Leslie L Alexander Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $34,635,000 (2023)
• Total Assets: $318 million
• Grant Range: Varies (average $56,226)
• Number of Grants: 616 awards (2023)
• Geographic Focus: National - 39 states including Texas, California, and Florida
• Application Method: No public application process (private foundation)

Contact Details

Address: 110 E Atlantic Ave Suite 320, Delray Beach, FL 33444

Phone: 561-368-3604

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or publicly available email address for general grant inquiries.

Overview

The Leslie L Alexander Foundation was established in 2003 (incorporated 2004) as a private grantmaking foundation based in Delray Beach, Florida. Founded by Leslie Alexander, the former owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets (1993-2017), the foundation has grown to hold assets of approximately $318 million and distributes over $34 million annually. Since 2020, the foundation has awarded 2,241 individual grants totaling $160,603,675. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with a focus on animal welfare, youth homelessness and poverty initiatives, and other charitable causes across the United States. Leslie Alexander is known as a staunch animal rights advocate and was recognized in 1998 as one of the largest individual donors to PETA alongside his ex-wife.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily as a discretionary grantmaker without formal grant programs open to the public. However, it does support:

• Fellowship Program for Youth Homelessness: Conducted in partnership with the Watson Institute, this fully-funded venture and leadership program supports early-stage entrepreneurs, business owners, and nonprofit founders in Houston, TX or South Florida working to address youth homelessness and/or poverty. The 16-week program includes training, stipends up to $2,000, and professional pitch video creation.

Priority Areas

Based on grant activity and the founder's documented interests:

• Animal Welfare: Strong emphasis on animal welfare and spay/neuter programs. Alexander has been a long-time supporter of organizations including Citizens for Animal Protection, PETA, and the Humane Society of the United States.

• Youth Homelessness and Poverty: Supports ventures and nonprofits addressing youth homelessness, particularly in Houston and South Florida.

• Community Services: Past giving includes Houston Area Women's Center, Houston Public Library Foundation, Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston, and disaster relief (including $10 million for Hurricane Harvey relief in 2017).

The foundation supports initiatives across 39 states, with particular focus on Texas, California, Florida, New York, and other major metropolitan areas.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating largely through trustee discretion, the foundation appears to focus on causes aligned with the founder's personal interests and values.

Governance and Leadership

Leslie L. Alexander - President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director Former owner of the Houston Rockets (1993-2017), attorney, businessman and financier. Born 1943 in New York City, earned a bachelor's degree in economics from NYU in 1965 and JD from Western State University College of Law. Founded The Alexander Group investment company in 1980. Sold the Rockets in 2017 for a record $2.2 billion. Served as Board Member of the Humane Society of the United States.

Jodi Alexander Smith - Vice President and Director Family member involved in foundation governance.

Logan Smith - Director Family member involved in foundation governance.

None of the directors receive compensation for their roles, each dedicating approximately one hour per week to foundation activities according to IRS filings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private grantmaking foundation, grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their knowledge of organizations and causes aligned with the foundation's mission.

The foundation does not maintain a public website, online application portal, or published grant guidelines. The 616 grants awarded annually (over 2,200 since 2020) appear to be initiated by the foundation's leadership rather than through solicited proposals.

Exception: The foundation does support a specific fellowship program for entrepreneurs addressing youth homelessness through the Watson Institute, which has a structured application process with published deadlines.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations working in the foundation's priority areas may consider:

• Houston and South Florida connections: The foundation has strong ties to Houston (Alexander's former base during Rockets ownership) and South Florida (current foundation location). Organizations in these regions working on animal welfare or youth homelessness may be more likely to be identified by trustees.

• Animal welfare sector engagement: Given Alexander's documented history as one of PETA's largest individual donors and his support of Citizens for Animal Protection, the Humane Society, and spay/neuter initiatives, organizations working in animal rights and welfare may align with foundation priorities.

• Watson Institute partnership: For those addressing youth homelessness and poverty in Houston or South Florida, the fellowship program offers a potential entry point for visibility.

Application Success Factors

Since this is a private foundation without a public application process, success factors are based on the foundation's documented giving patterns:

• Alignment with animal welfare: Organizations focused on animal rights, welfare, spay/neuter programs, and humane treatment have received significant support based on Alexander's documented giving history.

• Youth homelessness and poverty focus: The foundation has established a specific fellowship program in this area, indicating strategic interest in supporting solutions to youth homelessness.

• Geographic relevance: Strong connections to Houston, TX and South Florida appear important based on the foundation's location and the founder's history.

• Established track record: With an average grant of $56,226 distributed among 616 recipients annually, the foundation appears to support organizations with demonstrated impact.

• Disaster response: Alexander's history of major disaster relief donations (Hurricane Harvey) suggests responsiveness to acute community needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not an appropriate target for unsolicited proposals - The foundation operates through trustee discretion without a public application process.

• Animal welfare organizations have the strongest alignment - Alexander's documented history as one of PETA's largest donors and support for multiple animal protection organizations indicates this is a core priority.

• Geographic focus matters - Houston and South Florida connections appear significant based on the founder's history and current operations.

• Youth homelessness initiatives in target geographies - The Watson Institute fellowship program indicates strategic interest in this area for Houston and South Florida.

• Large-scale grantmaking - With 616 grants annually totaling over $34 million, the foundation supports many organizations, though the average grant is approximately $56,000.

• Family foundation structure - With family members serving as all directors, decisions are made within a close circle aligned with the founder's values and interests.

• Consider indirect approaches - For organizations in aligned cause areas, visibility through sector engagement, partnerships with known grantees, and community impact may be more effective than direct solicitation.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Leslie L Alexander Foundation (EIN 75-3126055), Form 990-PF filings 2020-2024. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/753126055 (Accessed January 2026)

• Wikipedia, "Leslie Alexander (businessman)," including information on philanthropic giving, PETA donations, and $10 million pledge to Houston charities. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Alexander_(businessman) (Accessed January 2026)

• Watson Institute, "A Fellowship Supported by the Leslie L. Alexander Foundation," fellowship program details. Available at: https://watson.is/lla-foundation-fellowship/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Candid Foundation Directory, Leslie L Alexander Foundation Inc profile. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=ALEX422 (Accessed January 2026)

• Instrumentl, "Leslie L Alexander Foundation | 990 Report," grant statistics and financial information. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/leslie-l-alexander-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• Houston Chronicle, "Rockets' Leslie Alexander names charities that will receive parts of $4 million donation," March 2017. Referenced in search results (Accessed January 2026)

• NBA.com, "Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander donates $10 million to disaster relief fund," Hurricane Harvey donation, August 2017. Referenced in search results (Accessed January 2026)