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Understanding Houston

Building a more vibrant Houston region with opportunity for all.

Making sense of life in America’s fourth largest city isn’t always easy. That’s why in 2019, Greater Houston Community Foundation launched Understanding Houston in partnership with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Understanding Houston is a central resource featuring independent research organized in a way that empowers people throughout Greater Houston to take informed action — individually and collectively — to build a region that provides everyone the opportunity to reach their full potential.

To build Understanding Houston, we’ve worked collaboratively to aggregate data across multiple sources to provide an accessible, one-stop platform for understanding the key quality of life issues in Houston’s three most populous counties — Fort Bend, Harris, and Montgomery Counties. And we will continue to work with others as we discover more about the quality of life in our region and work in partnership to create a more vibrant region with opportunity for all.

Understanding Houston logo

Our Approach

To build Understanding Houston, we’ve worked collaboratively to aggregate data across multiple sources to provide an accessible, one-stop platform for understanding the key quality of life issues in Houston’s three most populous counties — Fort Bend, Harris, and Montgomery Counties. And we will continue to work with others as we discover more about the quality of life in our region and work in partnership to create a more vibrant region with opportunity for all.

Making a Difference Together

“Understanding Houston is THE tool for funds and anyone involved in making changes in the community — policy or grantmaking. I have sent people to the Understanding Houston website who don’t even live or fund in Houston as an example of the kind of data and tools their community should be using.”

Kelly Hackett (Vice President, Hackett Family Foundation)

“Understanding Houston has been extremely helpful to me in my role on the board of a local foundation. Having these resources at my fingertips makes me a much more educated steward of capital.”

Managing Partner and Principal, Houston Private Equity Firm

“I usually give to groups I know, but Understanding Houston has opened my eyes to many challenges we face as a community and the need for me to do more.”

Greater Houston Community Foundation Donor

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How to Use Understanding Houston

Explore the Topics

Understanding Houston comprises more than 200 data points spread across nine topic pages and 31 subtopic pages. These topics encompass several issues affecting quality of life in Houston’s three most populous counties — Fort Bend, Harris, and Montgomery — including economic opportunity, education, health, housing, and more.

Explore the Data

Read Perspectives from Our Community

Understanding Houston articles offer analysis, perspective, and lived experience from a variety of authors including nonprofit leaders and researchers, among others. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Understanding Houston and/or the Greater Houston Community Foundation but reflect our commitment to lifting up unique voices within the Houston community.

Explore Articles

Get Involved With Understanding Houston

As a collaborative initiative, Understanding Houston relies on input and donations from community members and leaders alike to fulfill its mission. Subscribe to the newsletter, submit new stories and ideas, request an Understanding Houston presentation for your organization, and donate through the “Get Involved” link below.

Get Involved

Ready to Get Started? We’re Here to Help.

Contact Diana Zarzuelo, Vice President of Community Impact

Diana Z
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