← Back to US Funders Directory

Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.9M
Grant Range
Up to $4.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,859,196 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $40,082,345 (2024)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely (from individual scholarships to $4 million major gifts)
  • Geographic Focus: Southern Oklahoma (particularly Ardmore/Carter County region), with some support for broader Oklahoma initiatives
  • Number of Grants: 25 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 218 Colston Building, Ardmore, OK 73401
Phone: (580) 226-1227
Website: None publicly available
Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation was established in 1986 as a private family foundation based in Ardmore, Oklahoma. With total assets of approximately $40 million and annual giving of nearly $2.9 million, the foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on education and the arts, with a strong emphasis on Southern Oklahoma communities. Led by Jerome Max "Bruzzy" Westheimer Jr., who serves as president and CEO, the foundation has funded over 1,500 scholarships nationwide and has made transformative gifts to institutions including Murray State College, Ardmore City Schools, and the University of North Texas. The foundation's mission centers on "funding impactful education initiatives" and preserving cultural heritage, as demonstrated by major investments in nursing education, performing arts facilities, and historic golf course restoration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published application cycles. Instead, it identifies and supports projects that align with its mission on an invitation-only basis.

Priority Areas

Education:

  • Higher education scholarships and fellowships
  • Nursing education and healthcare workforce development
  • K-12 performing arts facilities and programs
  • Research programs (particularly science and medical research)

Arts and Culture:

  • Performing arts centers and facilities
  • Visual arts programs and collections
  • Cultural preservation projects
  • Music and theater education

Historic Preservation:

  • Golf course restoration and historical preservation
  • Community heritage projects

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. There is no public information about specific exclusions, but the foundation's documented giving patterns show a clear focus on education and arts rather than:

  • Direct social services
  • Environmental causes
  • International programs
  • Religious organizations (no documented grants)

Governance and Leadership

Jerome Max "Bruzzy" Westheimer Jr. serves as President and CEO of the Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation. He is also president of Valbel West, an oil-and-gas producer and family business in Ardmore, Oklahoma, which he joined in 1971. A 1965 alumnus of the University of North Texas, Westheimer has been recognized with UNT's Presidential Wings of Eagles Award for his transformative contributions to education and the arts.

Key Quote from Foundation Leadership:

"This facility and its impact on our communities are exactly what the Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation was designed to support." - Jerome Westheimer Jr., speaking about the Southern Oklahoma Nursing Education Center

"I've given scholarships to college students for about 40 years, and one thing I've learned is how important it is to encourage the students to utilize what they've learned in college in the real world."

The foundation operates with no paid employees, with governance handled by family trustees. According to tax filings, no compensation is paid to officers or trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Proactive identification by foundation leadership
  • Invitation to submit proposals for specific projects
  • Trustee discretion based on alignment with foundation priorities
  • Pre-existing relationships with the foundation or its leadership

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's documented grants suggest several pathways through which organizations have received support:

Geographic Connection: The foundation shows strong preference for Southern Oklahoma initiatives, particularly those in Ardmore and Carter County. Organizations serving this region, especially those addressing documented community needs (like the nursing shortage), have received significant support.

Relationship with Jerome Westheimer: As president of Valbel West and a prominent Ardmore businessman, Westheimer is actively involved in the Southern Oklahoma community. The foundation has supported organizations where Westheimer has personal connections, including his alma mater (University of North Texas) and local institutions in Ardmore.

Transformative Impact: The foundation's largest grants (the $4 million Performing Arts Center, $2.5 million Dornick Hills restoration, and significant SONEC support) demonstrate preference for major, transformative projects rather than small operational grants.

Educational Focus: Organizations can demonstrate alignment by addressing workforce development (like nursing education), supporting arts education in schools, or providing scholarship opportunities that help students "utilize what they've learned in college in the real world."

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Murray State College Foundation submitted their application in August and received a decision in December (approximately 4 months), though this was for an invited proposal.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, the traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing the foundation's documented grants reveals what appeals to their funding priorities:

Regional Impact on Southern Oklahoma: The foundation's largest grants address critical community needs in the Ardmore area. The SONEC project specifically addresses regional nursing shortages and will train 250-300 nurses annually. The Performing Arts Center serves Ardmore City Schools and the broader community.

Transformative Scale: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make major gifts ($2.5-4 million range) for projects that fundamentally transform capabilities or infrastructure, rather than spreading resources across many small grants.

Education and Arts Integration: Projects that combine educational mission with cultural enrichment align well with the foundation's stated priorities. The Performing Arts Center, for example, serves both K-12 education and community cultural programming.

Long-term Community Benefit: The foundation favors projects with sustained impact. The Westheimer Science Research Fellows Program provides ongoing research opportunities; the SONEC will create over 30 new jobs and address workforce needs for years to come.

Preservation of Heritage: The $2.5 million Dornick Hills Historical Foundation grant demonstrates commitment to preserving culturally significant assets (Perry Maxwell-designed golf course) for future generations.

Quotes from Recipients: Larry Sloan, Murray State College Foundation Chair, noted "The Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation's gift is significant in the project's fundraising campaign," suggesting the foundation may be more likely to support projects with broader fundraising campaigns where their gift can have catalytic impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - direct outreach is unlikely to be productive unless you have a pre-existing relationship with foundation leadership or are invited to apply

  • Geographic focus is paramount - Southern Oklahoma organizations, particularly those serving Ardmore and Carter County, represent the foundation's primary funding area, though some support extends to broader Oklahoma and alma mater institutions

  • Think transformative, not incremental - documented grants suggest preference for major capital projects and programs that fundamentally change community capacity rather than annual operating support

  • Education and arts are dual priorities - successful projects often address workforce development, scholarship access, or cultural preservation; projects combining both priorities may be particularly compelling

  • Demonstrate measurable community impact - the foundation responds to documented needs (nursing shortage, performing arts access) with quantifiable outcomes (250-300 nurses trained annually, 800-seat performance hall)

  • Family foundation with hands-on leadership - Jerome Westheimer Jr. personally leads the foundation and is actively involved in evaluating projects, suggesting relationship-building with foundation leadership is critical

  • Major gifts for naming opportunities - several funded projects bear the Westheimer name (Westheimer SONEC, Jerome Westheimer Center for the Performing Arts), suggesting the foundation may be receptive to naming recognition for transformative gifts

References

🎯 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

Join the Launch ListLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory