Mary K Chapman Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8,162,364 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Up to 45 days for initial review, then quarterly board consideration
Grant Range: $1,000 - $10,000,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily Oklahoma and Colorado (Tulsa and Colorado Springs)
Number of Grants: 78 awards in 2023
Total Assets: $128,385,572

Contact Details

Tulsa, Oklahoma Office:

Address: 6100 S. Yale Ave. Suite 1816, Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: (918) 496-7882

Colorado Springs, Colorado Office:

Address: 121 S. Tejon St. Suite 1105, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 465-9977

Email: grants@chapmantrusts.com

Website: https://chapmantrusts.org

Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=chapmanfoundation

Overview

The Mary K Chapman Foundation was established in 2002 upon Mary Chapman's death as a way to continue supporting causes associated with her personal interests, particularly in healthcare and caring for the less fortunate—reflecting her background as a nurse. The foundation operates alongside the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust, both managed by Chapman Foundation Management, LLC. With assets exceeding $128 million, the foundation is dedicated to the betterment of people, communities, and the environment in which the Chapman family resided. The foundation typically awards between $4 million and $8 million annually, with the Mary K. Chapman Foundation particularly focused on health, medical research, and human services. Their efforts primarily enrich communities in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Colorado Springs, Colorado, though they also support projects in California, Illinois, and North Carolina.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate separate named grant programs but accepts applications across all priority areas on a rolling basis through quarterly board meetings. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000,000, with an average grant size of approximately $105,000. Applications are accepted through an online grant management system after completing an eligibility assessment.

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture

Performing arts
Visual arts
Music programs

Civic & Community

Parks and beautification
Community leadership development
Community initiatives

Education

K-12 education
Early childhood education
Special education
Higher education

Healthcare

Direct healthcare services
Health access programs

Medical Research

By invitation only

Nature & Wildlife

Conservation efforts
Environmental restoration

Social Services

Housing assistance
Mental health services
Food access programs
Basic needs support

Types of Support

General operating support
Projects and programs
Capital needs (equipment, facilities)
Organizational capacity building

What They Don't Fund

Event sponsorships
Endowment support
Debt service
Requests to individuals

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Donne Pitman (Manager and Trustee)
Andie Doyle (Manager and Trustee)

The trustees oversee both the Mary K. Chapman Foundation and the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust, with Jerry Dickman serving as an additional trustee for the Chapman Trusts.

Staff:

Anne Adams, Chief Financial Officer
Craig Willis, Program Officer
Laura Sahli

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a three-step application process:

Eligibility Assessment: Complete the online eligibility quiz through the Grant Interface portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=chapmanfoundation
Letter of Inquiry: If eligible, submit a letter of inquiry electronically to grants@chapmantrusts.com describing your project
Full Proposal: If the foundation is interested, invited applicants will be asked to submit required proposal forms through the online portal

All applications and follow-up communications are managed through the foundation's online Grant Interface system, where applicants can track their request status.

Decision Timeline

Initial Review: The foundation conducts due diligence on submissions for up to 45 days, depending on volume
Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by the 1st of the month prior to the board meeting to be considered at that meeting
Board Meetings: Trustees review grant requests quarterly in April, July, and October (with January reserved for strategic planning)
Notification: If the submission is not a match, applicants are informed via email; otherwise, applications proceed to the next board meeting

Site Visits

Trustees may request meetings or site visits after proposal submission, though not all applicants receive visits. Organizations may also request a meeting after submitting their proposal.

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed. In 2023, the foundation made 78 grants totaling $8.2 million.

Reapplication Policy

Declined applicants: Must wait at least 12 months after rejection notification before reapplying
Funded applicants: Must wait at least 24 months from the original submission date before submitting a new application

Application Success Factors

Do Your Homework

The foundation explicitly advises applicants to review their Form 990 tax returns to understand what similar organizations have requested for similar projects. Trustees consider the size of your organization, the total budget for your project, and other potential sources of funding available.

Geographic Alignment

The vast majority of grants go to organizations in Oklahoma and Colorado, with Tulsa and Colorado Springs receiving the most funding. While the foundation does support projects in other states (California, Illinois, North Carolina), applicants from the primary service areas appear to have a stronger likelihood of success.

Health and Human Services Focus

Given Mary Chapman's background as a nurse and the foundation's stated focus on "caring for the less fortunate," applications in healthcare, medical research, and social services align particularly well with the foundation's mission. The foundation has demonstrated significant support for medical research institutions, including a $600,000 grant to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for aging research.

Grant Size Appropriateness

With grants ranging from $1,000 to over $7 million, the foundation funds organizations of varying sizes. The average grant of approximately $105,000 suggests most awards fall in the mid-range, though they are clearly capable of transformational gifts for the right projects.

Multiple Funding Types

The foundation's willingness to fund general operating support, capital needs, and capacity building—not just programs—offers flexibility for organizations to request the type of support that best meets their needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Complete the eligibility quiz first: The foundation has created a specific tool to help applicants self-assess fit before investing time in a full application
Study their Form 990: The foundation explicitly recommends this research to understand typical grant sizes and funded organizations similar to yours
Geographic focus matters: Organizations in Tulsa and Colorado Springs receive the majority of funding; those outside these areas should demonstrate compelling alignment with foundation priorities
Be prepared for a longer timeline: With up to 45 days for initial review plus quarterly board meetings, plan for a multi-month process from submission to decision
Consider the reapplication restrictions: With a 24-month waiting period for funded applicants and 12 months for declined applicants, timing your request strategically is important
Health and medical focus: Given Mary Chapman's nursing background and the foundation's emphasis on this area, health-related organizations and projects appear particularly well-aligned
Range of grant sizes: Don't self-select out based on organization size—the foundation funds everything from $1,000 to multi-million dollar requests and considers organizational scale in their decision-making

References

Information accessed December 2025