About the Kinder Institute

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research builds better cities and improves lives through data, research, engagement and action.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research is an interdisciplinary research organization at Rice University in Houston. The institute’s vision is prosperity for all, where everyone has an opportunity to contribute to Houston’s success and share in its opportunities.

The institute focuses on the intersecting issues of housing, education, economic mobility, health and population. Research initiatives are housed under five research centers.

Using a research-practice partnership model, the Kinder Institute advances the public good by working hand in hand with government agencies and social services organizations that are positioned to solve critical challenges facing the nation’s fifth-largest and most diverse metropolitan area. In this model, projects are jointly developed with long-term partners who contribute their insight and expertise.

Founded in 2010, the Kinder Institute was endowed with a $15 million gift from Houston philanthropists Richard and Nancy Kinder. Today, the institute receives its funding from grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donors and an endowment.