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E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation

Annual Giving
$14.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.3M
Decision Time
3mo

E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14,100,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3 months (from deadline to decision)
  • Grant Range: $200 - $1,300,000 (Median: $25,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area only
  • Total Grants Awarded: 155 annually (2023)
  • Total Assets: $266,000,000

Contact Details

Website: www.gaylordfoundation.org

Application Portal: Online Grant Request Portal available at gaylordfoundation.org/application

Geographic Restriction: The Foundation no longer accepts grant requests from organizations outside the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area.

Overview

The E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation was established in 1994 by Edward L. Gaylord and his wife Thelma to support a wide range of charitable activities benefiting Oklahoma and its residents. Edward L. Gaylord (1919-2003) was a prominent media executive and businessman who led the Oklahoma Publishing Company and founded Gaylord Entertainment Company, developing major assets including Gaylord Hotels, The Nashville Network, the Grand Ole Opry, and Opryland USA. Thelma Gaylord served for nearly five decades in cultural, educational, and charitable organizations, receiving Governor Henry Bellmon's inaugural "State of Excellence" award in 1987.

The Foundation became tax-exempt in December 1995 and has grown to hold $266 million in assets. It distributes over $14 million annually through approximately 155 grants, with special emphasis in the arts, education, medical research, and children's issues. The Foundation continues the Gaylords' commitment to improving the lives of Oklahomans and preserving the heritage and natural resources of the state. Edward L. Gaylord was described as "a solid, practical, principled, down-to-earth and generous man" who contributed to numerous philanthropic causes often without seeking public recognition.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single grant program with two annual cycles:

  • General Grant Program: $200 - $1,300,000 (Median grant: $25,000)
    • Application method: Online portal, two fixed deadlines per year
    • 155 grants awarded annually

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture: Allied Arts of Oklahoma, Arts Council Oklahoma City, ARTSPACE at Untitled, deadCenter Film, El Sistema Oklahoma, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Arts Institute, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Philharmonic Society, Oklahoma Youth Orchestras, Paseo Arts Association, Science Museum Oklahoma

Education: Teach for America, Oklahoma Lawyers for Families and Children, Community Literacy Centers, Reach Out and Read

Medical Research & Healthcare: Major grants to University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ($1.3M), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation ($673K-$1.0M), Mercy Health Foundation Oklahoma City ($1.0M), Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health ($1.0M)

Children's Issues: Positive Tomorrows, Angels Foster Family Network, Infant Crisis Services, First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City, Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma, Cleats for Kids, Teen emPower, First Serve OKC Foundation

Social Services & Community Support: CASA of Oklahoma County, Catholic Charities, Food and Shelter, Neighborhood Services Organization, Sunbeam Family Services, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, ReMerge, RISE PROGRAM, Peaceful Family Solutions, HopeHouse OKC, Palomar Family Justice Center, Upward Transitions

Youth Development: Oklahoma City Police Athletic League, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City ($1.0M)

Additional Focus Areas: Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Wings Special Needs Community, Myriad Botanical Gardens, University of Oklahoma Foundation ($1.0M)

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: No grants are made to individuals under any circumstances
  • Geographic Restrictions: Organizations outside the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area are not eligible
  • Application Limit: Only one grant request per organization per year is permitted

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of five members, all family members of the founders:

  • Christy Gaylord Everest (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
  • Mary Gaylord McClean (Simpsonville, Kentucky)
  • Louise Gaylord Bennett (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
  • Tricia L. Everest (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
  • Mary FitzSimons (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

The trustees evaluate proposals based on the merits of the proposal and subject to the Foundation's annual financial requirements. The family-led board continues the founders' commitment to practical stewardship and meaningful community impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: All proposals are submitted through the Foundation's online Grant Request Portal at gaylordfoundation.org/application

Required Initial Submission: Letter of Inquiry

Application Cycles: The Foundation operates on two grant cycles per year with fixed deadlines:

Spring Grant Cycle:

  • Submission window: November 15 - January 15 at 5:00 p.m. CST
  • Letter of Inquiry deadline: January 15
  • Final decisions sent: No later than April 15

Fall Grant Cycle:

