← Back to US Funders Directory

Inasmuch Foundation

Annual Giving
$25.0M
Grant Range
$50K - $2.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Inasmuch Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25+ million (average)
  • Endowment: $409.7 million (as of June 2024)
  • Decision Time: 3 months (decisions in May and November)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program type; General Operating Support: $50,000-$100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Oklahoma City, OK and Colorado Springs, CO
  • Application Deadlines: February 15 (Spring) and August 15 (Fall)

Contact Details

Address: 600 N Robinson Ave, Suite 1120, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6242

Phone: 405-604-5292

Email: grants@inasmuchfoundation.org

Website: www.inasmuchfoundation.org

Program Officer: Nancy Hodgkinson, Senior Program Officer

Overview

The Inasmuch Foundation was established in 1982 by Edith Kinney Gaylord, a prominent Oklahoma philanthropist and newspaper publisher. With an endowment exceeding $409 million and annual giving averaging $25+ million, the foundation champions community enhancement, education, human services, and journalism to improve quality of life for Oklahomans. Since its founding, Inasmuch has distributed over $390 million to approximately 1,500 nonprofits. The foundation's mission is to "enrich and enhance the quality of lives we touch; to lessen suffering whenever possible and to strengthen and support institutions and organizations in ways that benefit communities and the individuals we serve." In Spring 2024, the foundation celebrated its largest grant cycle in history, awarding $22 million to 55 organizations, reflecting a strategic shift in fiscal planning and increased investment capacity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Operating Support

  • Two-tier structure: $50,000 or $100,000
  • Organizations with budgets exceeding $1 million qualify for the $100,000 tier
  • Cannot exceed 10% of the organization's annual operating budget
  • Available for up to five consecutive years (with mandatory one-year hiatus afterward)
  • Application through online portal during open cycles

One-time Funding Grants

  • No standardized amounts; varies based on project needs
  • Applicants should consult with a Program Officer about specific request amounts
  • Available during spring and fall open cycles

Capital Campaign Grants

  • Reviewed only after 50-75% of campaign funds are already raised
  • Requires prior consultation with a Program Officer
  • Note: The foundation will not contribute to capital campaigns during calendar year 2025

Summer Cycle (Invitation Only)

  • Closed application process for all focus areas
  • By invitation from foundation staff only

Priority Areas

1. Community Enhancement Promotes cultural experiences, the arts, and community engagement to improve quality of life in Oklahoma City. Recent funding includes support for arts organizations, parks and recreation, youth development programs, and civic engagement initiatives. Fall 2025 grants in this category totaled $755,000 to 11 organizations including Arts Council Oklahoma City, Freedom Center, Oklahoma City Rep, and Scissortail Park Foundation.

2. Education Increases access to high-quality educational experiences in Oklahoma City that provide learners with the ability to become engaged, informed, and productive members of the community. Fall 2025 grants totaled $2.3 million to 6 organizations including Keystone Adventure School & Farm, Positive Tomorrows, and Payne Education Center.

3. Human Services Names human needs, mental health and substance abuse, and criminal justice reform as funding priorities. The foundation has been instrumental in collaborative initiatives such as Key to Home, a large-scale public/private partnership involving over 40 agencies working to house Oklahoma City's chronically unsheltered population. Fall 2025 grants totaled $1.93 million to 16 organizations including Catholic Charities, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, and United Way of Central Oklahoma.

4. Journalism Improves news and information ecosystems through direct support to nonprofit newsrooms and collaborative organizations committed to strengthening communities through an engaged citizenry. This focus area extends beyond Oklahoma City to support journalism initiatives regionally and nationally. Fall 2025 grants totaled $800,000 to 10 organizations including KOSU, Oklahoma Media Center, The Beacon, and NewsMatch.

5. Colorado Springs Focus The foundation maintains a separate geographic focus area for Colorado Springs, CO, with grantmaking in community and civic engagement, education, and human services.

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital campaigns during 2025: Explicitly stated restriction for calendar year 2025
  • Multiple requests: Organizations limited to a single grant request and a single sponsorship request within any 12-month period
  • Amounts exceeding 10% of operating budget: For General Operating Support grants
  • Applications outside geographic focus: Grantmaking for community enhancement, education, and human services is specific to Oklahoma City (with separate Colorado Springs program)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Robert J. Ross - Chairman and CEO

  • Total compensation: $563,639 (including benefits)
  • Ross has led the foundation through significant growth, including the historic $22 million Spring 2024 grant cycle. He stated: "This year marks a major milestone in Inasmuch Foundation's history with our largest grant cycle to date," attributing the achievement to "a shift in fiscal years and thoughtful leadership from our board and staff."

