Sam Viersen Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated focus is northeast Oklahoma, prioritising Okmulgee and Tulsa County, and its funding areas are basic human needs, education, self-sufficiency and cultural enrichment, so check that your work and location fit before writing.
- Most of its grants are small, with half of its 193 grants to organisations at $5,000 or less, so a modest request is realistic, though the filings also show one award above its stated $500,000 maximum.
- In its most recent filing, 93% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had funded before, so its giving leans towards repeat grantees, but new applicants are still welcome to start with an inquiry.
- New applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry through the grant portal by June 30, and if invited, a full proposal online by August 1.
- The foundation recommends contacting it before beginning an application, and it invites organisations whose missions align with its own and show a clear commitment to impactful community change.
Overview
Sam Viersen 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 invests in nonprofit organisations that strengthen lives and communities across northeast Oklahoma, prioritising organisations in Okmulgee and Tulsa Counties. Its stated funding areas are basic human needs, education, self-sufficiency and cultural enrichment. It backs work that provides essentials such as food and shelter, opens learning opportunities, cultivates independence and empowerment, and gives people access to experiences they might not otherwise have. In its grants process, it seeks organisations with a clear commitment to impactful community change and missions aligned with its own. New applicants begin with an inquiry and, if approved, are invited to submit a full proposal.
Themes
- Basic human needs
- Education
- Self-sufficiency
- Cultural enrichment
Geographic Focus
Northeast Oklahoma; Okmulgee; Tulsa County.
How to apply
New applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry through the grant portal by June 30. If approved, they are invited to submit a full proposal online by August 1.
Deadlines:
- New applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry through the grant portal by June 30 in the annual grant cycle.
- Full proposals must be submitted online by August 1.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 193 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It seeks organisations with a clear commitment to impactful community change.
- It invites organisations whose missions align with its own to connect with it.
- It recommends that applicants contact the foundation before beginning an application.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Sam Viersen Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 19% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 69 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Tulsa Community Foundation · Community Support$975,4162024 tax year
- Stonebridge Academy · Community Support$234,5002024 tax year
- Okmulgee County Humane Society · Community Support$201,6632024 tax year
- YMCA of Greater Tulsa · Community Support$148,0002024 tax year
- Okmulgee County Family Resource Center · Community Support$115,5002024 tax year
- OSU Foundation · Community Support$101,0002024 tax year
- OU Foundation · Community Support$100,0002024 tax year
- Tulsa Community Foundation · Community Support$96,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Eloise Johnson — Secretary
- Audra Fogle — Executive Director
- Jason Winters — Director
- Hugh Robinson — Director
- Jill Johnson — Director
- Brian Johnson — Director
- Edith Johnson — Director
- Sam Miller — Director
- Summer Andrus — Director
- Terry Costanza — Treasurer
- Sarah Miller — Vice President
- Adam Schenk — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,423,021 | $2,008,800 | $31,479,603 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,042,655 | $2,676,730 | $32,518,072 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,971,756 | $2,575,128 | $32,667,181 | 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
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Applying to Sam Viersen Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required