Get Involved

Asian American Community Study

The Asian American Community Study is a multiyear, multilingual study exploring the diverse experiences, perspectives and needs of Asian American communities in Greater Houston. The landmark project aims to provide insights that can influence policies and programs for a better, more vibrant future for all.

Make a gift in support of the study by filling out and returning the print donation form. To contribute directly, please contact Rose Rougeau, executive director of strategic communications and external relations, at rose.rougeau@rice.edu or 713.348.4133.

Kinder Institute Luncheon

The annual Kinder Institute Luncheon is one of Rice University's most anticipated events of the year, bringing hundreds of business, nonprofit and community leaders together to learn about the leading issues facing our community and country. The event serves as the public release of the annual Kinder Houston Area Survey, which has tracked the city's demographic, social, and economic changes for over 40 years. The luncheon also honors an individual each year with the Stephen L. Klineberg Award for distinguished service to Houston.

For more information about the 2026 luncheon, click here.

Houston Education Research Consortium

The Kinder Institute's Houston Education Research Consortium is a partnership with Houston-area school districts to provide timely, actionable research focused on equity-minded policy that closes socioeconomic gaps in educational achievement for students. HERC pursues long-term, rather than project-based, collaboration to solve longstanding problems by informing decision-makers directly. Research initiatives include early childhood education, student mobility, English learners, and social-emotional learning.

To make a donation to the Houston Education Research Consortium, please click here.

Kinder Houston Area Survey

Since 1982, the annual Kinder Houston Area Survey has documented the city's transformations, offering data-driven insights into the opportunities and challenges facing Houston and other cities. No other metropolitan region in the country has been the focus of a research program of this scope. Findings are shared with local leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders to address critical urban issues.

To make a donation to the Kinder Houston Area Survey, please click here.

Community Bridges

The Kinder Institute’s Community Bridges program is a year-long service-learning fellowship for Rice undergraduate students that pairs academic study with active fieldwork. While studying urban sociology in the classroom, students are placed with a community organization in a neighborhood in Houston’s urban core—including Fifth Ward, Gulfton, Near Northside, East End and others—to lead research-driven projects related to education, food insecurity, housing, environmental justice, healthcare and other issues. Community Bridges alumni often say the program contributed greatly to their professional and personal growth. Similarly, partner organizations reap long-term benefits as students expand partners’ capacity to make evidence-based decisions about their missions and programs.

To make a donation in support of Community Bridges, please click here.

General Support

To make a donation in general support of the Kinder Institute, please click here.