Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 73-1300662 · since 1988somfardmore.org·Ardmore, Oklahoma·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$6M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$940 to $175k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$30,000

Typical grant (median)

54 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation only funds Oklahoma nonprofits carrying out charitable activities within a 50-mile radius of Ardmore, so only organisations working in that area should approach it.
It gives priority to health-related services, issues and education, but also considers education, social services, and civic and cultural activities that contribute to quality of life in Ardmore and surrounding areas.
Most grants to organisations are modest, with a median of $30,000 and about eight in ten falling between $940 and $175,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the foundation has made at least one grant as large as $3,000,000.
Rather than sending a full proposal straight away, start with an email or postal inquiry; if invited, the foundation will email an application to complete by one of four fixed deadlines of March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1, which are deadlines for returning the completed application rather than for requesting it.
With 57% of grant dollars going to organisations it has also funded before, ongoing relationships seem to matter, so new applicants should expect this but need not be put off; the foundation does not fund requests from individuals.

Overview

Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation is a US private foundation based in Ardmore, 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 gives priority to health-related services, issues and education. It also considers education, social services, and civic and cultural activities that contribute to quality of life in Ardmore and surrounding areas. Its health interests include medical and behavioural healthcare delivery, preventive and rehabilitative programmes, health-related capital projects and health education. Education grants can benefit public and private educational institutions, support scholarships and advance learning for area residents of all ages. Social-service programmes serve homeless, disadvantaged, disabled or under-resourced people, and it supports charities improving residents’ quality of life, civic improvements and cultural activities. Eligible applicants are Oklahoma nonprofit organisations conducting charitable activities within a 50-mile radius of Ardmore, with 501(c)(3) status or government entities or subdivisions; requests may be for specific projects or general operating expenses.

Themes

Health
Education
Social services
Community development
Civic and cultural activities

Geographic Focus

Oklahoma; 50-mile radius of Ardmore.

What They Don't Fund

Requests from individuals

How to apply

Organisations initiate an inquiry by email or post; after review, the Foundation emails an application for completion.

Deadlines: Completed applications are due by March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1; these are deadlines for returning the application, not for requesting it.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 57% 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 179 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Requests supporting health-related services, issues and education receive priority.
Organisations are encouraged to apply when their activities align with the Foundation’s mission.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Oklahoma100%

The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 57% of grant dollars went to organisations Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

54 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 54 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k6%

$1k–$2.5k13%

$2.5k–$5k4%

$5k–$10k4%

$10k–$25k15%

$25k–$50k24%

$50k–$100k24%

$100k–$250k4%

$250k–$500k2%

$500k–$1M2%

$1M and over4%

Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service · New facility construction
$2,000,0002024 tax year
Murray State Ccollege Foundation Inc · Southern oklahoma nursing education center construction
$1,250,0002024 tax year
Hardy Murphy Coliseum Trust Authority · New roof coliseum expo, admin area
$500,0002024 tax year
Marshall County Medical Center Board of Control · Hospital mri/ct suite construction
$445,2602024 tax year
YMCA of Ardmore Oklahoma · Grant - 2025 operating support
$225,0002024 tax year
Ardmore School District I-19 · Fy25 school nurse reimbursement
$174,7132024 tax year
More Foundation · Scholarships
$84,0252024 tax year
Criner Hills Volunteer Fire Department · Addition to fire station #2, door openers
$75,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Gil Wallace — Director
Jeffrey Rother — Director
Mark Riesen — Secretary
Cody Noble — Director
Gene Litteken — Director
Curtis Davidson — Chairman
Ann Crosby — Director
Laura Clay — Vice Chairman
Jelana Aaron — Director
Mary Kate Wilson — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$7,971,437	$6,319,286	$130,913,590	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$8,013,175	$6,411,524	$135,857,561	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$7,390,283	$5,967,620	$141,561,421	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.