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Tulsa Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$176.5M

Tulsa Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $176.5 million (2023)
  • Total Grants Since 1999: Over $5 billion
  • Assets Under Management: $8+ billion
  • Number of Funds: 6,000+ charitable funds (including 1,500+ donor-advised funds)
  • Number of Awards (2023): 2,047 grants
  • Geographic Focus: Tulsa metropolitan area and Eastern Oklahoma
  • Application Method: No public application process; primarily donor-advised model with limited field-of-interest funds

Contact Details

Main Office:

Emergency Assistance Inquiries:

Overview

Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) was established in 1998 and has grown to become Oklahoma's largest community foundation and one of the largest in the United States. Under the 25-year leadership of CEO Phil Lakin Jr., TCF has distributed over $5 billion in grants and manages more than $8 billion in charitable assets across 6,000+ funds. The foundation's mission centers on inspiring donor generosity to positively impact the Tulsa community and Eastern Oklahoma region. TCF operates under the philosophy expressed by its leadership: "This is Tulsa...We help people here, because it's what's right." The foundation has positioned Tulsa as "America's Most Generous City." In 2023 alone, TCF facilitated $176.5 million in grants through 2,047 separate awards. TCF has earned a Four-Star rating (92%) from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Structure

Primary Model: Donor-Advised Funds TCF primarily operates as a host and administrator of donor-advised funds (DAFs), managing over 1,500 such funds ranging from "a few thousand to multiple millions of dollars." Through these funds, individual donors, families, and corporations recommend grants to charitable organizations. TCF reviews each donor's recommendations and approves grants made in the name of the donor's fund. This means funding stems from hundreds of individual donor-advised funds rather than discretionary grants from TCF itself.

Field-of-Interest Funds TCF administers limited field-of-interest grant opportunities in three specific areas:

  • Arts
  • Healthcare
  • Financial Literacy

Organizations working in these designated fields may have funding opportunities, though application procedures are not publicly detailed and likely require direct contact with TCF staff.

Other Fund Types

Scholarship Programs TCF manages dozens of donor-advised scholarship funds supporting students from the Tulsa region and across the U.S. Each scholarship fund maintains individual requirements ranging from academic performance and financial need to specific high school attended, major selected, and hometown.

Emergency Assistance Funds TCF oversees more than 30 emergency health funding programs, though the majority have employer-specific qualifications. These programs assist employees facing unexpected situations including natural disasters, emergency travel, personal or medical emergencies, and funeral expenses.

Designated Funds TCF administers charitable agency funds where donors designate specific nonprofit organizations as beneficiaries.

Priority Areas

TCF serves the broad charitable needs of the Tulsa metropolitan area and Eastern Oklahoma, with particular emphasis on:

  • Community development and civic affairs
  • Education (K-12 and higher education support)
  • Healthcare and emergency medical assistance
  • Arts and culture
  • Financial literacy and economic empowerment
  • Emergency and disaster relief

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though funding is geographically focused on the Tulsa metropolitan area and Eastern Oklahoma region.

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Phil Lakin Jr. has served as President and CEO since July 1999, making him the only individual to have served as TCF's chief executive. Under his leadership, TCF grew from the smallest community foundation in the region to the second largest. Lakin sets the strategic vision for TCF and supervises both long-term and daily initiatives. He has described Tulsa using the phrase: "America's most generous city: These four words intentionally define what Tulsa is and always has been — a community built upon charity and service to others."

Board of Trustees (26 Members)

The Board is responsible for overall management and growth of the Foundation, including fiscal and investment policies and grants oversight. Trustees are selected for demonstrating personal involvement in civic affairs and high-level commitment to philanthropic leadership. Current trustees include:

Leadership Representatives:

  • Alison Anthony - President and CEO, Tulsa Area United Way
  • Monroe Nichols - Mayor, City of Tulsa (Ex-Officio)
  • Stacy Kymes - President and CEO, BOK Financial
  • Don Millican - Trustee, George Kaiser Family Foundation

Business and Corporate Leaders:

  • Dana Weber - CEO, Webco Industries
  • Becky Frank - Chairman and CEO, Schnake Turnbo Frank, Inc.
  • Bill Knight - President, Knight Automotive Group
  • Stuart Sullivan - VP & CFO, QuikTrip
  • Leigh Anne Strahler - President and COO, Public Service Company of Oklahoma

Legal and Professional Services:

  • Erica Dorwart - Attorney, Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers PLLC
  • Sarah Hansel - Corporate Law Attorney, Hall Estill
  • Hannibal Johnson - Author, Attorney & Consultant

Healthcare and Social Services:

  • Barry Steichen - Executive Vice President and COO, Saint Francis Health System
  • Ray Owens - Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church of Tulsa
  • Stephania Grober - VP of Sales and Marketing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma

