OVERVIEW: Sarofim Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of educational and health organizations.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. This is not a transparent or approachable funder, but they do have contact information listed below. This will be a tough nut to crack unless you’re a building that can be renamed.
However, expect Susan Sarofim’s passion for education philanthropy to grow and the foundation’s focus to more closely align with her interests following Sarofim’s death. Susan has ties to New Orleans, a potential site of philanthropy going forward.
PROFILE: Founded in 1970, the Sarofim Foundation was established by billionaire financier Fayez Sarofim, who died in May 2022. Born in Egypt, Fayez Sarofim established Fayez Sarofim & Co. in 1958, which has become one of the largest and oldest privately-owned investment consulting firms in the United States. Sarofim is based in Houston, Texas with his wife Susan, a former competitive race car driver turned employment service CEO. Susan co-founded TEACH to provide HISD educators the skills to teach at-risk students. Sarofim Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of educational and health organizations.
Grants for Arts and Culture
Sarofim has been a longtime patron of Museum of Fine Arts Houston and regularly gives at least $125,000 a year. The museum received a $70 million gift in 2015 to expand its campus. Other grantees include Musiqa, Menil Collection, George W. Bush Presidential Center, and Stages Repertory Theatre, which has received strong support recently. It has also given to the Houston Ballet.
Grants for Health and Nutrition
Sarofim and Susan gave $25 million to Memorial Hermann to support a new patient care tower that will be named the Susan and Fayez Sarofim Pavilion. Other grantees include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Sarofim is an overseer emeritus), Susan G. Komen Houston, Harris Health System, and Texas Children’s Hospital, which received a seven-figure gift from the foundation recently. It also gave almost $100,000 to the Houston Food Bank during the coronavirus pandemic.
Grants for Higher Education
Sarofim has long been involved with Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, whose school of fine arts bears his name. He’s given at least $15 million to the institution through the years. Sarofim has also been a longtime patron of Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and gave the museum a $70 million donation to expand the museum’s campus. Sarofim and Susan also recently made a $25 million gift to Memorial Hermann to support a new patient care tower that will be named the Susan and Fayez Sarofim Pavilion. Other grantees have included Menil Collection, Episcopal High School, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Susan G. Komen Houston.
Important Grant Details:
The foundation accepts application inquiries, but does not detail whether it accepts unsolicited applications. There are no deadlines.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only.)
CONTACT:
Fayez Sarofim
Two Houston Center, Suite 2907
Houston, TX 77010
