The Barry W. Lowe and Karen Sue Lowe Foundation for Education concentrates its giving on local education and student advancement in the Bartlesville area, prioritizing hands-on STEM/STEAM programming and direct financial support that helps students access post‑secondary or technical training. A large proportion of funding goes to a signature program (Lowe Family Young Scholars) while other grants fund summer STEM camps and scholarships. Grants are programmatic and locally focused, combining operating support for a flagship initiative with targeted scholarships and camp funding.
The Barry W Lowe and Karen Sue Lowe Foundation for Education’s largest recent grants have gone to a local pipeline program: $45,000 in 2023 and $40,000 in 2024 to Lowe Family Young Scholars for operating expenses. That recurring support points to a funder that backs a standing education initiative rather than one-off awards. Around that core, the foundation funds hands-on learning and student advancement in Bartlesville, with grants for STEAM leadership camps, concurrent enrollment, tutoring, GED help, and scholarships tied to technical and postsecondary study. The pattern shows an emphasis on direct educational access at multiple stages, from K–12 enrichment through college and career preparation. Other significant awards include $21,000 to Bartlesville Education Promise-stem Leadership for a STEAM leadership summer camp and $15,000 to Tri County Technology - Stem Camps for scholarships for students at Tri County Tech. Smaller grants extend the same approach into classroom support and transition services, including support for teacher grants, reading and tutoring, and students with independence needs. Across the record, the foundation gives locally and repeatedly backs programs that help Bartlesville-area students move through school and into training.
A clear thread in the grant record is STEAM education. The foundation gave $21,000 to Bartlesville Education Promise-stem Leadership to provide funding for the STEAM leadership summer camp, and another $5,000 to Bartlesville Education Promise-stem Summer Camp to provide funding for the first semester STEAM program. It also supported Tri County Technology - Stem Camps with $15,000 for scholarships for students at Tri County Tech, linking enrichment to postsecondary training. College and career preparation is another repeated theme. Rogers State University received $8,000 in 2023 and $5,000 in 2024 for concurrent enrollment fees for high school students, while Oklahoma Wesleyan University received $4,000 for preparatory classes for college bound students. The foundation also funded The Cottage with $2,000 to assist students getting their GED, showing support for multiple routes into further education.
$18K
$0
$0
$24K
Most grants fall between $5K and $12K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$12K
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Concentrated, local-focused giving: a small number of mid-sized grants with one repeated flagship grantee receiving the majority of funds; mix of operating support for a core program and targeted program/grant scholarships for students.
Notable grantees: Lowe Family Young Scholars, Bartlesville Education Promise – STEM Leadership, Tri County Technology (STEM camps / scholarships), Paths to Independence
Typical awards cluster in the mid-thousands: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $6,000, and the p75 is $12,000. The record also includes larger operating grants, including two annual awards to Lowe Family Young Scholars and a $21,000 camp grant, which sit above the usual pattern. Giving appears programmatic and recurring rather than purely one-time; Lowe Family Young Scholars received operating support in both 2023 and 2024, and Rogers State University also received grants in both years for concurrent enrollment fees. The foundation does not fund individuals directly and does not make program-related investments.
The foundation’s grants are tightly concentrated in Oklahoma. Every recent grant in the sample went to a recipient in the state, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Bartlesville is the main recipient city, appearing on most awards, with additional grants going to Ramona. The geography aligns with local education support rather than a broad regional or national footprint, and the Bartlesville-area pattern is especially visible in grants to schools, universities, and community organizations.
Its recent grants support STEAM leadership camps, concurrent enrollment, tutoring, teacher grants, GED assistance, and scholarships for students at Tri County Tech and other postsecondary pathways. The record shows support across K–12 enrichment and college or career preparation.
In the recent grant list, it did not. All 17 grants went to recipients in the U.S., and 100% of grants were made to recipients in Oklahoma.
Typical awards are in the mid-thousands. The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $5,000, a median of $6,000, and a p75 of $12,000.
