Burton Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,582,297 (2023)
• Total Assets: $37,962,378 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,147,205
• Geographic Focus: Multi-state (primarily Oklahoma and North Carolina, with additional funding in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington)
• Number of Grants: 91 awards (2023); 71 awards (2022)

Contact Details

Address: 1024 E Britton Rd Ste 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73131-2001

Phone: 405-755-5571

EIN: 73-1584983

Foundation Management: This foundation is managed by Foundation Management, Inc., an Oklahoma-based company serving private foundations and charitable organizations across the US.

Note: No website or email contact information is publicly available.

Overview

Burton Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation established in 2001 in Florida and now operating from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The foundation received its IRS tax-exempt status in September 2001 and is classified as a family foundation under the Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations category. With total assets exceeding $37.9 million as of 2024, the foundation maintains a substantial grantmaking presence across multiple states. In 2023, the foundation made 91 grants totaling approximately $2.6 million, demonstrating consistent philanthropic activity. The foundation's revenue primarily comes from dividends (49.7%) and sales of assets (50.3%), enabling sustained charitable disbursements. Professional management is provided by Foundation Management, Inc., which handles administrative operations for multiple private foundations across the United States.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Burton Foundation Inc operates as a private foundation making discretionary grants. Based on available Form 990 data:

• Grant Size Range: $1,000 to $1,147,205
• Average Annual Grantmaking: Approximately $2.5 million
• Number of Annual Awards: Ranges from 71-91 grants per year (based on 2022-2023 data)
• Funding Categories: Education, Philanthropy/Voluntarism & Grantmaking, Human Services

Geographic Focus

The foundation demonstrates multi-state grantmaking with primary focus on:

• Oklahoma (foundation headquarters)
• North Carolina

Additional funding has been provided to organizations in: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Priority Areas

Based on available data, the foundation appears to support:

• Education initiatives
• Human services organizations
• Philanthropic and voluntarism programs

Note: Specific funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and exclusions are not publicly disclosed.

What They Don't Fund

Information about explicit funding exclusions is not publicly available. As a private family foundation, funding decisions appear to be made at the discretion of the trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees/Officers

• Joseph Gray - President (Compensation: $0)
• Gretchen Gray - Secretary (Compensation: $0)
• Robert Gray - Assistant Secretary (Compensation: $0)
• Nancy Gaden - Treasurer (Compensation: $0)
• Lisa Wall - Trustee (Compensation: $0)

All officers serve without compensation, consistent with the foundation's structure as a private family foundation. The presence of multiple Gray family members in leadership positions suggests this is a family-directed philanthropic vehicle.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Burton Foundation Inc does not have a public application process. This is a private family foundation that makes grants at the discretion of its trustees.

Unlike many private foundations with open application processes, Burton Foundation Inc does not maintain a public website, published grant guidelines, or formal application procedures. The foundation appears to identify and select grantees through the trustees' networks and discretionary decisions rather than through competitive application processes.

Organizations interested in this foundation should note that unsolicited applications are not accepted through any public mechanism.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation operating without a public application process, decision timelines are determined by the board of trustees and are not published.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the private, discretionary nature of the foundation's grantmaking, success rate data for applicants is not applicable or published.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that Burton Foundation Inc operates without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, for organizations seeking to understand this funder:

Understanding Their Giving Pattern:

• The foundation makes grants to 70-90+ organizations annually, indicating a diverse grantmaking portfolio
• Grant sizes vary significantly (from $1,000 to over $1 million), suggesting the foundation supports both small-scale projects and major initiatives
• Multi-state geographic reach indicates the foundation is not limited to local Oklahoma causes
• Consistent annual giving of $2-3 million demonstrates reliable, ongoing philanthropic commitment

Foundation Structure:

• Family foundation governance with Gray family leadership suggests personal connections and shared values may influence funding decisions
• Professional management through Foundation Management, Inc. indicates structured operations despite the lack of public application processes
• All trustees serve without compensation, typical of family foundations where board service is a philanthropic commitment

For Organizations: Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot directly apply for funding. Grants are made through trustee discretion based on the board's knowledge of and relationships with potential beneficiaries.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications or maintain public grant guidelines
• Discretionary Grantmaking: All funding decisions are made at the discretion of the board of trustees, led by the Gray family
• Substantial Assets: With nearly $38 million in assets, this foundation has significant long-term grantmaking capacity
• Consistent Giving: Annual grants of $2-3 million distributed to 70-90+ organizations demonstrate sustained philanthropic activity
• Wide Geographic Reach: Despite Oklahoma headquarters, the foundation funds organizations across multiple states
• Diverse Grant Sizes: Grant amounts range from $1,000 to over $1 million, indicating flexibility in funding approaches
• Professional Management: Administrative operations are handled by Foundation Management, Inc., a specialized firm serving private foundations
• Research Value: While direct applications are not possible, understanding this foundation's giving patterns through Form 990 filings can inform broader funding strategies and help organizations understand the Oklahoma philanthropic landscape

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Burton Foundation Inc (EIN: 73-1584983). Retrieved February 9, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/731584983

2. Instrumentl - Burton Foundation Inc, Oklahoma City, OK - 990 Report. Retrieved February 9, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/burton-foundation-inc

3. Charity Navigator - Burton Foundation Inc Profile. Retrieved February 9, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/731584983

4. Candid Foundation Directory - Burton Foundation Inc (BURT037). Retrieved February 9, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=BURT037

5. Foundation Management, Inc. - Corporate Website. Retrieved February 9, 2026. https://fmiokc.com/

6. IRS Form 990-PF filings for Burton Foundation Inc, various years (2021-2024), accessed through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.