The Commonwealth Foundation is a Tulsa-focused funder that emphasizes local civic and cultural institutions, K–12 and higher education, and regional ecological stewardship. Its largest gifts support endowed funds for ecological conservation (notably the Fred N. Wightman fund), as well as museums, public schools, and place-based heritage organizations. Grants combine unrestricted/general operating support with targeted endowment gifts, suggesting long-term commitment to a small set of Tulsa-area institutions.
Commonwealth Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its long-running support for ecological stewardship through the Fred N. Wightman endowed fund. That commitment appears alongside broad backing for Tulsa-area institutions, from schools and museums to higher education and community services. The foundation’s recent gifts show a consistent preference for general operating support, but it also uses endowed funding when it wants to sustain conservation work over time. In 2023, the largest listed grant went to the Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools for the Fred N. Wightman Endowed Fund for Ecological Stewardship, linking the foundation’s environmental giving to local education infrastructure. Other significant grants include support for The University of Tulsa, which received general-fund awards in both 2024 and 2025, and for the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center, which appears in both endowed and general-support forms. The result is a profile centered on Tulsa institutions with a clear secondary emphasis on natural habitat and bird-related research in northeastern Oklahoma. Civic and cultural organizations also make up a meaningful share of the portfolio, including museums, heritage groups, arts groups, and community-service nonprofits. Across the recent grants list, Commonwealth Foundation shows a small-circle, place-based pattern rather than dispersed statewide or national funding.
Ecological stewardship is a defining topic in the grant record. Commonwealth Foundation gave $250,000 to Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools for the Fred N. Wightman Endowed Fund for Ecological Stewardship, and it also supported George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center with both a general-fund grant and an endowed stewardship grant. Education is another visible area. The foundation awarded $70,000 in 2024 and $60,000 in 2025 to The University of Tulsa, both for general fund support. It also funded San Miguel Middle School with a $50,000 general-fund grant. Cultural and civic institutions are well represented as well. The Gilcrease Museum Management Trust received $50,000 in 2024 and another $50,000 in 2025, while Route 66 Alliance received $50,000 for general support. Community-serving organizations also appear, including Green Country Habitat for Humanity and Volunteers of America Oklahoma.
Typical grants cluster around a mid-five-figure range: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the p75 is $29,000. The list also includes larger, mission-shaping awards such as $250,000 for an endowed conservation fund and repeated $50,000 and $60,000 grants. This is a recurring, relationship-based funder rather than a one-off grantmaker. Multiple organizations appear in more than one year, often with repeat general support or a mix of general and endowed funding. The foundation is structured as a private foundation; it does not fund individuals and is not making program-related investments. No application process is indicated in the data.
$1.3M
$10.8M
$515K
$620K
Most grants fall between $10K and $29K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$29K
About 98% of grants go to recipients in OK.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Concentrated, local giving with several mid-to-large grants (many $50k–$250k), repeated support to a handful of core Tulsa-area grantees; mix of general operating funding and targeted endowed commitments rather than many small one-off grants.
Notable grantees: Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools, George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center, The Gilcrease Museum Management Trust, The University of Tulsa, Route 66 Alliance
The grant geography is highly concentrated in Oklahoma, with 98% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Tulsa is the dominant city in the recent record, including awards to The University of Tulsa, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, and Tulsa Lawyers for Children. Outside Tulsa, recipients include Bartlesville and Oklahoma City. The only non-local recipient in the list is Planned Parenthood Great Plains in Overland Park, Kansas.
The recent grants point to ecological stewardship, education, cultural institutions, and community services. Examples include support for ecological conservation, Tulsa-area schools and universities, museums and heritage groups, arts organizations, and nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers of America Oklahoma, and Tulsa Lawyers for Children.
Most of the listed awards are for general fund support, including grants to The University of Tulsa, Green Country Habitat for Humanity, and Tulsa Opera. The foundation also uses endowed funding in a few places, especially for ecological stewardship.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-range awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $29,000. Larger grants do appear, including $50,000, $60,000, and a $250,000 endowed award.
