The Alkek and Williams Foundation
Houston, TX · EIN 76-6122587. Reported 162 grants totalling $4,548,580 to 93 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Alkek and Williams Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $2,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $200 and the largest $500,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Ballet Foundation | Houston, TX | $1,500,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Houston Symphony Society | Houston, TX | $865,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Houston Grand Opera | Houston, TX | $742,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Houston, TX | $360,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Unicef USA | New York, NY | $210,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Theatre Under the Stars | Houston, TX | $132,650 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Alley Theatre | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Houston Children's Charity | Houston, TX | $64,600 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce | Houston, TX | $57,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Performing Arts Houston | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Teach (to Educate All Children) | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Holocaust Museum Houston | Houston, TX | $33,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Asia Society Texas Center | Houston, TX | $26,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America | Houston, TX | $26,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Queen Sofia Spanish Institute | New York, NY | $24,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Knowautism Foundation | Houston, TX | $23,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Gaston Lenotre Scholarship | Houston, TX | $21,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Society for the Performing Arts | Houston, TX | $21,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ut Health | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Hobby Center Foundation | Houston, TX | $18,630 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Gaston Lenotre Culinary Endowment and Scholarship Inc | Houston, TX | $13,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation | Houston, TX | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Arthritis Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Avenue 360 Health and Wellness | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mission of Yahweh | Houston, TX | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation | Houston, TX | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation | Houston, TX | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| March of Dimes | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Men of Distinction of Greater Houston | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Crime Stoppers of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Revision | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Houston Foundation | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pathways for Little Feet | Houston, TX | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Houston, TX | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Houston Hospice | Houston, TX | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nora's Home | Houston, TX | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Houston, TX | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Houston Petset | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Houston Zoo Inc | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Middle East Institute | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Woman's Fund | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Children at Risk | Houston, TX | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| El Centro De Corazon | Houston, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation | Houston, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Discovery Green Conservancy | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Houston Arts Alliance | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Japan-America Society of Houston (jash) | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Arab Orchestra | Sterling Heights, MI | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Medical Bridges Inc | Houston, TX | $1,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Advocates of a Latino Museum and Visual Arts & Archives Complex in Houston | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Cancer Society | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Heart Association | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cancare Inc | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Child Advocates Inc | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dress for Success Houston | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Harris County Hospital District Foundation | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Helping a Hero | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Houston Habitat for Humanity | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Legacy Community Health Services | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Life Houston | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lone Star Flight Museum | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ptsd Foundation of America | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Raleigh Civic Symphony Association | Raleigh, NC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| River Oaks Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Search Homeless Services | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Junior League of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Texas Heart Institute | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Virtuosi of Houston | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Avda (aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bach Society Houston | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Communities in Schools of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Houston Barc Foundation | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Food Bank | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Japan-America Society of Houston | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Ms Society | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Recipe for Success Foundation | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Brookwood Community | Brookshire, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Salvation Army | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Houston, TX | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Arrow's Freedom Place | Spring, TX | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Houston, TX | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Pursuit | Houston, TX | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sankara Nethralaya USA | Rockville, MD | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Center for Contemporary Craft | Houston, TX | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Phi Beta Kappa Alumni of Greater Houston | Houston, TX | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
36 of 93 (39%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 50%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 114 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | $926,750 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 45 | $1,434,050 | $2,500 |
| 2023 | 36 | $1,014,255 | $1,500 |
| 2024 | 34 | $1,173,525 | $3,750 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Alkek and Williams Foundation has 5 of them, worth $14.7M. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Ballet Foundation | Houston, TX | $9,500,000 |
| Foundation for Jones Hall | Houston, TX | $5,000,000 |
| Houston Grand Opera | Houston, TX | $200,000 |
| Gaston Lenotre Culinary Endowment and Scholarship Inc | Houston, TX | $17,600 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Houston, TX | $2,500 |
Where its money goes
95% of its giving went to organizations in Texas. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $2,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Texas.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Alkek and Williams Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 1100 Louisiana 5250, Houston, TX, 77002. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 76-6122587 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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