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Sarofim Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.6M

Sarofim Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10.6 million (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $2.57 billion
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Houston, Texas and surrounding region

Contact Details

Address:
Two Houston Center, Suite 2907
909 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77010

Email: info@sarofimfoundation.org

Website: https://sarofimfoundation.org

Overview

The Sarofim Foundation was established by Fayez Sarofim, founder of Fayez Sarofim & Co. (the largest investment advisory firm in the Southwest), as a lasting expression of gratitude for the opportunities Houston provided him as an emigrant from Egypt. The foundation received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in November 2023 and is positioned to become one of Houston's largest foundations with assets of $2.57 billion as of June 2024. The foundation is built on Sarofim's principles of "excellence, hard work," "trust in others," and "relentless optimism," with his characteristic belief in "betting on people as the most important thing." The foundation distributed $10.6 million in charitable grants during its first full fiscal year and is currently in strategic planning to define its long-term grantmaking approach while honoring the founder's legacy of deliberate and disciplined philanthropy, particularly in education, healthcare, and the arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation is currently in its establishment phase and has not yet announced formal grant programs. When operational, the foundation has indicated it will "broadly communicate the parameters for grant submissions and the application process."

Priority Areas

Based on founder Fayez Sarofim's philanthropic legacy, the foundation focuses on:

  • Education: Supporting educational institutions and programs
  • Healthcare: Medical institutions and health-related initiatives
  • Arts and Culture: Arts organizations and cultural institutions
  • Community Development: Organizations that create lasting impact in Houston

The foundation emphasizes working with "trusted partners capable of achieving long-term results" and tackling "complex community challenges."

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions have not been publicly announced. Currently, grants are generally limited to:

  • Organizations connected to the founder's philanthropic legacy
  • Causes that held significance to the founder during his lifetime
  • Established relationships the founder maintained

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Christopher Sarofim (Chairman)
Chairman of Fayez Sarofim & Co., holds an AB in History from Princeton University. Serves on multiple boards including Wood Partners, Sable Offshore Corp., Highland Resources, Inc., Brown Foundation, Inc., and Baylor College of Medicine. As chairman, he leads the foundation's strategic direction while honoring his father's legacy.

William Gentry Lee, Jr.
CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Fayez Sarofim & Co. Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University. Board positions include Wood Partners and St. John's School.

Raye White
Executive Vice President and Compliance Officer of Fayez Sarofim & Co., and a founding member of the firm. Chartered Investment Counselor. Serves on the boards of University of St. Thomas and Christus Health.

Executive Leadership

Ryan Dolibois (Executive Director)
Compensation: $298,549 (FY 2024). Brings 25+ years of nonprofit experience including executive management and strategic planning. Previously led Yellowstone Schools with earlier roles at Episcopal High School and YES Prep.

Roula Zoghbi Smith (Managing Director of Programs)
Former Vice President at Texas Children's Hospital for 14+ years, where she managed surgical services and led system-wide business planning.

Jaideep Hebbar (Managing Director of Finance)
Over 20 years in private equity and nonprofit leadership with former Chief Strategic and Financial Officer roles at KIPP Texas and United Way of Greater Houston.

Krystle Allen (Operations Manager)
Compensation: $76,667 plus benefits (FY 2024). Background in teaching, HR, and project management; Teach for America alumna.

Vanessa Mose (Executive Assistant)
17 years at Texas Children's Hospital supporting senior leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not currently have a public application process. According to their website: "We are not accepting unsolicited grant requests at this time."

Current grantmaking is limited to:

  • Organizations connected to the founder's philanthropic legacy
  • Causes significant to the founder during his lifetime
  • Established relationships maintained by the founder

The foundation states that once they establish a defined grantmaking framework, they will "broadly communicate the parameters for grant submissions and the application process." Organizations should monitor the foundation's website (sarofimfoundation.org) for future announcements.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's website and materials do not provide specific guidance on how organizations can position themselves for future consideration. Given the foundation's emphasis on "trusted partners" and its current focus on established relationships from the founder's lifetime, prospective applicants should:

  • Monitor the website: The foundation has explicitly stated they will broadly communicate their grant parameters and application process once established. Check sarofimfoundation.org/grants/ regularly for updates.

  • Understand the founder's legacy: Organizations should familiarize themselves with Fayez Sarofim's historical giving patterns, particularly to Houston-based institutions in education, healthcare, and the arts.

  • Board connections: The board includes leaders from Fayez Sarofim & Co. with connections to educational institutions (St. John's School, Princeton, Harvard, Vanderbilt), healthcare (Baylor College of Medicine, Christus Health, University of St. Thomas), and other Houston philanthropic entities (Brown Foundation, Inc.).

Decision Timeline

Not applicable at this time. Timeline information will be provided when formal grant programs are established.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation is currently making grants by invitation only to organizations connected to the founder's legacy.

Reapplication Policy

Not yet established. Information will be available once the foundation opens to public applications.

Application Success Factors

As the foundation has not yet opened to public applications, specific success factors have not been documented. However, the foundation's stated values provide insight into what they will likely prioritize:

Foundation Values and Approach:

The foundation commits to:

  • Working with trusted partners "capable of achieving long-term results"
  • Tackling complex community challenges with "relentless optimism"
  • Building on Houston's philanthropic heritage for lasting impact
  • Deliberate and disciplined philanthropy aligned with the founder's legacy

Founder's Philosophy:

Fayez Sarofim's approach emphasized:

  • "Betting on people as the most important thing" - suggesting a focus on organizational leadership and capacity
  • Excellence and hard work - indicating high standards for grantee performance
  • Trust in others - suggesting value placed on strong relationships and track records
  • Thoughtful, intentional investment in community institutions rather than scattered giving

Given the founder's background working with nonprofits, endowments, and foundations as investment clients, and the professional nonprofit expertise of the executive team (particularly in education and healthcare), the foundation will likely value:

  • Strong organizational management and financial discipline
  • Measurable outcomes and long-term impact
  • Strategic planning and sustainability
  • Alignment with Houston's community needs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not currently accepting applications: The foundation explicitly states they are not accepting unsolicited grant requests at this time. Do not submit applications until they announce their formal process.

  • Major Houston funder: With $2.57 billion in assets, this will be "among Houston's largest foundations" once fully operational, making it worth monitoring closely for Houston-area organizations.

  • Focus on founder's legacy: Current and near-term grants are limited to organizations connected to Fayez Sarofim's lifetime relationships and interests, particularly in education, healthcare, and the arts.

  • Emphasis on strategic partnerships: The foundation seeks "trusted partners capable of achieving long-term results" rather than making numerous small grants, suggesting they will fund fewer organizations with larger, more sustained investments.

  • Professional operation: The foundation has assembled experienced nonprofit executives with deep expertise in education, healthcare, and strategic planning, indicating a sophisticated approach to grantmaking.

  • Monitor for updates: The foundation has committed to "broadly communicate" their grant parameters and application process once established. Organizations in Houston's education, healthcare, and arts sectors should regularly check sarofimfoundation.org/grants/ for announcements.

  • Board connections matter: Understanding the board's institutional affiliations (Baylor College of Medicine, St. John's School, University of St. Thomas, Christus Health, Brown Foundation) may provide insight into the foundation's eventual priorities and network.

References

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