Ruth Nelson Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This Tulsa, OK based foundation focuses its giving on economic mobility within Tulsa County, with a priority on the City of Tulsa, and its core themes are affordable housing, women’s health and youth development.
- Eligible applicants include tax-exempt nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, governmental entities and educational institutions serving that area; it offers flexible support such as general operating or programme support, capital campaigns, capacity building and programme-related investments.
- No grant range is stated, though total annual giving was $5,459,860 paid, so request size should be judged on the fit of the project rather than a published ceiling.
- The process starts with a letter of inquiry, with full applications by invitation only followed by formal review and board approval, and it describes a trust-based approach that aims to reduce barriers and build relationships, so engaging early and considering its information session before applying is worthwhile.
- It does not fund lobbying, political campaigns or partisan political activities, proselytizing or religious instruction, or special events such as galas, fundraising events or tournaments except in rare circumstances, so organisations seeking support for those purposes should not apply.
Overview
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tulsa, OK.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation directs its grantmaking towards economic mobility in Tulsa, with core focus areas of affordable housing, women’s health and youth development. Through the Founder’s Initiative, it also supports organisations Ruth faithfully gave to that fall outside those areas. Eligible applicants serve Tulsa County, with a preference for the City of Tulsa, and include tax-exempt nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, governmental entities and educational institutions. Its strategy is to invest in strong nonprofit partners while also allocating resources directly to families. It considers flexible support for general operating or programme support, capital campaigns, capacity building and programme-related investments. It aims to support new and emerging solutions, back bold ideas, and sustain and scale community-driven innovations. Its trust-based approach seeks to reduce barriers, share power and build relationships grounded in dignity, transparency and mutual accountability.
Themes
- Affordable housing
- Women’s health
- Youth development
Geographic Focus
Tulsa County. Priority: City of Tulsa.
What They Don't Fund
- Lobbying, political campaigns, or partisan political activities
- Proselytizing or religious instruction
- Special events such as galas, fundraising events, or tournaments, except in rare circumstances
How to apply
Organisations submit a letter of inquiry first. After the LOI, full applications are by invitation, followed by formal review and board approval.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- It aims to support new and emerging solutions.
- It aims to back bold ideas.
- It aims to sustain and scale community-driven innovations.
- It follows trust-based philanthropy, seeking to reduce barriers, share power and build relationships grounded in dignity, transparency and mutual accountability.
- It encourages organisations aligned with its focus areas and eligibility requirements to review its process or join an information session before applying.
Officers and directors
- Randolph M Nelson — Trustee
- Thomas W Murphy — Trustee
- Timothy B Nelson — Trustee
- Pamela B Nelson — Trustee
- Michael S Nelson — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $249,699 | $0 | $59,490,127 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,958,674 | $3,643,350 | $118,761,294 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,526,343 | $5,459,860 | $131,831,375 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Ruth Nelson Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Applying to Ruth Nelson Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required