Avedis Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 2012. The foundation was created from the sale of Unity Health Center to the St. Anthony Network. It operates as one of Oklahoma's largest private foundations, functioning as a catalyst and facilitator of change through strategic investments and partnerships. The foundation is headquartered at 1500 E Independence Street in Shawnee, Oklahoma and employs 4-6 staff members.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$103.2M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-43.7% YoY
Grant Count
26
-16.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$75K
-32.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Avedis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To measurably improve the health, wellness, and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities.
The foundation prioritizes strategic investments in four fundamental areas:
- Education — Supporting educational institutions and initiatives
- Health and Wellness — Promoting healthy lifestyles and health initiatives
- Nonprofit Infrastructure — Strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector
- Community Growth and Development — Supporting community-wide initiatives
Grantmaking
Avedis Foundation accepts grant requests from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and other non-taxable entities in Pottawatomie County and surrounding communities through an online application process. Applicants are required to review grant guidelines to determine eligibility.
How to Apply
. Applicants are required to review grant guidelines to determine eligibility.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Avedis Foundation focuses its funding on Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma and surrounding communities. The foundation serves a wide range of communities within this region, including Shawnee, Seminole, McLoud, Tecumseh, Prague, Meeker, Earlsboro, and Asher.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $103,202,911
- Total Revenues: $4,594,596
- Total Expenses: $4,533,327
- Number of Employees: 6
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $99,000,000
- Total Revenues: $607,000
- Total Expenses: $4,900,000
- Total Liabilities: $677,000
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 1989 (EIN: 73-1347360)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $103,202,911 | $98,992,251 | $97,303,016 |
| Revenue | $4,594,596 | $607,109 | $9,866,540 |
| Expenses | $4,533,327 | $4,896,007 | $6,633,013 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,885,969 | $5,564,341 | $5,482,991 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,461,370 | $1,463,284 | $10,258,871 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,809,722 | $4,687,087 | $5,019,545 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Communities Foundation of Oklahoma ($500,000), Oklahoma State Department of Educaction ($322,037), Gateway to Prevention and Recovery Inc ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF SEMINOLE SEMINOLE, OK | BOOMTOWN PARK REBUILD | $64,822 |
| COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | DAF RECOMMENDED GRANT: BRIDGES OUT OF POVERY - PATH TO STABILITY YEAR 3 | $25,000 |
| OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SHAWNEE, OK | INCREASING ACCESS TO TEACHERS FOR LOCAL STUDENTS | $32,063 |
| MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART SHAWNEE, OK | 2023 EDUCATION PROGRAMMING | $10,000 |
| MCLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOLS MCLOUD, OK | PARTNERS IN CARING COLLABORATIVE - NURSE & OCCUPPATIONAL THERAPIST | $18,000 |
| TECUMSEH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TECUMSEH, OK | STRENGTH & CONDITIONING ROOM | $181,788 |
| OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCACTION OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | PROJECT RESPECT MATCHING GRANT | $322,037 |
| COMMUNITY MARKET POTTTAWATOMIE COUNTTY SHAWNEE, OK | OPERATING GRANT | $160,896 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SHAWNEE, OK | OPERATING GRANT | $25,600 |
| THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT MINISTRY (TEEM) OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN S LASTER | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $276,170 |
| MICHAEL P WARWICK | CHAIR OF THE BOARD | 2 | $19,500 |
| MARK L FINLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| SUDHIR KUMAR GUPTA | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| JOE HODGES | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| NICHOLAS CHARLES ATWOOD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| JOHN A ROBINSON | VICE PRESIDENT/ TREASURER | 1 | $9,750 |
| JEFFREY A MADISON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| STEPHEN TROTTER | ASST. SECRETARY & AUDIT CHAIR | 1 | $9,000 |
| SARAH STEELY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| JOSH TRIMBLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
| JILL SPENCER | FINANCE CHAIR | 1 | $9,750 |
| ANGELA A MOHR | POGO COMMITTEE CHAIR | 1 | $9,750 |
| TINA KAYE HANNA | GOVERNANCE CHAIR | 1 | $9,750 |
| MARISSA DENEE LIGHTSEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,750 |
Contact Information
- Address: 1500 E Independence Street, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804
- Phone: 405-273-4055
- Website: avedisfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Avedis Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To measurably improve the health, wellness, and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities. The foundation prioritizes strategic investments in four fundamental areas: • **Education** — Supporting educational institutions and initiatives • **Health and Wellness** — Promoting healthy lifestyles and health initiatives • **Nonprofit Infrastructure** — Strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector • **Community Growth an…
How do I apply for a grant from Avedis Foundation?
Avedis Foundation accepts grant requests from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and other non-taxable entities in Pottawatomie County and surrounding communities through an online application process. Applicants are required to review grant guidelines to determine eligibility. **Recent Grant Awards:** • Seminole Public Schools: $82,800 • Salvation Army youth program: $158,000 • Prague and Meeker school nurse program: $22,000 • Salvation Army-Shawnee: $12,500 • Community Market: Nearly …
Where does Avedis Foundation make grants?
Avedis Foundation focuses its funding on Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma and surrounding communities. The foundation serves a wide range of communities within this region, including Shawnee, Seminole, McLoud, Tecumseh, Prague, Meeker, Earlsboro, and Asher.
What size grants does Avedis Foundation award?
In 2024, Avedis Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $75K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Avedis Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Avedis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Avedis Foundation's EIN?
Avedis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1347360. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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