Yes. The record shows repeat support for several recipients across 2023 and 2024, including grants to Lowe Family Young Scholars in both years and grants to Rogers State University in both years for concurrent enrollment fees.
No. The profile indicates that it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOUNG SCHOLARS OF BARTLESVILLE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $17,743 | 2026 | OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION |
| YOUNG SCHOLARS OF BARTLESVILLE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $1,203,054 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT - TRANSFER OF SECURITIES |
| ROGERS STATE FOUNDATION | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $174,600 | 2025 | CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS |
| CONCERN | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $174,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPIRIT CHURCH | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $87,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $87,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG SCHOLARS OF BARTLESVILLE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $40,000 | 2025 | OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM LEADERSHIP | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $20,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE STEAM LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP |
| PATHS TO INDEPENDENCE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $9,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-READING & TUTORING | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $6,000 | 2025 | ASSIST TEACHERS WITH READING AND OTHER TUTORING OF THE BARTLESVILLE SCHOOLS |
| LOWE FAMILY YOUNG SCHOLARS | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $40,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM LEADERSHIP | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $21,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE STEAM LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP |
| PATHS TO INDEPENDENCE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $9,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $5,000 | 2024 | CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS |
| LOWE FAMILY YOUNG SCHOLARS | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $45,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION |
| TRI COUNTY TECHNOLOGY - STEM CAMPS | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $15,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT TRI COUNTY TECH |
| PATHS TO INDEPENDENCE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $12,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS |
| ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $8,000 | 2023 | CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS |
| JANE PHILLIPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $7,000 | 2023 | SUMMER SCHOOL |
| CANEY VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | RAMONA, OK | $6,000 | 2023 | MATH MANIPULATES PROGRAM |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM LEADERSHIP | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE STEAM LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP |
| WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | C.A.S.H. TUTORING PROGRAM |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-READING & TUTORING | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | ASSIST TEACHERS WITH READING AND OTHER TUTORING OF THE BARTLESVILLE SCHOOLS |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM SUMMER CAMP | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER STEAM PROGRAM |
| BARTLESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | TEACHER GRANTS |
| OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $4,000 | 2023 | PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PREPARATORY CLASSES FOR COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS |
| THE COTTAGE | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $2,000 | 2023 | PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH STUDENTS GETTING THEIR GED |
YOUNG SCHOLARS OF BARTLESVILLE
$17,743OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION
YOUNG SCHOLARS OF BARTLESVILLE
$1,203,054GENERAL SUPPORT - TRANSFER OF SECURITIES
ROGERS STATE FOUNDATION
$174,600CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
CONCERN
$174,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPIRIT CHURCH
$87,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH
$87,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YOUNG SCHOLARS OF BARTLESVILLE
$40,000OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION
BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM LEADERSHIP
$20,000PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE STEAM LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP
BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-READING & TUTORING
$6,000ASSIST TEACHERS WITH READING AND OTHER TUTORING OF THE BARTLESVILLE SCHOOLS
LOWE FAMILY YOUNG SCHOLARS
$40,000OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION
BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM LEADERSHIP
$21,000PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE STEAM LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
LOWE FAMILY YOUNG SCHOLARS
$45,000OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ORGANIZATION
TRI COUNTY TECHNOLOGY - STEM CAMPS
$15,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT TRI COUNTY TECH
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
JANE PHILLIPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$7,000SUMMER SCHOOL
CANEY VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$6,000MATH MANIPULATES PROGRAM
BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM LEADERSHIP
$5,000PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE STEAM LEADERSHIP SUMMER CAMP
WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER
$5,000C.A.S.H. TUTORING PROGRAM
BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-READING & TUTORING
$5,000ASSIST TEACHERS WITH READING AND OTHER TUTORING OF THE BARTLESVILLE SCHOOLS
BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE-STEM SUMMER CAMP
$5,000PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER STEAM PROGRAM
BARTLESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$5,000TEACHER GRANTS
OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
$4,000PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PREPARATORY CLASSES FOR COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS
THE COTTAGE
$2,000PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH STUDENTS GETTING THEIR GED