Education
Education is the bedrock of opportunity. It opens doors to meaningful work, financial stability, and a life of purpose. Beyond individual student success, we believe access to quality education is foundational to Houston's economic competitiveness, community vitality, and prosperity.
The McNair Foundation's educational support reflects the broad and dynamic range of influences on student success. From early childhood initiatives and character-building programs to post-secondary scholarships and entrepreneurism education, the Foundation invests in programs across the education continuum of care.
Our Approach
We focus our education giving on proven, well-established programs with the scale and track record to produce measurable results. We are especially interested in efforts that connect each stage of a student’s journey, so that learning leads to opportunity and opportunity leads to a thriving career. Our support falls into three areas:
- Education programs that help Houston’s public schools deliver strong, measurable outcomes, from academic achievement to graduation and readiness for college and careers in a growing regional economy.
- Youth development and wraparound services, supporting organizations that address the needs students bring with them to the classroom, providing the mentoring, enrichment, and support services that help young people stay engaged, succeed, and build the skills to thrive.
- Undergraduate and graduate scholarships, opening the door to higher education for high-potential students whose talent and drive outpace their financial means, helping them complete their degrees and go on to lead in Houston and beyond.
What This Means for Prospective Applicants
Our education grants are generally directed to larger, established organizations and institutions that can demonstrate clear results, and much of our support goes to partners with whom we have long-standing relationships. We are rarely able to fund smaller or newly formed programs, one-time events, or individual schools’ discretionary needs.
Our scholarships are awarded through partner colleges and universities, and we do not accept scholarship applications from individual students. Students seeking financial assistance should contact the financial aid office at their institution.
“Our wish for Houston is that it will continue to grow and prosper, creating educational and economic opportunity for all.”
— Robert C. McNair