Stern’s 13-year tenure brought transformative change to the 87-year-old private Foundation; Board to launch national search for new leader
Houston Endowment today announced that President and CEO Ann B. Stern will step down following more than a decade of leadership at the private foundation. She will remain in her role until a successor is named, said Melanie Trent, chair of Houston Endowment’s Board of Directors.
A search committee composed of Houston Endowment Board members and led by Trent will initiate a nationwide search for a new president and CEO and oversee the leadership transition, said Trent.
“Ann has led Houston Endowment with remarkable vision, curiosity, and compassion. She consistently reminds us what a privilege it is to serve the people of Houston, and she’s never lost sight of the relationships that make our work effective and meaningful,” said Trent. “Whether as a funder or a convener, Ann looks for where the Foundation can truly add value—and she does so with humility and purpose. She deeply trusts our grantees and considers their needs in everything we do. Her respect for community and belief in the power of collaboration have shaped the culture of Houston Endowment and how philanthropy shows up across our city. Her legacy is not just what she accomplished, but how she did it—with integrity, heart, and a steadfast belief in what’s possible for Houston.”
Stern’s tenure marks a transformative period for Houston Endowment, which was founded in 1937 by Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones. She often drew inspiration from the Joneses’ commitment to civic betterment and their willingness to step in where needs were urgent and solutions required long-term vision. In shaping the Foundation’s modern role, Stern positioned Houston Endowment to serve as a behind-the-scenes catalyst—working quietly but strategically to support efforts that demand bold action, cross-sector collaboration, and durable community partnerships.
“As a native Houstonian, it has been the honor of my lifetime to serve this city and this Foundation,” said Stern. “Houston Endowment is built on the legacy of Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones, who believed in using their resources to expand opportunity and improve the lives of everyone in Greater Houston. I’m proud of how we’ve continued that tradition while adapting to meet the needs of our time. One of the greatest privileges of my role has been working so closely with a team of dedicated, mission-driven employees who share a deep commitment to making Houston a more vibrant city for everyone. The organization and its grantees are incredibly strong, the Board and staff are exceptional, and I’m confident its best work lies ahead.”
Since joining Houston Endowment in 2012, Stern has overseen an endowment that grew from $1.5 billion to almost $2.5 billion and that provided over $1 billion in awarded grants, all while reshaping the Foundation’s approach to philanthropy. She has championed working across sectors—including on-the-ground nonprofits, civic leaders, the business community, local government, and other funders—to address systems-level challenges and pursue innovative, evidence-based solutions.
She worked closely with the Board to reorient the Foundation’s work toward strategic, long-term impact in key priorities:
- Public Education: The Foundation supports initiatives to ensure every student graduates with choices for their future, including strengthening the teacher workforce, improving postsecondary outcomes, and advancing equitable policy change.
- Civic Engagement: The Foundation invests in efforts to increase electoral participation among registered voters, help lawful permanent residents take the final step toward naturalization, and provide access to high-quality, independent journalism.
- Arts & Culture: The Foundation supports a wide range of arts and cultural organizations—from major institutions to individual artists—by funding projects that increase access, encourage collaboration, and strengthen long-term sustainability.
- Greenspaces: The Foundation invests in expanding access to shared natural spaces and parks that bring people together, support community connection, and improve health and quality of life.
Stern also established a Learning & Evaluation team at Houston Endowment to more deeply understand these areas and identify what works.
Stern expanded the Foundation’s role beyond traditional grantmaking to include more nonmonetary support for grantees—such as expertise and convening—emphasizing the importance of community voices and strong grantee-funder relationships based on trust. She is widely credited with fostering a collaborative, mission-driven culture at Houston Endowment that centers community, prioritizes learning, and values empathy and listening.
Under Stern’s leadership, the Foundation has played a pivotal role in addressing some of the region’s most pressing challenges and opportunities:
- Homelessness Response: Houston Endowment was an early participant in The Way Home, Houston’s coordinated homeless response system, which became a national model. The Foundation helped convene stakeholders and provided grants totaling $45 million.
- Preservation of Riverside General Hospital: Houston Endowment helped Harris County acquire the historic Riverside campus out of bankruptcy and develop plans for the building’s future operations as a health care and community hub for Third Ward.
- Nonprofit capacity-building: Houston Endowment last year launched the $5 million Collaboration Fund to strengthen the organizational capacity of grantee partners and build a more resilient nonprofit sector by providing flexible, low-barrier grants.
- Census 2020 Mobilization: Recognizing the stakes for representation and resources, the Foundation invested in a coordinated, community-based campaign to increase participation in the 2020 Census, particularly among historically undercounted populations.
- Buffalo Bayou Partnership: Houston Endowment funded the development of Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s master plan to transform the bayou east of downtown with new parks, affordable housing, trails, and other amenities and infrastructure in Houston’s East End.
- Jones Artists Awards: The Foundation established the annual Jones Artist Awards to recognize local emerging artists and reflect the diverse stories and perspectives of Greater Houston’s residents, offering individual artists the opportunity to exhibit their work at Houston Endowment headquarters and providing financial support to advance their creative practice.
Stern also oversaw the construction and 2022 relocation to Houston Endowment’s new headquarters, an architecturally significant space in the heart of the city that prioritizes sustainability and facilitates large convenings to serve the community and grantees.
Stern, an attorney and former executive at Texas Children’s Hospital, brought to her role a blend of legal, nonprofit, and civic expertise and is a trusted advisor to philanthropic leaders across the sector.
She began her career in private law practice and earned her bachelor’s and law degrees at the University of Texas at Austin. She serves on the boards of the University of Texas Law School Foundation, Greater Houston Partnership, The Holdsworth Center, and Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. She is also an independent member of the Audit Committee for MD Anderson Cancer Center. Before her role at Houston Endowment, she served as executive vice president, vice president, and general counsel at Texas Children’s Hospital. She previously served as chairman of the board of St. John’s School and on the boards of Texas Children’s Hospital, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Invesco Funds.
“We are so grateful for Ann’s tireless leadership. She has inspired deep trust and admiration in the community,” said Trent. “She’s helped shape not just what we fund but how we lead, and her impact will be felt for years to come.”
The Foundation will share updates on its executive search on its website, HoustonEndowment.org.