders to become the next generation of educational advocates.

Education
5
Houston Independent School District Foundation

The HISD Foundation is dedicated to mobilizing the local community to support innovative priorities in HISD to improve outcomes for all students in the district. Our mission is to fund projects and programs of merit that fall outside of…

—
6
Presbyterian School

Family, School, and Church united in the education and support of each child - this is the founding premise upon which Presbyterian School nurtures and challenges its students. The school provides an educational program of the highest…

Education
7
The Fay School

See Schedule O. The Fay School ("the School") is a nonsectarian, not-for-profit, co-educational school in which children of diverse talents and backgrounds with strong academic abilities are offered a high-quality education in a secure,…

—
8
John P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science

The Health Museum is an innovative science center that provides an interactive and entertaining experience for all ages, promotes understanding and appreciation of the human body, mind, and spirit, and inspires a lifelong commitment to…

Arts & Culture
9
Made Houston

MADE Houston was formed to create a school community focused on nurturing and developing the unique academic and social needs of students with learning differences and to successfully transition students into mainstream schools.

Education
10
Houston Local Information Initiative Inc

The Houston Local Information Initiative, Inc. provides public service journalism that reflects the civic needs of the diverse communities comprising Greater Houston.

Arts & Culture
11
The Heritage Society

The Heritage Society (THS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1954 whose mission is to tell the stories of the diverse history of Houston and Texas through collections, exhibits, the arts, educational programs, film, video, and other…

—
12
Harris County Medical Society

Our mission is to be the leading advocate for our member physicians, their patients and our community, in promoting the highest standards of ethical medical practice, access to quality medical care, medical education, research, and…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Methodist Hospital Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

83 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 83 of the 109 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
83/83
Grantees still filing
42/83
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

St John's School: $6,000,000 · OtherSt John's SchoolTHE FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL: $5,017,647 · OtherTHE FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALLMcCombs School of Business: $5,000,000 · OtherMcCombs School of BusinessHouston Charter Seed Fund: $5,000,000 · OtherHouston Charter Seed FundCRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL OF HOUSTON INC: $5,000,000 · OtherCRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL OF HOUSTON IN…Goldman Sachs Donor Advised Fund: $3,020,000 · OtherGoldman Sachs Donor Advised FundHOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY: $3,000,000 · OtherHOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITYEPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL: $1,750,000 · Other+44 more: $10,616,500 · Other+44 moreUniversity of St Thomas: $8,025,000 · EducationUniversity of St ThomasBaylor College of Medicine: $6,100,000 · EducationBaylor College of MedicineThe Trustees of Princeton University: $6,000,000 · EducationThe Trustees of Princeton Univ…The Kinkaid School Inc: $6,000,000 · EducationThe Kinkaid School Inc+14 more: $5,215,000 · Education+14 moreALLEY THEATRE: $5,300,000 · Arts & CultureALLEY THEATREThe Hobby Center Foundation: $5,000,000 · Arts & CultureThe Hobby Cen…Contemporary Arts Museum Houston: $1,275,000 · Arts & CultureContemporary …+12 more: $2,265,000 · Arts & Culture+12 moreHARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND: $6,000,000 · HealthHalo House Foundation: $1,500,000 · Health+9 more: $840,000 · HealthCamp For All Foundation: $5,000,000 · Youth DevelopmentPROUNITAS INC: $400,000 · Youth DevelopmentTHRIVE WITH AUTISM: $300,000 · Youth DevelopmentONEGOAL: $250,000 · Youth Development+1 more: $125,000 · Youth DevelopmentYoung Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $2,075,000 · Human ServicesDEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $1,525,000 · Human ServicesMemorial Assistance Ministries: $1,000,000 · Human ServicesTarget Hunger Inc: $1,000,000 · Human Services+2 more: $250,000 · Human ServicesBuffalo Bayou Partnership Inc: $5,000,000 · Environment+1 more: $70,000 · Environment
Other$44,404,147Education$31,340,000Arts & Culture$13,840,000Health$8,340,000Youth Development$6,075,000Human Services$5,850,000Environment$5,070,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUniversity of St Thomas: $8,025,000 over 2y, 5.2% of budgetBaylor College of Medicine: $6,100,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetThe Trustees of Princeton University: $6,000,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetThe Kinkaid School Inc: $6,000,000 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetSt John's School: $6,000,000 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetHARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND: $6,000,000 over 1y, 21% of budgetALLEY THEATRE: $5,300,000 over 2y, 14% of budgetTHE FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL: $5,017,647 over 1y, 55% of budgetCamp For All Foundation: $5,000,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetHOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY: $3,000,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetYoung Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $2,075,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetDEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $1,525,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetContemporary Arts Museum Houston: $1,275,000 over 2y, 16% of budgetST GEORGE'S SCHOOL: $1,000,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetUnited Way of Greater Houston: $750,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetKIPP Texas Inc: $550,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetYES Prep Public Schools Inc: $550,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetETOILE ACADEMY INC: $550,000 over 2y, 1.9% of budgetTHE SAINT CONSTANTINE SCHOOL: $500,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $500,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetEMERGE Fellowship: $450,000 over 2y, 3.3% of budgetWONDERLAND EDUCATIONAL ESTATE DBA BEATRICE MAYES INSTITUTE: $450,000 over 2y, 2.3% of budgetThe Awty International School: $400,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetPROUNITAS INC: $400,000 over 2y, 9.1% of budgetMenil Foundation Inc: $400,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $350,000 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetHouston Grand Opera Association Inc: $350,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetTHE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON: $325,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER: $300,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetSmall Steps Nurturing Center: $300,000 over 2y, 2.7% of budgetTHRIVE WITH AUTISM: $300,000 over 2y, 3.6% of budgetCHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC: $300,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetTHE FORGE FOR FAMILIES: $300,000 over 2y, 4.7% of budgetHOUSTON CLASSICAL INC: $300,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetAgape Development Ministries: $300,000 over 1y, 5.7% of budgetTHE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF AUSTIN: $285,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetGood Reason Houston Inc: $250,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetONEGOAL: $250,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetDiscovery Green Conservancy: $225,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetCHINQUAPIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL: $200,000 over 1y, 6.5% of budgetRiver Oaks Chamber Orchestra: $200,000 over 1y, 9.6% of budgetStages: $200,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $200,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare: $175,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetBLOOM ACADEMY INC: $150,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetDa Camera Society of Texas: $150,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budgetHope and Healing Center & Institute: $150,000 over 1y, 4.5% of budgetBARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION: $130,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Brown Foundation …Greater Houston Commu…Houston Endowment IncAlbert & Ethel Herzst…Vivian L Smith Founda…MD Anderson FoundationThe Elkins FoundationThe Powell FoundationShell USA Company Fou…Strake FoundationThe William Stamps Fa…The Cullen Foundation
The Brown Foundation IncTX76.8× affinity36 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Brown Foundation Inc · Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston Endowment Inc · Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation · Vivian L Smith Foundation · MD Anderson Foundation · The Elkins Foundation · The Powell Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · Strake Foundation · The William Stamps Farish Fund · The Cullen Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Sarofim Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Sarofim Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%4%15%34%60%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 11%
  • The Trustees of Princeton University: 11% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
20report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Sarofim Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Sarofim Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 109 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Sarofim’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home