Kinder Foundation awards $55M to Rice institute to scale urban research and community impact

The Kinder Foundation awarded $55 million to Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research in Houston, Texas, to expand policy research and community impact. The award, a $50 million endowment, includes an additional $5 million for immediate use, strengthening the institute’s ability to deliver rapid, data-driven insights on housing, health, education, and economic mobility. The funding enables partnerships with public agencies and nonprofits regardless of budget, and supports crisis-responsive research during disasters. Building on more than $135 million in prior support, the award secures the institute’s long-term capacity to shape policy and improve outcomes for Houston communities.