The Sam Viersen Family Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Tulsa, making a small number of very large grants that support community-serving institutions. Its funding emphasizes youth and family services (notably the YMCA), place-based community support via the Tulsa Community Foundation, and private K–12 education through substantial gifts to Stonebridge Academy. Grants are often unrestricted/general operations and show repeat support to the same organizations.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants (five grants totaling ~$3.4M) with repeat funding to core local institutions; preference for unrestricted/general operations support rather than many small awards.
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc. stands out for a pattern of large, repeated support to a small set of community institutions in Oklahoma, especially the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Tulsa Community Foundation, and Stonebridge Academy. The foundation’s giving is mostly local, but it is not limited to one type of nonprofit: its recent grants include youth and family services, community support, private K–12 education, humane services, and higher education-related support. Several awards are sizable by foundation-grant standards, including seven-figure and mid-six-figure commitments, which suggests a concentrated approach rather than a high-volume one. The YMCA of Greater Tulsa appears as a recurring recipient across multiple years, with support used for both general operations and capital improvements. Stonebridge Academy also appears repeatedly, including operating and community support grants. Tulsa Community Foundation is another recurring grantee, receiving both community support and scholarship funding. The overall pattern points to a family foundation that backs established local organizations with flexible dollars and occasional larger project support, rather than spreading grants widely across many recipients.
Youth and family services are a central thread in the foundation’s recent giving. The YMCA of Greater Tulsa received $1,083,000 in 2024 for general operations and $530,000 in 2023 for capital improvements, showing support for both day-to-day program delivery and facility needs. Education is another recurring area: Stonebridge Academy received $424,000 in 2024 for general operations and $234,500 in 2025 for community support. Scholarship support also appears through Tulsa Community Foundation, which received $96,500 in both 2023 and 2024 for scholarships. Community-serving institutions beyond education and youth development are included as well, such as Okmulgee County Humane Society, which received $201,663 in 2025 for community support and $189,000 in 2024 for general operations.
Typical grants are modest at the center of the distribution, with a p25 of $2,500, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $20,000. That middle range sits alongside much larger awards, including multiple six-figure grants in the recent list. The foundation shows repeat support across years to the same organizations, including YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Stonebridge Academy, Tulsa Community Foundation, and Okmulgee County Humane Society. It is a family foundation with regional giving, and the recent record shows a strong preference for general operating support, community support, scholarships, and capital improvements rather than program-restricted project funding alone.
$2.6M
$32.7M
$2.5M
$3M
Most grants fall between $3K and $20K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Notable grantees: YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Tulsa Community Foundation, Stonebridge Academy
The foundation’s giving is concentrated in Oklahoma, with 79% of grants going to recipients in its headquarters state. Tulsa appears repeatedly through YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Tulsa Community Foundation, and Tulsa Area United Way. Okmulgee is another major recipient city, with grants to Stonebridge Academy, Okmulgee County Humane Society, Okmulgee County Family Resource Center, and Okmulgee County Drug Court. Outside those cities, recent grants also reached Stillwater, Norman, Seminole, and Preston. All recent grants in the provided distribution went to U.S. recipients.
The recent record centers on community-serving nonprofits and schools. YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Tulsa Community Foundation, Stonebridge Academy, Okmulgee County Humane Society, and Okmulgee County Family Resource Center all appear in the grant list, with support for general operations, community support, scholarships, and capital improvements.
The central tendency is small, with a p25 of $2,500, a median grant of $5,000, and a p75 of $20,000. The recent grant list also includes much larger awards, including seven-figure and six-figure grants.
Yes. YMCA of Greater Tulsa appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Stonebridge Academy appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Tulsa Community Foundation appears in multiple years; and Okmulgee County Humane Society also receives repeated support.
Tulsa and Okmulgee show up most often. Tulsa-based recipients include YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Tulsa Community Foundation, and Tulsa Area United Way. Okmulgee-based recipients include Stonebridge Academy, Okmulgee County Humane Society, Okmulgee County Family Resource Center, and Okmulgee County Drug Court.