  • Submission window: May 15 - July 15 at 5:00 p.m. CST
  • Letter of Inquiry deadline: July 15
  • Final decisions sent: No later than October 15

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization
  • Must be located in or serve the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area
  • Limited to one grant request per organization per year

Decision Timeline

From Submission to Decision: Approximately 3 months

  • Spring cycle: Submit by January 15, decision by April 15
  • Fall cycle: Submit by July 15, decision by October 15

Notification Method: Decisions are sent directly to applicants

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose the total number of applications received versus grants awarded. However, with 155 grants awarded annually from a $14.1 million budget, the Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. Given the geographic restriction to the Oklahoma City metro area and the one-application-per-year limit, the Foundation appears to be accessible to qualified local organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit one grant request per year, suggesting that unsuccessful applicants can reapply in subsequent years. The Foundation does not publicly specify waiting periods between applications, though the one-per-year limitation effectively creates an annual reapplication cycle.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Foundation Values

The Foundation was built on principles of practical stewardship and meaningful community impact. Edward L. Gaylord was known for being "solid, practical, principled, down-to-earth and generous," preferring impact over recognition. Applications should demonstrate:

  • Practical approach: Clear, achievable objectives with measurable outcomes
  • Oklahoma focus: Strong connection to improving lives of Oklahomans
  • Community benefit: Broad positive impact on the Oklahoma City metropolitan area

Strong Grant Recipients Demonstrate

Based on recent grant recipients, successful organizations span diverse causes but share common characteristics:

  • Established organizations: Science Museum Oklahoma, YMCA, University of Oklahoma Foundation, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
  • Grassroots community services: CASA of Oklahoma County, Food and Shelter, Infant Crisis Services
  • Arts and culture institutions: Oklahoma Philharmonic, Lyric Theatre, Arts Council Oklahoma City
  • Innovation in service delivery: deadCenter Film, El Sistema Oklahoma, Positive Tomorrows
  • Focus on vulnerable populations: Angels Foster Family Network, ReMerge, Mental Health Association Oklahoma

Geographic Imperative

The Foundation's clear statement that it "no longer accepts grant requests from organizations outside the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area" indicates this is a firm requirement. Applications should:

  • Clearly demonstrate Oklahoma City metro area operations
  • Show direct benefit to Oklahoma City area residents
  • Emphasize local community impact

Priority Area Alignment

With special emphasis in the arts, education, medical research, and children's issues, the strongest applications will demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of these priorities. Recent major grants include:

  • Medical research: $1.3M to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, $1.0M to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
  • Education: $1.0M to University of Oklahoma Foundation
  • Children/Youth: $1.0M to Oklahoma Children's Hospital, $1.0M to YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City
  • Healthcare: $1.0M to Mercy Health Foundation Oklahoma City

Application Considerations

  • One chance per year: With only one application permitted annually, proposals should be thorough and well-timed
  • Competitive process: Trustees evaluate based on merit and financial position
  • Range of grant sizes: While median is $25,000, grants range from $200 to $1.3M, suggesting proposals should request amounts appropriate to project scope

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic requirement is absolute: Only organizations serving the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area should apply; this restriction is firm and non-negotiable.

  • Choose your timing wisely: With only one application permitted per year and two deadlines, carefully consider whether spring or fall timing better aligns with your program timeline and the Foundation's giving patterns.

  • Align with core priorities: Strongest applications demonstrate clear connection to arts, education, medical research, or children's issues—the Foundation's stated areas of special emphasis.

  • Scale your request appropriately: While the median grant is $25,000, the Foundation awards grants from $200 to $1.3M; major institutional projects and medical research can request six-figure support while community programs should consider more modest amounts.

  • Emphasize practical impact: The founders valued being "practical, principled, down-to-earth"—applications should focus on achievable outcomes and measurable community benefit rather than aspirational language.

  • Demonstrate Oklahoma commitment: The Foundation exists "for the betterment of the communities in which we live" and to improve "the lives of Oklahomans"—show deep roots and lasting commitment to Oklahoma City area residents.

  • Plan for 3-month timeline: From deadline to decision notification is approximately three months; factor this into your program planning and budget cycles.

References

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