Additional Trustees:

  • Jim Campos (State Farm Insurance), David Charney (Owasso Land Trust), Cara Hair (Helmerich & Payne), John Hale (Sage Natural Resources), Jordan Helmerich (The Helmerich Trust), Ginger Kollmann (BOK Financial), Lauren Miers (Freelance Writer), Brenda Pipestem (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Rebecca Richards (Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation), Jill Thomas (Community Volunteer), Darren Wallis (ONEOK), Lane Wilson (Williams Companies)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: TCF does not have a traditional public grant application process. The foundation does not make discretionary grants or accept unsolicited grant requests from nonprofits in most cases. TCF does not operate competitive grant programs where organizations submit applications for funding consideration.

How Grants Are Actually Awarded:

  1. Donor-Advised Funds (Primary Model): Individual donors who have established funds at TCF recommend grants to charitable organizations. TCF reviews and approves these donor recommendations, with grants made in the name of the donor's fund. Nonprofits cannot directly apply; they must be recommended by fund advisors.

  2. Field-of-Interest Funds: Organizations working in TCF's three field-of-interest areas (arts, healthcare, financial literacy) may have limited opportunities. Contact TCF staff directly at donorserv@tulsacf.org or 918-494-8823 to inquire about current availability.

  3. Scholarship and Emergency Assistance Programs: These have specific eligibility requirements, often employer-specific or with defined student criteria.

Connecting with TCF

While nonprofits cannot submit standard grant applications, TCF offers:

Nonprofit Support Services

  • Staff assistance to help nonprofits connect with appropriate donor-advised funds
  • Capacity building programs (501TechNet technology support at 25-50% of market cost)
  • Planned Giving Partnership for endowment building
  • Regional Affiliates Program for organizations outside Tulsa
  • Administrative and technical support services

Contact for Nonprofit Partnerships:

Decision Timeline

Not applicable in the traditional sense. Grant timing depends on individual donor advisors' recommendations rather than fixed application cycles or deadlines.

Success Rates

Not applicable. TCF distributed 2,047 grants totaling $176.5 million in 2023, but these reflect donor-advised recommendations rather than competitive application success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the donor-advised fund structure.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Seeking Funding from TCF's Donor-Advised Funds:

Build Relationships with Individual Donors Since most grants come from donor-advised funds, success depends on cultivating relationships with individual philanthropists who have established funds at TCF. The foundation helps connect donors with community needs, so demonstrating clear community impact is essential.

Work with TCF Staff TCF staff can help nonprofits make connections with appropriate funds. Contact the foundation's donor services team to:

  • Introduce your organization and mission
  • Learn about donors interested in your cause area
  • Understand which field-of-interest or designated funds might align with your work
  • Explore capacity-building support services TCF offers

Demonstrate Community Impact TCF educates donors on the community's highest needs and creates focused charitable giving strategies. Organizations that clearly articulate their impact on Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma are more likely to attract donor interest.

Leverage TCF's Support Services Nonprofits can strengthen their operations through TCF programs:

  • 501TechNet: Technology support at subsidized rates (25-50% of market cost)
  • Planned Giving Partnership: Help building endowment gifts for long-term sustainability
  • Regional Affiliates Program: Financial, administrative, and technical support for organizations outside Tulsa

Geographic Alignment Prioritize demonstrating impact in the Tulsa metropolitan area and Eastern Oklahoma, as this is TCF's core geographic focus.

Align with Strategic Areas While TCF doesn't make discretionary grants, positioning work within their field-of-interest areas (arts, healthcare, financial literacy) or demonstrating alignment with community priorities may increase visibility to relevant donor-advised funds.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No traditional grant application process: TCF operates primarily through donor-advised funds where individual donors recommend recipients, not through competitive grant programs
  • Focus on donor cultivation: Success requires building relationships with individual philanthropists who have established funds at TCF, rather than responding to RFPs
  • Leverage TCF connections: Work with TCF staff (donorserv@tulsacf.org, 918-494-8823) to connect with appropriate donor-advised funds and learn about potential opportunities
  • Massive scale but unique structure: With $176.5 million distributed annually through 2,047 grants, TCF has significant resources, but access requires a different approach than traditional foundations
  • Take advantage of capacity building: TCF offers valuable nonprofit support services (technology support, planned giving assistance, administrative services) that can strengthen organizational effectiveness
  • Geographic focus is critical: Demonstrate clear impact in Tulsa metropolitan area and Eastern Oklahoma to align with TCF's mission
  • Limited field-of-interest opportunities: Organizations working in arts, healthcare, or financial literacy should directly inquire about any available field-of-interest fund opportunities

References

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