The recent grants include general operations, capital improvements, scholarships, and community support. Examples in the list include general operating support for YMCA of Greater Tulsa and Stonebridge Academy, capital improvements for YMCA of Greater Tulsa, and scholarships through Tulsa Community Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Tulsa, OK | $975,416 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Stonebridge Academy | Okmulgee, OK | $234,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee County Humane Society | Okmulgee, OK | $201,663 | 2026 | Community Support |
| YMCA of Greater Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | $148,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee County Family Resource Cen | Okmulgee, OK | $115,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| OSU Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $101,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| OU Foundation | Norman, OK | $100,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Tulsa, OK | $96,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| The Academy of Seminole | Seminole, OK | $91,459 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Tulsa Area United Way | Tulsa, OK | $51,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| OSU Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $38,400 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee Area Development Corp | Okmulgee, OK | $36,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Community Food Bank of Eastern Okla | Tulsa, OK | $26,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| American Red Cross | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Oklahoma Dental Foundation | Oklahoma City, OK | $20,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| A New Leaf Foundation | Tulsa, OK | $20,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee Public Schools | Okmulgee, OK | $18,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Domestic Violence Intervention Serv | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Make-A-Wish Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Tulsa Childrens Museum | Tulsa, OK | $14,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee Education Foundation | Okmulgee, OK | $14,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Indian Nations Council | Tulsa, OK | $13,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Pets Helping People | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Rape Abuse and Incest National Netw | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Links Inc | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee County Sharks Special Athl | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Pro Tech Athletes Coalition | Sandy, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Resonance Center for Women | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Buckhunger | North Richland Hills, TX | $9,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Humane Society of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | $9,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| The Rowan Fund | Glassboro, NJ | $8,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Landmark for All Generations | Okmulgee, OK | $6,930 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Preston Elementary School | Preston, OK | $6,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Creek Nation Indian Village | Okmulgee, OK | $5,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Okmulgee Main Street | Okmulgee, OK | $5,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Lisa Bain Ministries | Tulsa, OK | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| The Magic Foundation | Warrenville, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Happy Hands Education Center | Broken Arrow, OK | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| The Children's Heart Foundation | Northbrook, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| University of Central Oklahoma Fdn | Edmond, OK | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Fab Lab Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | $5,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| For the Good | New York, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Switchpoint Community Resource Cent | Saint George, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Oklahoma Westie Rescue Foundation | Broken Arrow, OK | $3,500 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Friends of the Okmulgee Public Libr | Okmulgee, OK | $3,260 | 2026 | Community Support |
| George Miksch Sutton Avian Research | Bartlesville, OK | $3,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Mathews PTA | Plano, TX | $3,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Selected Independent Funeral Home | Lincolnshire, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
Stonebridge Academy
$234,500Community Support
Okmulgee County Humane Society
$201,663Community Support
Okmulgee County Family Resource Cen
$115,500Community Support
Community Support
OU Foundation
$100,000Community Support
The Academy of Seminole
$91,459Community Support
Okmulgee Area Development Corp
$36,000Community Support
Oklahoma Dental Foundation
$20,000Community Support
Okmulgee Public Schools
$18,500Community Support
Make-A-Wish Oklahoma
$15,000Community Support
Okmulgee Education Foundation
$14,000Community Support
Indian Nations Council
$13,500Community Support
Pets Helping People
$10,000Community Support
Links Inc
$10,000Community Support
Okmulgee County Sharks Special Athl
$10,000Community Support
Pro Tech Athletes Coalition
$10,000Community Support
Buckhunger
$9,500Community Support
The Rowan Fund
$8,000Community Support
Landmark for All Generations
$6,930Community Support
Preston Elementary School
$6,000Community Support
Creek Nation Indian Village
$5,500Community Support
Okmulgee Main Street
$5,500Community Support
Lisa Bain Ministries
$5,000Community Support
The Magic Foundation
$5,000Community Support
The Children's Heart Foundation
$5,000Community Support
Paralyzed Veterans of America
$5,000Community Support
For the Good
$4,000Community Support
Switchpoint Community Resource Cent
$4,000Community Support
Oklahoma Westie Rescue Foundation
$3,500Community Support
Friends of the Okmulgee Public Libr
$3,260Community Support
George Miksch Sutton Avian Research
$3,000Community Support
Mathews PTA
$3,000Community Support
Selected Independent Funeral Home
$3,000Community Support