A Hand Up
Houston has always been a city where people come to build a better life. When neighbors face hardship, whether from job loss, disability, or disaster, the strength of our community is measured by how well we help them get back on their feet.
The McNair Foundation believes in extending a hand up, not a handout: help that builds independence, restores stability, and opens a path toward self-sufficiency.
Giving Focus
We focus our human services giving on established organizations with the scale, experience, and track record to create lasting change for Houstonians in need. We are especially drawn to work that equips people with the skills, opportunities, and support to shape their own futures.
Examples of our support include:
- United Way of Greater Houston, whose broad network helps families across the region achieve financial stability and connects people with essential services.
- Employment services, helping Houstonians build skills, find meaningful work, and gain the independence and dignity that come with a steady paycheck.
- Support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, empowering individuals and their families with the opportunity to live as fully and independently as possible.
- Disaster relief and recovery, helping Houston families and communities recover and rebuild after the storms and emergencies our region knows too well.
What This Means for Prospective Applicants
Our human services grants are generally directed to larger, well-established organizations, and the majority of our support goes to partners with whom we have long-standing relationships. As a result, we are rarely able to fund smaller or newly formed charities, and we take on new partners only occasionally. This reflects the limits of our resources and our belief in deep, sustained partnerships, not a judgment about the value of the many organizations doing important work in our community.