Its grantmaking is local. Oklahoma recipients account for 98% of grants, and Tulsa is the main city in the record. The recent list also includes recipients in Bartlesville and Oklahoma City, plus one grant to a Kansas-based organization.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including The University of Tulsa, The Gilcrease Museum Management Trust, George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra Inc, Tulsa Ballet, Volunteers of America Oklahoma, Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, and Tulsa Lawyers for Children Inc.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GREEN COUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE GILCREASE MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRUST | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GEORGE MIKSCH SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | FRED N WIGHTMAN ENDOWED FUND FOR ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT PLAINS | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CIRCLE CINEMA FOUNDATION INC | TULSA, OK | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA OPERA | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OKLAHOMA | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA BALLET | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM | TULSA, OK | $15,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOSPICE OF GREEN COUNTRY | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| COFFEE BUNKER | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PHOENIX RISING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOUNDATION | JENKS, OK | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE PENCIL BOX | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| STREET SCHOOL INC | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $70,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| GEORGE MIKSCH SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SAN MIGUEL MIDDLE SCHOOL | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE GILCREASE MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRUST | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM | TULSA, OK | $28,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA OPERA | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OKLAHOMA | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA BALLET | TULSA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE | TULSA, OK | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| COFFEE BUNKER | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2024 | FRED N WIGHTMAN ENDOWED FUND FOR ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP |
| THE PENCIL BOX | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| FOUNDATION FOR TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | TULSA, OK | $250,000 | 2023 | FRED N WIGHTMAN ENDOWED FUND FOR ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP |
| ROUTE 66 ALLIANCE | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| GEORGE MIKSCH SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE FRONTIER | TULSA, OK | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA OPERA | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OKLAHOMA | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA | TULSA, OK | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| COMMUNITY ACTION RESOURCE ASSOCIATION | TULSA, OK | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$60,000GENERAL FUND
GREEN COUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$50,000GENERAL FUND
THE GILCREASE MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRUST
$50,000GENERAL FUND
GEORGE MIKSCH SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER
$50,000FRED N WIGHTMAN ENDOWED FUND FOR ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP
PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT PLAINS
$50,000GENERAL FUND
CIRCLE CINEMA FOUNDATION INC
$30,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA OPERA
$25,000GENERAL FUND
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OKLAHOMA
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA BALLET
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM
$15,500GENERAL FUND
HOSPICE OF GREEN COUNTRY
$10,000GENERAL FUND
COFFEE BUNKER
$10,000GENERAL FUND
OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL FUND
PHOENIX RISING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL FUND
THE PENCIL BOX
$5,000GENERAL FUND
OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL FUND
STREET SCHOOL INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$70,000GENERAL FUND
GEORGE MIKSCH SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER
$50,000GENERAL FUND
SAN MIGUEL MIDDLE SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL FUND
THE GILCREASE MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRUST
$50,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM
$28,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE
$20,000GENERAL FUND
OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA OPERA
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC
$20,000GENERAL FUND
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OKLAHOMA
$20,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA BALLET
$20,000GENERAL FUND
OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE
$15,000GENERAL FUND
COFFEE BUNKER
$10,000FRED N WIGHTMAN ENDOWED FUND FOR ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP
THE PENCIL BOX
$5,000GENERAL FUND
FOUNDATION FOR TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$250,000FRED N WIGHTMAN ENDOWED FUND FOR ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP
ROUTE 66 ALLIANCE
$50,000GENERAL FUND
GEORGE MIKSCH SUTTON AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER
$25,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC
$10,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM
$10,000GENERAL FUND
THE FRONTIER
$10,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA OPERA
$5,000GENERAL FUND
OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL FUND
TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE
$5,000GENERAL FUND
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OKLAHOMA
$5,000GENERAL FUND
THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
$5,000GENERAL FUND
COMMUNITY ACTION RESOURCE ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND