In 2022, Houston Endowment set an audacious goal for itself: establish a sustainable building operations plan that would capture the foundation’s ethos of giving back to the community.
On the brink of moving into a new 31,718-square-foot facility overlooking Buffalo Bayou, the Foundation incorporated many sustainable features into the design of the new building. Among them: 443 solar panels, 36 geothermal wells, and an eco-friendly structure of cross-laminated timber.
Once the building was complete, establishing and maintaining sustainable operations remained an ongoing effort. It’s an area where Houston Endowment’s Facilities and Operations team remains laser-focused. From adding native landscaping to reduce water use, to composting materials to divert them from landfills, to procuring eco-friendly office supplies, the team is continually introducing green initiatives. By early 2026, they hope to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
Here, they share their thoughts on sustainability, how they help the foundation lead the way in green initiatives, and the impact they have on our staff and community.
Using our resources
Houston Endowment’s building operations team oversees a number of responsibilities, many of which are aimed at being conscientious stewards of the Foundation’s resources, explains Katie Niemann, Director, IT and Building Operations. And like the Foundation’s work with grantees in the civic engagement, education, and arts and parks sectors, they take a data-based approach to evaluate their impact.
“We use data to inform our decision-making, implement best practices to be as efficient and effective as possible, and seek regular feedback so that we can keep getting better,” she says. “For example, we want to minimize what we spend on water and electricity, so we continuously monitor what we use, create strategies to use less, and reduce our consumption. This enables us to use fewer natural resources. Sustainability just makes sense!”
The team also seeks smaller scale, yet significant ways to make a difference. IT Operations Manager Eddie Mazariegos takes special care to sustainably decommission hardware, while Manager, Office Administration Ellen Battles and Hospitality and Events Coordinator Leira Reyes look for compostable, multi-use, or recycled items when purchasing products for the building, which spans everything from office to kitchen supplies.
On a mission
“Sustainability is deeply embedded in the culture at Houston Endowment because it aligns so closely with our mission,” says Rod Turner, facilities manager. “At its core, our work is about improving quality of life—and that includes how we invest, protect, and care for the environment we all share.”
While Turner and his teammates spearhead sustainability efforts, the entire organization is invited to participate; newly launched programs encourage staff members to recycle depleted batteries and compost food waste. Additionally, a recent Earth Week e-waste recycling drive motivated staff members to bring outdated electronics to the office for recycling. In previous years, more than 130 pounds of equipment was recycled.
“We help set the tone for how our organization operates day to day,” says Reyes. “The sustainable resources we make available allow our staff to engage in eco-friendly practices without thinking twice about it. By keeping sustainability at the forefront of our work, we’re helping create a workplace where being mindful about our environmental impact becomes second nature.”
Learning—and leading—along the way
As sustainable operations developed at the Foundation, collaboration became a key component to success.
“When we opened our headquarters in 2022, none of us had ever operated a building with so many ‘green’ features. There was so much to learn,” says Niemann. “Fortunately, there were many others in Houston wanting to know more about how to operate sustainably.”
In partnership with nonprofit research hub Houston Advanced Research Center, the team formed the Houston Nonprofit Sustainability Collaborative, a group of more than 20 nonprofit operations leaders who now meet regularly to share resources and discuss ways to incorporate sustainability into their work.
One key lesson for any leader developing sustainable operations—is to talk with your team about why you’re making a change, says Battles. “When people understand the reasoning, they’re usually more open to it, and sometimes they’ll even come up with better ideas than you had in the first place,” she says.
Looking to the future
Achieving LEED certification is the next milestone for the team, and beyond that goal, they look toward continuing to embed sustainable practices in the organization.
“[It’s about having] a willingness to keep learning, adapting, and finding new opportunities to improve,” says Turner. “What’s powerful is that each of us can contribute in meaningful ways. Sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a commitment to doing what’s right for the long term.”
Beyond the building
Many team members have integrated their sustainable learnings into their personal lives. “Fun fact: I just learned how to ride a bike!” says Reyes. “Living in the Heights, and with sustainability on my mind, my friends and I have been making a conscious effort to bike around our neighborhoods when it’s safe and doable. It’s been a fun reminder that sustainability and healthy living often go hand in hand.”