Kathleen S Craft Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5,000,339 (tax year 2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
• Decision Time: Not applicable - invitation only
• Grant Range: $258 - $5,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Oklahoma (Tulsa area), with select national grants (based on recent 990-PF records)
• Total Assets: $125,173,155

Contact Details

Address: 2502 E 45th St, Tulsa, OK 74105-5147
Phone: 918-742-4183
EIN: 45-5153443

Key Personnel:

• Kathleen Craft Mowry (Director/Trustee)
• Sharia Smith (Executive Director)
• Mark C Fiddes (Director)

Note: The foundation does not have a website or public email contact listed.

Overview

The Kathleen S Craft Foundation was established in 2012 as a non-operating private family foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With total assets of approximately $125 million and annual grant distributions of over $5 million, the foundation makes gifts to preselected charitable organisations focused primarily on Catholic causes, social services, and support for vulnerable populations. The foundation is led by Kathleen Craft Mowry (also known as Kate Craft Mowry), a prominent Catholic philanthropist who describes having "a special passion for helping untie the knots of leadership in the Church" and supporting priests. The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no formal grant programmes or application cycles. Based on recent 990-PF records, the foundation has supported organisations in areas including:

• Catholic leadership development and faith formation
• Services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Domestic violence and human trafficking prevention
• Homelessness services
• Healthcare advocacy

Notable historical grants include:

• Catholic Leadership Institute: $5,000,000 (2021) - For transforming 30 dioceses through leadership development programmes

Priority Areas

Based on documented grantmaking patterns from 990-PF filings, the foundation prioritises:

1. Catholic Church Leadership and Education: Significant support for Catholic Leadership Institute and faith formation programmes, reflecting founder's stated passion for strengthening Church leadership and supporting priests
2. Social Services for Vulnerable Populations: Domestic violence survivors, individuals experiencing homelessness, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
3. Local Oklahoma Impact: Strong focus on Tulsa-area organisations addressing critical community needs
4. Healthcare and Patient Advocacy: Select national grants for healthcare-related causes
5. Faith-Based Solutions: Preference for organisations with Catholic or Christian foundations, particularly those serving vulnerable populations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests:

• Organisations outside their preselected network
• Unsolicited applications from any organisation
• International organisations (focus is domestic, primarily Oklahoma based on 990-PF records)
• Arts, culture, or environmental causes (no evidence in recent giving)

Governance and Leadership

Kathleen Craft Mowry (Kate Craft Mowry) - Director/Trustee (serves 5 hours per week, uncompensated)

• Originally from Columbus, Ohio
• Degree in Speech Pathology from University of Kentucky
• Mother of four, grandmother of eight
• Met husband Bryan while walking the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
• Serves on the National Advisory Board and Task Force for Catholic Leadership Institute
• Previously served on the Catholic Community Foundation board (joined 2019)
• Involved with Catholic Leadership Institute since 2012

Sharia Smith - Executive Director

Mark C Fiddes - Director

The foundation operates with minimal staff (no full-time employees reported), suggesting a highly focused, relationship-driven approach to grantmaking.

Key Quote from Kate Craft Mowry: "I just think it is so important to make sure this incredible apostolate can do all the good possible at this time for our Church." - Regarding her $5 million gift to Catholic Leadership Institute

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organisations they have identified through their own networks and priorities. There is no application portal, no deadline schedule, and no formal application materials available.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their approach may be helpful for organisations aligned with their mission:

Kate Craft Mowry's documented approach to philanthropy:

• She became involved with Catholic Leadership Institute in 2012 through Fr. Gary Kastl, who introduced her to the organisation
• She serves on boards and advisory committees for organisations she supports (Catholic Leadership Institute National Advisory Board, previously Catholic Community Foundation board)
• Her concern for her grandchildren's faith and future shapes her philanthropic decisions
• She values strategic planning and programme development involvement, not just financial contributions

Sectors where the foundation has established relationships (based on 990-PF records):

• Catholic diocesan and parish initiatives
• Oklahoma social service providers serving vulnerable populations
• Organisations addressing domestic violence, homelessness, and developmental disabilities in the Tulsa metro area

Note: Given the foundation's clear policy against unsolicited applications, organisations should not send proposals or make cold contact. Any relationship would need to develop organically through shared board service, introductions from trusted advisors, or the founder's personal discovery through her existing Catholic and Oklahoma community networks.

Application Success Factors

Given this foundation's invitation-only model, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, analysing their documented grantmaking reveals what attracts their support:

Alignment with Founder's Values:

• Catholic mission or values-based approach to serving vulnerable populations
• Focus on strengthening Catholic Church leadership, particularly support for priests
• Organisations that combine faith with practical social services

Geographic Connection:

• Strong preference for Tulsa and Oklahoma organisations based on 990-PF grant patterns
• Local organisations addressing critical community needs (homelessness, domestic violence, disabilities)

Scale and Impact:

• Grants range from very small ($258) to transformational ($5,000,000)
• The foundation makes relatively few grants but at significant levels
• Preference for organisations positioned to create substantial impact with major funding

Established Track Record:

• Grant recipients like A New Leaf (founded 1979) and The Spring have long operational histories
• Organisations with clear missions and demonstrated effectiveness

Personal Connection:

• Kate Craft Mowry's documented giving shows she supports organisations where she has personal involvement (serves on boards, knows leadership)
• Introductions through trusted advisors (like Fr. Gary Kastl) have led to major support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No public application process exists - This foundation exclusively makes grants to preselected organisations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests

2. Catholic focus is paramount - The founder's stated passion is "helping untie the knots of leadership in the Church" and supporting priests; even non-religious organisations receive support through a faith-based lens

3. Oklahoma connection matters - Based on 990-PF records, the foundation shows strong preference for Tulsa-area organisations addressing local needs

4. Relationship-driven philanthropy - Kate Craft Mowry's documented giving history shows she supports organisations where she has personal connections, board service, or introductions from trusted advisors

5. Large, strategic gifts - The foundation makes fewer but larger investments rather than many small grants

6. Vulnerable populations priority - Outside of Catholic leadership support, grants focus on domestic violence survivors, homeless individuals, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups

7. Multi-year thinking - The $5 million Catholic Leadership Institute grant was designated for a five-year initiative, suggesting openness to sustained, strategic funding relationships

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Kathleen S Craft Foundation (EIN 45-5153443). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/455153443

• Grantmakers.io Profile: Kathleen S Craft Foundation. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/455153443-kathleen-s-craft-foundation/

• Cause IQ: Kathleen S Craft Foundation Organisation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/kathleen-s-craft-foundation,455153443/

• Catholic Leadership Institute: "$5,000,000 Gift Inspires Transformation" (2021). https://www.catholicleaders.org/news/5-million-inspires-transformation

• The Spring Oklahoma (formerly DaySpring Villa): Organisation website. https://www.thespringok.org/

• A New Leaf, Inc.: Organisation website. https://www.anewleaf.org/

• City Lights Foundation of Oklahoma: Organisation website. https://citylightsok.org/

• LinkedIn: Sharia Smith, Executive Director of Kathleen S. Craft Foundation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharia-smith-071190111/