Julie Jividen - Chief Financial Officer

  • Total compensation: $278,427 (including benefits)

Sarah Roberts - Vice President of Programs

  • Total compensation: $273,538 (including benefits)
  • Roberts has emphasized the foundation's commitment to public-private partnerships, particularly in addressing homelessness through the Key to Home initiative

Richard Davis - Senior Advisor

  • Total compensation: $236,709 (including benefits)

Nancy Hodgkinson - Senior Program Officer

  • Contact: 405-604-5292

Notable Programs

Key to Home Initiative: A large-scale public/private partnership co-chaired by Bob Ross, involving over 40 member agencies working together to house and provide wraparound support to Oklahoma City's chronically unsheltered population.

Community Fellowship Program: Offers fellowship opportunities with application deadlines typically in December for fellows and host sites.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application System: All grant requests must be submitted through the online Grant Request System available at inasmuchfoundation.org

Open Application Cycles:

  • Spring Cycle: Deadline February 15 at 5:00 PM CST
  • Fall Cycle: Deadline August 15 at 5:00 PM CST

If deadlines fall on weekends or holidays, they shift to the following business day.

Pre-Application Consultation: For one-time funding grants and capital campaigns, applicants are strongly encouraged to speak with a Program Officer before submitting a request to discuss project specifics and appropriate funding amounts.

Sponsorship Requests: Must be submitted separately from grant applications and require three months' advance notice.

Decision Timeline

  • Spring Cycle: Decisions communicated in May (approximately 3 months after deadline)
  • Fall Cycle: Decisions communicated in November (approximately 3 months after deadline)

Success Rates

Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed. However, in the historic Spring 2024 cycle, the foundation awarded $22 million to 55 organizations. More typical cycles range from $4-7 million distributed to 40-50 organizations, suggesting a competitive but accessible process for well-aligned organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are limited to one grant request and one sponsorship request within any 12-month period. For General Operating Support, organizations can receive funding for up to five consecutive years, after which they must take a mandatory one-year hiatus before reapplying.

Information about reapplication timelines for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified; applicants should contact program staff for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The foundation explicitly considers alignment with their prioritized focus areas in funding decisions. Education and Human Services together represented 73% of Fall 2025 funding, indicating strong prioritization of these areas.

Organizational Capacity and Stability: Organization size and stability are named as key factors in decision-making. The foundation has supported established organizations while also investing in emerging nonprofits demonstrating strong leadership and clear impact pathways.

Partnership and Collaborative Approach: The foundation values organizations that work collaboratively. Their flagship Key to Home initiative demonstrates this commitment to collective impact models. Organizations that can demonstrate how they work with other community partners may have stronger applications.

Budget Appropriateness: For General Operating Support, the foundation explicitly states that requests cannot exceed 10% of an organization's annual operating budget, ensuring grants provide meaningful but not overwhelming support.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • YMCA: $2 million for a new facility in The Village expanding childcare and wellness programs
  • First Americans Museum: $250,000 for FAMily Discovery Center construction
  • Catholic Charities: $550,000 for Caritas Casitas affordable housing project in Stockyards City
  • Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City: Education funding to expand access to learning opportunities
  • Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma: Human services support for food security initiatives

Program Officer Engagement: The foundation encourages consultation with program officers, particularly for one-time funding and capital campaigns, suggesting that building relationships with staff and seeking guidance on fit and approach is valued.

Geographic Specificity: For community enhancement, education, and human services, organizations must serve Oklahoma City specifically. Journalism grants extend beyond this geographic boundary.

Quotes from Leadership on Priorities:

Rachel Canuso Holt, President and CEO of United Way (grant recipient), noted: "Nonprofit organizations face substantial capital needs following reduced investment during the pandemic period," highlighting the foundation's responsiveness to sector-wide needs and timing.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Choose the right funding stream: Understand the difference between General Operating Support (standardized amounts, multi-year potential) and One-time Funding Grants (flexible amounts, project-specific) to select the most appropriate option for your organization's needs.

  • Observe the 10% rule: For General Operating Support applications, ensure your request doesn't exceed 10% of your annual operating budget, as this is an explicit requirement.

  • Time your application strategically: With only two open cycles per year and three-month decision timelines, plan your cash flow and project timelines accordingly. If you need funding by September, you must apply by the February deadline.

  • Engage program officers early: Particularly for one-time funding and capital campaigns, the foundation explicitly encourages consultation with program staff before applying. Use this opportunity to refine your approach and confirm fit.

  • Demonstrate Oklahoma City impact: For education, human services, and community enhancement grants, clearly articulate how your work specifically serves Oklahoma City residents. The geographic focus is explicit and non-negotiable for these areas.

  • Consider multi-year support: General Operating Support can be renewed for up to five consecutive years, providing significant funding stability. If your organization meets the criteria, this may be more strategic than requesting one-time project grants annually.

  • Show collaborative spirit: The foundation's leadership of the Key to Home initiative and emphasis on public-private partnerships suggests they value organizations that work collaboratively rather than in isolation. Highlight your partnerships and collective impact approach.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory