Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,100,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $7,500 - $930,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, some national grants

Contact Details

The foundation is registered at: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Road Wilmington, DE 19809

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Contact information for grant inquiries is not publicly available.

Overview

The Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 and received 501(c)(3) status in June 2008. Named after Sacramento businessman and philanthropist Marvin "Buzz" Oates (1923-2013), the foundation carries forward his legacy of faith-based giving. With total assets of approximately $29.4 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $3.1 million in grants that year to 21 organizations. Guided by Christian faith and commitment to community, the foundation focuses on education, homelessness, faith-based organizations, and youth and women's services. The foundation operates as a private independent foundation, making contributions to preselected charitable organizations primarily in California.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined application cycles. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Recent Grant Activity (2024):

• 21 grants awarded
• Median grant: $15,000
• Range: $7,500 - $930,000
• Total distributions: $3.1 million

Priority Areas

The foundation's giving reflects Marvin "Buzz" Oates' philanthropic priorities:

• Faith-Based Organizations: Christian churches, ministries, and religious institutions
• Education: Christian schools, educational academies, and youth education programs
• Youth Services: Programs supporting young people's development and opportunities
• Women's Services: Organizations supporting women in crisis or need
• Homelessness: Programs addressing housing insecurity and related services
• Community Services: General charitable support for community-serving organizations

Geographic Focus: Primarily California, especially the Sacramento region, with occasional grants to national faith-based organizations.

Top Grant Recipients (2024)

• Destiny Community Services (Rocklin, CA): $930,000
• Destiny Christian Church Assembly of God (Rocklin, CA): $1,050,000 total (including $550,000 for Destiny Capital Academy Improvements Project and $500,000 general support)
• Mark 4 (Vienna, VA): $375,000

What They Don't Fund

Based on their grantmaking pattern, the foundation appears to avoid:

• Non-Christian religious organizations
• Secular educational institutions
• Arts and culture organizations
• Environmental causes
• International programs
• Individual scholarships
• Research projects

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three unpaid officers and directors, all with close personal or professional connections to Marvin "Buzz" Oates:

Philip D. Oates - President and Director

• Son of Marvin "Buzz" Oates
• Serves as Chairman of the Buzz Oates Group of Companies

Larry Allbaugh - Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director

• Chief Executive Officer of the Buzz Oates Group of Companies
• Long-time business associate of the Oates family

Kathryn (Kathy) Fairrington - Vice President and Director

• Daughter of Marvin "Buzz" Oates (youngest of five children)
• The foundation receives support from the Fairrington Family Irrevocable Trust

The foundation is supported by the Fairrington Family Irrevocable Trust dated December 1, and operates with no paid staff, relying entirely on volunteer leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly stated on IRS filings and nonprofit databases that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their knowledge of organizations aligned with the foundation's mission and values. The foundation proactively identifies and selects organizations to support rather than reviewing incoming applications.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation makes grants throughout the year based on trustee decisions.

Success Rates

Not applicable. Without a public application process, there are no application success rates to report.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model without public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, examining their grantmaking patterns reveals what the foundation values:

Strong Preference for Faith-Based Organizations: The overwhelming majority of grants support Christian churches, ministries, and faith-based service organizations. Organizations with an explicitly Christian mission and approach are most likely to receive support.

Emphasis on Education: Multiple grants support Christian educational institutions and programs that provide youth with "the education and opportunity they needed to succeed," reflecting founder Marvin "Buzz" Oates' specific desire to help young people.

Substantial Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation appears to provide repeated support to favored organizations. Destiny Christian Church Assembly of God, for example, received multiple grants in 2024, suggesting the foundation builds long-term partnerships rather than one-time support.

California Connection: The vast majority of grants support California-based organizations, particularly in the Sacramento region where Marvin "Buzz" Oates built his business career. Geographic proximity to the founder's legacy appears important.

Capacity for Large Grants: While the median grant is $15,000, the foundation has demonstrated willingness to make transformational gifts exceeding $900,000 to aligned organizations, particularly for capital projects.

Unrestricted and Capital Support: Many grants provide "general and unrestricted" support, with some designated for specific capital improvement projects like the Destiny Capital Academy Improvements Project.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.
• Faith-based focus is essential: Christian mission and values are central to funding decisions. Organizations without an explicitly Christian identity are unlikely to align with the foundation's priorities.
• California location matters: The foundation shows strong preference for Sacramento-area and California-based organizations, reflecting the founder's geographic roots.
• Relationship-driven grantmaking: Grants appear to flow through personal and professional networks of the trustees, particularly connections to the Oates family and business.
• Education and youth priorities: Organizations serving young people through education, especially Christian education, align well with the founder's stated philanthropic vision.
• Unrestricted support available: The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific grants, including substantial capital grants.
• Women's and homelessness services: While faith-based, the foundation supports practical services for vulnerable populations including women in crisis and individuals experiencing homelessness.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation (EIN 26-1481981). Form 990-PF filings. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/261481981 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Grantmakers.io - Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation Profile. Grant data 2024. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/261481981-marvin-buzz-oates-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Comstock's Magazine. "The Legacy of Marvin 'Buzz' Oates." https://www.comstocksmag.com/sponsored/legacy-marvin-buzz-oates (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Cause IQ - Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation organizational profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/marvin-buzz-oates-charitable-foundation,261481981/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Reformation Harvest Fire Ministries. "One of Forbes' Richest Americans Determined to Build God's Kingdom." June 2010. https://reformationharvestfire.com/2010/06/one-of-forbes-richest-americans-determined-to-build-gods-kingdom/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)