Butterfield Memorial Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.35 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Approximately 1-4 months
• Grant Range: Average ~$58,800 per grant
• Geographic Focus: Oklahoma priority (50%+ of giving), with international reach

Contact Details

• Website: www.butterfieldfoundation.org
• Phone: (405) 604-4702
• Address: 8308 N May Ave Ste 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73120
• Grant Portal: butterfieldfoundation.org/grant-gateway/
• President/CEO Direct: (405) 604-4702 ext. 5

Overview

Founded in 2005 from the proceeds of Deaconess Hospital's sale, the Butterfield Memorial Foundation has distributed over $38 million in grants to Christian organizations advancing whole person healthcare. With $4.35 million awarded across 74 grants in 2024, the foundation carries forward a century-old legacy of serving Oklahoma City's underserved populations. Named in honor of Rev. Ralph and Gladys Butterfield, the foundation operates from a belief that true well-being encompasses spirit, soul, and body. The organization maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and celebrates 20 years of transformative service in 2025. Their mission is to "manifest the redeeming love of Christ by focusing on the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being of people, consistent with the tenets of the Free Methodist Church USA."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates four distinct funding focus areas:

• Christian Whole Person Healthcare: Supports construction, medical equipment, technology upgrades, and staff training for nonprofit Christian healthcare organizations serving underserved populations
• Spiritual Care Advancement: Funds curriculum development, chaplaincy training programs, and spiritual care internships within Christian healthcare settings
• Choose Life Advancement: Provides ultrasound machines, building improvements, and training for pregnancy resource centers and anti-trafficking organizations
• International Whole Person Healthcare: Supports global health initiatives that increase access to care and develop indigenous healthcare programs

Priority Areas

• Healthcare access for underserved populations
• Integration of spiritual care in healthcare delivery
• Pregnancy resource centers and post-abortion healing ministries
• Anti-sex trafficking initiatives
• International healthcare missions
• Provider education and training
• Infrastructure and equipment for Christian healthcare facilities

What They Don't Fund

• Operational expenses (including salaries)
• Ongoing program expenses
• Endowments
• Scholarships
• Grants to individuals
• Sponsorships

Governance and Leadership

Hal Hoxie, President/CEO (third president), leads the foundation after previously serving as President at Central Christian College in Kansas and retiring as a U.S. Air Force Colonel. He states: "I feel God brought me here not only at the right time for me, but at an important juncture in the history of this foundation. We are ready to take on the enormously exciting challenge of running the next portion of the race set before us."

The leadership team includes Dierdre (Executive Vice President), Jennifer (Vice President of Programs overseeing domestic and international granting), Lisa Drumeller (Controller), Claudette Haggard (Team Member), and Mary (Administrative Assistant). The foundation operates with a Board of Directors whose specific members are not publicly listed.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted exclusively through the Butterfield Foundation Grant Portal. The process requires:

1. Create an account on the Grant Portal at butterfieldfoundation.org/grant-gateway/
2. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) as the mandatory first step
3. If invited after LOI review, submit a full application through the portal
4. Applications are considered in one of three annual grant cycles

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates three grant cycles per year with specific deadlines posted on their Grant Gateway page. While exact decision timeframes aren't published, the quarterly cycle structure suggests decisions within 1-4 months of submission.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. In 2024, the foundation made 74 grants totaling $4,351,211, compared to 84 awards in 2023.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit a new Letter of Inquiry after:

• At least 12 months have passed since approval of previous funding
• All awarded funds have been fully expended
• All reporting requirements have been completed

Application Success Factors

The foundation evaluates applications based on alignment with their four funding focus areas and values rooted in the Free Methodist Church USA. They specifically look for projects that demonstrate whole person healthcare approaches integrating physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Priority is given to Oklahoma-based projects, which account for at least 50% of all charitable giving.

Successful applications will clearly articulate their Christian mission and approach, demonstrate service to underserved populations, and show how they can make meaningful difference with the foundation's investments. The foundation identifies "substantial financial resources" as one of its five key strengths, indicating capacity for significant grants to well-aligned projects.

Projects that improve quality of care, address health issues impacting large populations, or advance charitable care through provider education are particularly competitive. For international projects, having a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor is essential, as the foundation cannot fund international organizations directly.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Must be a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit to qualify - secular organizations are not eligible
• Oklahoma-based projects receive priority consideration and account for 50%+ of giving
• Letter of Inquiry is mandatory - do not submit unsolicited full proposals
• Focus on whole person healthcare integration (spirit, soul, and body) strengthens applications
• Projects seeking equipment, infrastructure, or training funds are more competitive than those seeking operational support
• International projects require a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor
• Previous grantees must wait 12 months and complete all reporting before reapplying

References

• Butterfield Memorial Foundation Official Website. Accessed February 2025. https://butterfieldfoundation.org
• Butterfield Memorial Foundation Grant Gateway. Accessed February 2025. https://butterfieldfoundation.org/grant-gateway/
• Butterfield Memorial Foundation Staff Page. Accessed February 2025. https://butterfieldfoundation.org/about/staff/
• Charity Navigator Profile - Butterfield Memorial Foundation. Accessed February 2025. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/731448149
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Butterfield Memorial Foundation. Accessed February 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/731448149
• Oklahoma Faith and Community Partnerships Recognition. "Celebrating 20 Years of Transformative Service with the Butterfield Memorial Foundation." January 2025. https://oklahoma.gov/faithandcommunity/recognize/2025/celebrating-20-years-of-transformative-service-with-the-butterfi.html
• Light and Life Magazine. "Central's Hal Hoxie Named Butterfield President." Accessed February 2025. https://lightandlifemagazine.com/centrals-hal-hoxie-named-butterfield-president/
• Candid Foundation Directory Online Profile. Accessed February 2025. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=BUTT421