The David E. & Cassie L. Temple Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $826,028 (2024); $856,550 (most recent filing)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Decisions communicated before end of December; grants funded in Q1 of following year
• Grant Range: $500 - $75,000
• Geographic Focus: Tulsa, Oklahoma Metropolitan area

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Contact Details

• Website: templeok.org
• Email: info@templeok.org
• Phone: 918-743-9861
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 477550, Tulsa, OK 74147-7550
• Key Contact: Timothy L. Lyons (Trustee / c/o contact)

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Overview

The David E. & Cassie L. Temple Foundation is a private independent foundation established in late 1995, following the death of long-time Tulsa educator David E. Temple on October 30, 1995. Cassie L. Temple, also a career educator in Tulsa Public Schools, predeceased him in 1992. The Foundation was created to honor their lifelong commitment to education and community service.

The Foundation holds total assets of approximately $19 million and distributes roughly $826,000–$857,000 annually in grants, making between 37 and 54 awards per year in recent years. Its mission is to support organizations that meet basic educational or humanitarian needs, with priority given to organizations that encourage spiritual transformation. All grantmaking is concentrated within the Tulsa, Oklahoma metropolitan area. The Foundation is tax-exempt and has been so since August 1994 (EIN: 73-1452166).

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Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation does not appear to operate named, separate grant programs. It funds eligible organizations on a single annual cycle with grant awards ranging from $500 to $75,000.

• Education: Organizations serving educational needs aligned with the founders' backgrounds as Tulsa educators
• Humanitarian Services: Nonprofits addressing basic human needs in the Tulsa metro area
• Spiritual Transformation: Priority given to organizations with a spiritual or faith-based development element

Priority Areas

• Educational service organizations
• Organizations serving children, families, and community welfare
• Nonprofits providing basic humanitarian services (food, shelter, care)
• Faith-affiliated or spiritually oriented nonprofits
• Tulsa-area organizations (geographic focus is strict)

Recent grant recipients have included:

• University of Tulsa
• Boy Scouts of America (Tulsa Council)
• Tulsa Dream Center
• Crosstown Learning Center
• Clarehouse
• Meals on Wheels of Tulsa

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside the Tulsa, Oklahoma metropolitan area
• Organizations that cannot demonstrate alignment with educational or humanitarian missions
• Full funding at requested amounts is not guaranteed — the Foundation explicitly states it receives more proposals than it has resources to fund

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees that makes all grant decisions jointly. As of the most recent IRS 990 filing, the three active trustees are:

Name	Role	Annual Compensation
Timothy L. Lyons	Trustee	$42,000
Stephanie Jackson	Trustee	$42,000
David Beiler	Trustee	$42,000

Dr. C. Wayne Bland has also been listed as a key contact in older funder directories (phone: 918-743-9861), though this may reflect a historical contact. Grant writers should verify current contacts via info@templeok.org.

The Board establishes grant guidelines, maintains foundation investments, and makes all final funding decisions. Trustees generally do not meet with applicants to discuss proposals but may conduct site visits during the decision-making process.

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Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation operates a public application process via its website. The recommended steps are:

1. Review the Grant Proposal Guidelines: Available on the foundation's Grant Information page at templeok.org/grant-information/
2. Complete the Grant Proposal Summary Form: Available via the foundation website (online submission)
3. Submit your proposal — the Foundation accepts submissions on an annual cycle

There is no indication of rolling or multi-deadline cycles. All proposals appear to be evaluated together in a single annual review process.

Decision Timeline

• Decisions: Applicants are generally notified of their grant status before the end of December
• Disbursement: Approved grants are typically funded in the first quarter of the following year (January–March)
• This implies an annual submission window that closes sometime mid-to-late year, with notifications in December

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The Foundation itself notes that it "receives many more proposals than it has the resources to fund." With 37–54 awards made per year, competition is meaningful. Grant amounts less than requested are common — partial awards are explicitly acknowledged on their website.

Reapplication Policy

There is no publicly documented waiting period for reapplication. Unsuccessful applicants are advised that declination or partial funding reflects resource constraints rather than a permanent disqualification. Reapplication in subsequent years is implicitly permitted.

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Application Success Factors

The following is specific guidance drawn from the Foundation's own public statements and documented patterns:

• Align with all three pillars: The Foundation's mission encompasses educational needs, humanitarian needs, AND spiritual transformation. Applications that address more than one of these themes are likely to be more competitive. Explicitly note spiritual or faith-based dimensions if present in your work.

• Tulsa metro geography is non-negotiable: The Foundation's geographic focus on the Tulsa metropolitan area is strict. Only organizations serving this area should apply. Applications from organizations serving broader regional or national constituencies are unlikely to succeed.

• Be realistic about grant amounts: The Foundation funds grants from $500 to $75,000. Requesting amounts proportionate to the Foundation's capacity and your organization's size demonstrates awareness of the funder's resource constraints.

• Site visits may occur: Trustees may conduct site visits during the decision-making process. Ensure your organization is prepared to host and articulate its work clearly if visited.

• Do not expect a meeting: The Foundation explicitly states that "Trustees will not generally meet with an applicant to evaluate a proposal." Do not request a pre-submission meeting.

• Founders' legacy matters: Both David and Cassie Temple were career Tulsa Public Schools educators. Organizations with strong connections to Tulsa education, children, and community investment resonate deeply with the Foundation's founding purpose.

• Documented grantees as a benchmark: Past recipients include University of Tulsa, Boy Scouts of America, Meals on Wheels, Tulsa Dream Center, Crosstown Learning Center, and Clarehouse — review these organizations' missions to understand the type of work the Foundation values.

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Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The David E. & Cassie L. Temple Foundation is an active, accessible grant maker in Tulsa with a public application process and a website — this is a genuinely approachable funder for Tulsa-based nonprofits.
• Annual giving of ~$826,000–$857,000 across 37–54 grants means average awards are in the range of $15,000–$22,000, but the range of $500–$75,000 is wide.
• Deadline is not explicitly published but decisions are made before December — allow lead time by submitting well in advance of year-end.
• Three-part mission (educational + humanitarian + spiritual transformation) is the core filter — proposals must clearly speak to these themes.
• Geography is strictly Tulsa metro — do not apply if your work falls outside this area.
• The Foundation explicitly warns that it receives more proposals than it can fund; partial awards are common, so budget flexibility is helpful.
• Reach out via info@templeok.org to clarify any eligibility questions before investing significant time in an application.

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References

• The David E. & Cassie L. Temple Foundation Official Website: https://templeok.org/ — accessed February 2026
• Grant Information Page: https://templeok.org/grant-information/ — accessed February 2026
• About Page: https://templeok.org/about/ — accessed February 2026
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — David E & Cassie L Temple Foundation (EIN: 73-1452166): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/731452166 — accessed February 2026
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/david-e-and-cassie-l-temple-foundation — accessed February 2026
• Cause IQ Organization Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/david-e-and-cassie-l-temple-foundation,731452166/ — accessed February 2026
• TGCI Funder Profile: https://www.tgci.com/funder/david-e-and-cassie-l-temple-foundation — accessed February 2026
• Grantmakers.io Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/731452166-david-e-and-cassie-l-temple-foundation/ — accessed February 2026