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The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation

Annual Giving
$35.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.2M

The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $35.1 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $200 - $2,200,000
  • Median Grant: $20,000
  • Total Assets: $331.8 million
  • Number of Grants (2024): 538 grants
  • Geographic Focus: Tulsa metropolitan area (primary); statewide Oklahoma and Israel (selective cases)

Contact Details

Address: 401 S. Boston, Suite 2700, Tulsa, OK 74103
Phone: 918-295-8004
Email: grants@zarrow.org
Website: https://zarrow.org/ahzf/
Online Grants Portal: bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com

Event/Fundraiser Inquiries: Amanda Howard (ahoward@zarrow.org)

Overview

The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation was established by Anne and Henry Zarrow, Tulsa philanthropists dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations. With assets of $331.8 million and annual giving of $35.1 million, the foundation is one of Oklahoma's largest philanthropic institutions. The foundation's mission is to lift neighbors out of poverty by supporting housing and shelter resources, social services and basic human needs, mental health and indigent healthcare initiatives, and programs that empower and inspire community members to improve their lives. The foundation funds nonprofit organizations working to improve the physical and intellectual lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people primarily in the metropolitan area of Tulsa, and in special cases statewide in Oklahoma and in Israel. In 2024, the foundation partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Oklahoma State University to build the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center. The foundation is currently led by Judy Zarrow Kishner, daughter of Anne and Henry Zarrow, who serves as a trustee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers three types of grants with semi-annual application cycles (deadlines: January 15 and July 15):

  • Operating Support Grants: General operating support for established nonprofits; the foundation distributes approximately $7 million annually to over 200 nonprofits
  • Program Grants: Support for specific programs aligned with funding priorities
  • Capital Grants: Major infrastructure investments; recent examples include $7.5 million for food bank facilities and $12 million for OSU Medical School campus expansion
  • Operating Renewal Grants: Multi-year funding for organizations with existing foundation relationships (by invitation)

Grant amounts range from $200 to $2.2 million, with a median grant of $20,000.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

  1. Alleviating & Preventing Homelessness

    • Shelter and transitional housing
    • Wraparound services for homeless populations
    • Eviction prevention programs
    • Affordable housing expansion
    • Notable investments: $16 million to Tulsa Housing Authority Choice Neighborhood Initiative; $31 million to Mental Health Association Oklahoma for affordable rental units

  2. Reducing Hunger & Supporting Basic Needs

    • Food banks and meal programs
    • Access to federal nutrition programs
    • The foundation launched Hunger Free Oklahoma initiative
    • $7.5 million in capital grants awarded to Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Meals on Wheels Metro Tulsa, Catholic Charities Food Pantry, and Iron Gate

  3. Improving Access to Health Care & Mental Health Services

    • Mental health services and delivery system improvements
    • Healthcare for indigent populations
    • Launched Healthy Minds Policy Initiative in 2019
    • $12 million toward OSU Medical School's $207 million campus expansion featuring new public mental health hospital (2021)

  4. Supporting Social Services

    • Programs serving disadvantaged and vulnerable populations
    • Community empowerment initiatives
    • Rapid response capability (awarded $1.35 million in COVID relief within two weeks in 2020)

Secondary Interest Areas:

  • Higher education and K-12 programs (recent $4.5 million to OU's Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work in 2024)
  • Jewish and Israel giving (rural focus)
  • Cultural institutions and civic improvement
  • Special legacy projects (e.g., Legacy Plaza, a 3-facility campus serving seven Tulsa nonprofits)

What They Don't Fund

  • Dinners, runs/walks, special events, or fundraisers
  • Organizations that do not comply with current Equal Employment Opportunity standards from the EEOC

Governance and Leadership

Trustee:

  • Judy Zarrow Kishner: Daughter of Anne and Henry Zarrow; presides over the foundation and serves as trustee

Senior Leadership:

Program Officers:

Support Staff:

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through an online grants portal at bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com.

Application Deadlines:

  • January 15 (for spring review cycle)
  • July 15 (for fall review cycle)

Applications are considered during February and September.

Application Requirements:

  • Organizations must comply with current Equal Employment Opportunity standards from the EEOC
  • The foundation conducts thorough due diligence and may request additional information beyond the initial application
  • For organizations with multiple potential projects, the foundation encourages reaching out with a prospective proposal to determine which project they would prefer to fund

Eligibility:

  • Nonprofit organizations serving disadvantaged and vulnerable people
  • Primary focus on Tulsa metropolitan area
  • Selective consideration for statewide Oklahoma and Israel projects

Decision Timeline

The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific decision timelines or notification processes. For timeline information, contact grants@zarrow.org.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates, number of applications received, or approval percentages. In 2024, the foundation awarded 538 grants totaling $35.1 million. The foundation has described itself as "committed to fairly evaluating each proposal submitted."

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has not publicly disclosed a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. For guidance on reapplying, contact grants@zarrow.org.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented approach and recent grants:

  1. Alignment with Primary Focus Areas: The foundation shows strongest commitment to homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health, and healthcare access. Recent major grants demonstrate willingness to make transformational investments in these areas (e.g., $31 million for affordable housing, $12 million for mental health hospital).

  2. Serving Disadvantaged Populations: The foundation's mission explicitly focuses on "lifting neighbors out of poverty" and supporting "disadvantaged and vulnerable people." Applications should clearly demonstrate service to these populations.

  3. Systems-Level Thinking: The foundation has funded comprehensive assessments (statewide hunger assessment in 2016, mental health services assessment in 2017) before launching initiatives. They value understanding systemic issues and creating lasting infrastructure.

  4. Collaborative Approach: Projects like Legacy Plaza (serving seven nonprofits) and Hunger Free Oklahoma demonstrate the foundation's interest in collaborative solutions that benefit multiple organizations or the broader community.

  5. Capital Investment Strategy: The foundation makes significant capital grants for infrastructure that creates lasting impact. Organizations seeking capital support should demonstrate how facilities will enhance service delivery.

  6. Proactive Communication: The foundation explicitly encourages nonprofits with multiple projects to "reach out with a prospective proposal to get a better sense of which one the foundation will prefer to fund." This suggests they value dialogue before formal application.

  7. General Operating Support: With $7 million annually distributed to over 200 nonprofits, the foundation clearly values unrestricted support for established organizations. Operating renewal grants provide multi-year funding for organizations with proven relationships.

  8. Rapid Response Capability: The foundation's ability to award $1.35 million in COVID relief within two weeks (2020) demonstrates their capacity for quick decision-making when urgent needs arise.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application conversation is encouraged: For organizations with multiple potential projects, reach out before applying to discuss which initiative best aligns with foundation priorities
  • Think big for capital projects: The foundation makes major capital investments ($7.5M-$31M) in infrastructure that creates systemic change
  • Demonstrate service to vulnerable populations: Every application must clearly show impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable people, particularly those experiencing poverty
  • Focus on Tulsa metro area: While statewide Oklahoma and Israel projects are occasionally considered, the foundation's primary geographic focus is metropolitan Tulsa
  • Consider collaborative approaches: The foundation values projects that benefit multiple organizations or create shared infrastructure
  • Two opportunities annually: With deadlines on January 15 and July 15, plan application timing strategically
  • Operating support is available: Don't overlook general operating grant opportunities; the foundation distributes $7M annually to 200+ nonprofits, suggesting strong support for organizational sustainability

References

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