The Christner Family Foundation concentrates very large, unrestricted gifts to a small set of organizations, favoring higher education, prominent regional cultural/park institutions, and evangelical Christian ministry. Their grants are unrestricted general support, suggesting trust in grantee leadership and a preference for flexible funding rather than project-specific awards. Although based in New Jersey, the foundation’s largest commitments go to out-of-state beneficiaries, indicating a willingness to fund outside their home region.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, very large unrestricted grants; repeat funding to select organizations (e.g., multi-grant support for River Park Foundation) rather than many small awards.
The Darryl and Julie Christner Family Foundation makes unusually large unrestricted gifts to a small group of organizations, including a $5,000,000 grant to Oklahoma State University Foundation and repeated seven-figure support for River Parks Foundation in Tulsa. That pattern points to a funder that backs institutions with broad operating flexibility rather than narrowly defined projects. Their recent grants also show a clear interest in higher education, parks and cultural assets, and faith-based community work. Several of the foundation’s largest awards go to organizations tied to long-term institutional capacity. Oklahoma State University Foundation received the biggest recent grant, while River Parks Foundation received $1,000,000 in both 2024 and 2025, suggesting continuity in support. Beyond those marquee awards, the foundation also funds ministries and service organizations in Oklahoma and elsewhere in the United States. The grants are labeled unrestricted general support across the recent list, reinforcing a flexible funding approach. Although the foundation is headquartered in New Jersey, its giving is directed elsewhere, with a strong Oklahoma presence in the recent grants.
Higher education is a major part of the foundation’s giving. Oklahoma State University Foundation received $5,000,000 in 2024 as unrestricted general support, the largest grant in the recent list. The foundation also supports parks and civic amenities. River Parks Foundation received $1,000,000 in 2024 and another $1,000,000 in 2025, both unrestricted general awards, indicating repeated support for the same organization. Faith-based and community-service work appears in several grants. Hope Is Alive Ministries received $308,500 in 2024, while Influencers Tulsa Global Ministries received $25,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025. Catholic Charities of East Oklahoma also received a $50,000 unrestricted general grant in 2025. Smaller awards extend to related community organizations, including Tulsa Tough Inc, Legends Foundation, and Mended Little Hearts Inc.
Recent grants are spread across a wide size range, with p25 at $21,250, a median of $50,000, and p75 at $481,375. That distribution shows a mix of mid-sized awards and a few very large commitments. The same recipients can appear in multiple years: River Parks Foundation received $1,000,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and Influencers Tulsa Global Ministries was funded in consecutive years as well. Every recent grant is listed as unrestricted general support, pointing to flexible, non-project-specific funding.
$1M
$20.6M
$1.8M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $21K and $481K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$21K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$481K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in OK.
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Notable grantees: Oklahoma State University Foundation, River Park Foundation, Hope Is Alive Ministries
The foundation’s giving is concentrated in the United States, with 12 recent grants all going to U.S. recipients. Tulsa, Oklahoma appears repeatedly, including River Parks Foundation, Tulsa Tough Inc, Catholic Charities of East Oklahoma, Influencers Tulsa Global Ministries, and Legends Foundation. Other Oklahoma recipients include Stillwater and Oklahoma City. Outside Oklahoma, recent grants reached Colorado Springs, Concord, California, and Leesburg, Georgia, showing regional rather than state-limited giving.
Recent grants show support for higher education, parks and cultural institutions, and faith-based community services. Examples include Oklahoma State University Foundation for higher education, River Parks Foundation for park-related work, and Hope Is Alive Ministries and Catholic Charities of East Oklahoma for community service.
The recent grants are all labeled unrestricted general support. That includes the largest award to Oklahoma State University Foundation and repeated awards to River Parks Foundation, indicating flexible funding rather than project-only grants.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards, with a p25 of $21,250, a median of $50,000, and a p75 of $481,375. The recent list also includes several very large awards, including a $5,000,000 grant and two $1,000,000 grants.
Most recent grants go to recipients in Oklahoma, especially Tulsa. The recipient list also includes organizations in Stillwater and Oklahoma City, plus a smaller number of grants to Colorado Springs, Concord, California, and Leesburg, Georgia.
Yes. River Parks Foundation received $1,000,000 in 2024 and another $1,000,000 in 2025. Influencers Tulsa Global Ministries also appears in two years, with $25,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TULSA TOUGH INC | TULSA, OK | $150,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TULSA AREA UNITED WAY | TULSA, OK | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOPE IS ALIVE MINISTRIES | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| INFLUENCERS TULSA GLOBAL MINISTRIES | TULSA, OK | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY | PHOENIX, AZ | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE CITY LIGHTS FOUNDATION OF OK | TULSA, OK | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YOUNG LIFE SOUTH TULSA | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOPE CHURCH MOVEMENT | TEMPE, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LITTLE LIGHT HOUSE INC | TULSA, OK | $45,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VETERANS FUTURE FOUNDATION | BENTONVILLE, AR | $40,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EAST OKLAHOMA | TULSA, OK | $32,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TOURNAMENTS FOR CHARITY | DUBLIN, OH | $31,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HUMBLE SONS BIKE CO | BROKEN ARROW, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| IGY6 FOUNDATION | EDMOND, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CROSSTOWN LEARNING CENTER INC | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TULSA POLICE FOUNDATION INC | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TALOR GOOCH FOUNDATION INC | NORMAN, OK | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GENESYS WORKS NATIONAL | KELLER, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PAUSE4PAWS INC | TULSA, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ALS ASSOCIATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| STREET SCHOOL | TULSA, OK | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RIVER PARKS FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $1,000,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| INFLUENCERS TULSA GLOBAL MINISTRIES | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TULSA TOUGH INC | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EAST OKLAHOMA | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YOUNG LIFE SOUTH TULSA | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| A FUTURE FOR VETERANS FOUNDATION | CONCORD, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MENDED LITTLE HEARTS INC | LEESBURG, GA | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | STILLWATER, OK | $5,000,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RIVER PARKS FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $1,000,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOPE IS ALIVE MINISTRIES | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $308,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| INFLUENCERS TULSA GLOBAL MINISTRIES | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LEGENDS FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $6,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
INFLUENCERS TULSA GLOBAL MINISTRIES
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
THE CITY LIGHTS FOUNDATION OF OK
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HOPE CHURCH MOVEMENT
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
VETERANS FUTURE FOUNDATION
$40,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EAST OKLAHOMA
$32,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
TOURNAMENTS FOR CHARITY
$31,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
IGY6 FOUNDATION
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
TALOR GOOCH FOUNDATION INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
GENESYS WORKS NATIONAL
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PAUSE4PAWS INC
$15,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
INFLUENCERS TULSA GLOBAL MINISTRIES
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EAST OKLAHOMA
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
A FUTURE FOR VETERANS FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MENDED LITTLE HEARTS INC
$2,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
INFLUENCERS TULSA GLOBAL MINISTRIES
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LEGENDS FOUNDATION
$6,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL