The Ellen G Adelson Family Foundation concentrates its giving on higher education and local community support. Most dollars go to universities—both a major out-of-state research university and the local University of Tulsa—while a meaningful portion is directed to the Tulsa Community Foundation for community work. Grants are large and targeted rather than broadly distributed, indicating a preference for sizable institutional gifts over many small awards.
A small number of large, concentrated grants (few recipients, high dollar amounts) with repeat support to the local university and one substantial out-of-state university gift; limited diversification across sectors.
A defining feature of the Ellen G Adelson Family Foundation is its pattern of sizable, institution-focused gifts: the largest recent award is $400,000 to Cornell University for education, alongside repeated six-figure support for The University of Tulsa. That mix shows a funder that backs established organizations rather than many small awards. The foundation’s giving is also notably place-based in Oklahoma, with Tulsa institutions and community intermediaries appearing alongside a major out-of-state research university. Recent grants include $152,857 to The University of Tulsa in both 2023 and 2024, $125,000 to Tulsa Community Fndn for community works, and smaller awards to local cultural and environmental organizations. Its portfolio suggests a balance between higher education, community philanthropy, and selected civic or institutional needs. The grant pattern is concentrated and highly targeted, with most of the activity centered on a small set of recipients rather than a broad spread of grantees.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s recent giving. In 2024, it awarded $400,000 to Cornell University for education, and it also made repeated six-figure grants to The University of Tulsa. That combination points to sustained support for universities at both the local and national level. Community philanthropy is another area of activity: Tulsa Community Fndn received $125,000 in 2023 for community works, showing a channel for place-based local support through a community foundation. The foundation also made smaller grants outside education, including $17,400 to The Cleveland Clinic in both 2023 and 2024 for medical purposes. Cultural and environmental support appears in smaller awards as well, such as $5,000 to Gilcrease Museum Management Trust and $500 to Tulsa Botanic Garden.
Grant sizes are relatively large and uneven: the p25 is $14,300, the median is $71,200, and the p75 is $152,857. The recent record shows repeat giving to the same organizations across years, including The University of Tulsa and The Cleveland Clinic, which indicates recurring institutional support rather than one-off awards. The foundation appears to operate as a family foundation with a concentrated portfolio and no program-related investments. It does not fund individuals. The pattern is selective, with a small number of grants making up most recent activity.
$970K
$8.9M
$704K
$1M
Most grants fall between $14K and $153K, with a median of $71K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$71K
75th Percentile
$153K
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Notable grantees: Cornell University, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa Community Foundation
Grants are heavily centered in Oklahoma, which accounts for 62% of recipient locations and is also the top state by grant count. Tulsa appears repeatedly through awards to The University of Tulsa, Tulsa Community Fndn, Gilcrease Museum Management Trust, and Tulsa Botanic Garden. Outside Oklahoma, recent grants went to Ithaca, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio. All recent grants in the dataset were made to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show three main areas: higher education, community philanthropy in Tulsa, and selected medical, cultural, and environmental support. The largest awards went to Cornell University and The University of Tulsa, while Tulsa Community Fndn received support for community works.
Yes. The University of Tulsa received $152,857 in both 2023 and 2024, and The Cleveland Clinic received $17,400 in both 2023 and 2024. That pattern suggests recurring institutional support.
Recent grant sizes are concentrated in the mid-to-large range. The typical grant size is $14,300 at the 25th percentile, $71,200 at the median, and $152,857 at the 75th percentile.
Most grants go to Oklahoma recipients: 62% of grants are to organizations in the HQ state, and Oklahoma is also the top state by grant count. Tulsa recipients appear most often in the recent list.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $550,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ZARROW RETIREMENT CENTER | TULSA, OK | $250,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $152,407 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE CLEVELAND CLINIC | CLEVELAND, OH | $17,400 | 2026 | MEDICAL |
| MOORE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $550,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $152,857 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE CLEVELAND CLINIC | CLEVELAND, OH | $17,400 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| WORLD STAGE THEATRE COMPANY | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $400,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $152,857 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| THE CLEVELAND CLINIC | CLEVELAND, OH | $17,400 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| GILCREASE MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRUST | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN | TULSA, OK | $500 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $152,857 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| TULSA COMMUNITY FNDN | TULSA, OK | $125,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY WORKS |
| THE CLEVELAND CLINIC | CLEVELAND, OH | $17,400 | 2023 | MEDICAL |
ZARROW RETIREMENT CENTER
$250,000EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$152,407EDUCATION
THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
$17,400MEDICAL
EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$152,857EDUCATION
THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
$17,400MEDICAL
WORLD STAGE THEATRE COMPANY
$5,000ARTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$152,857EDUCATION
THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
$17,400MEDICAL
TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN
$500ENVIRONMENTAL
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$152,857EDUCATION
THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
$17,400MEDICAL