Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc logo

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Tulsa, OK EIN: 73-1019247 Website

Community Action Project of Tulsa (CAP Tulsa) is a public charity based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, formed in 1974. It focuses on early childhood education and care for young children in lower-income families, alongside services intended to support their parents and families.

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc at a glance

In short: Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc gave $15.3M across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $1.4M), mostly in Oklahoma. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$15,268,753
+14.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
11
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$1,388,068
+14.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$189,930
Total assets
$70,865,350
-5.2% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Oklahoma (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc

Contact

Mailing address: 5330 E 31St Street 300, Tulsa, OK 74135
Phone: (918) 382-3200
Website: https://captulsa.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Tulsa Educare Inc: $10.1MTulsa Educare Inc$10.1MUnion Public Schools: $2.7MUnion Public Schools$2.7MSunbeam Family Services Inc: $1.4MSunbeam Family Services Inc$1.4MThe Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Tulsa: $258KThe Young Men's ChristianAssociation of Greater Tulsa$258KCrosstown Learning Center Inc: $218KCrosstown Learning Center Inc$218KCrossroads Youth & Family Servivces Inc: $190KCrossroads Youth & FamilyServivces Inc$190KLift Community Action Agency: $184KLift Community Action Agency$184KTulsa Habitat for Humanity: $127KTulsa Habitat for Humanity$127KPlay Hard LLC: $33KPlay Hard LLC$33KUnited Community Action Program Inc: $27KUnited Community ActionProgram Inc$27K

The largest 2024 recipient was Tulsa Educare Inc ($10.1M). Together the top 10 received $15.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

58 grants across all recorded years

9<$50K6$50–100K22$100–250K6$250–500K$500K–1M10$1–5M5$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 22 grants of 58 (38%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma. The listed recipients were located in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Hugo, and Pawnee, Oklahoma.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

States

Cities

TulsaHugoNormanOklahoma CityBartlesvillePawnee

Is Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc open to new grantees?

9%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $1.5M. How we count

Medians: $27K first-time, $204K repeat.

  • 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M10 grants2020 13 grants2021 13 grants2022 11 grants2023 11 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10.6M (2020) to $15.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $15.3M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Tulsa Educare Inc Tulsa, OKEarly Childhood Programs$10,095,664
Union Public Schools Tulsa, OKEarly Childhood Programs$2,683,806
Sunbeam Family Services Inc Oklahoma City, OKEarly Childhood Programs$1,431,924
The Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Tulsa Tulsa, OKEarly Childhood Programs$258,019
Crosstown Learning Center Inc Tulsa, OKEarly Childhood Programs$218,103
Crossroads Youth & Family Servivces Inc Norman, OKEarly Childhood Programs$189,930
Lift Community Action Agency Hugo, OKEarly Childhood Programs$183,829
Tulsa Habitat for Humanity Tulsa, OKNeighborhood Stabilization Programs$127,400
Play Hard LLC Tulsa, OKEarly Childhood Programs$33,244
United Community Action Program Inc Pawnee, OKEarly Childhood Programs$26,743
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$70,865,350$68,854,562$72,237,205$15,268,75311$2,506,957
2023$74,773,316$67,911,552$69,450,498$13,367,80811$1,677,256
2022$74,225,660$65,336,188$65,968,421$12,515,86113$976,217
2021$75,774,694$60,674,476$61,859,367$12,506,94413$1,021,939
2020$74,628,151$59,533,622$60,176,220$10,574,53410$1,091,648

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

CAP Tulsa’s mission is to help young children in lower-income families grow up and achieve economic success. Its website says its approach combines high-quality child care and early childhood education with family services intended to support parenting skills, employability, and earning potential.

The organization’s 2024 filing describes early learning and care for eligible families with children under five, family advancement services, and community development housing. Family services include parenting education, family engagement, English-language courses, emergency assistance, and behavioral health support. The filing says CAP Tulsa also contracts with community partners on affordable housing and neighborhood improvement services.

In 2024, grants were reported primarily for early childhood programs, with two grants designated for neighborhood stabilization. The grantees describe their own work as follows: Tulsa Educare says its mission is high-quality early childhood education, family engagement, and early learning supports; Sunbeam Family Services says it builds brighter futures with children and families; Crosstown Learning Center says it provides educational opportunities in a nurturing environment; and LIFT Community Action Agency says it works to improve the lives of low-income individuals and families through service and collaboration. Tulsa Habitat for Humanity says it brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope; United Community Action Program says it supports communities and families in creating a healthy, productive environment and access to quality services; and Growing Together says it creates pathways for children to break the cycle of poverty through education, community vibrancy, and the built environment.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, CAP Tulsa reported 11 grants totaling $15,268,753. Grant amounts ranged from $20,091 to $10,095,664, with a median of $189,930. The largest awards were $10,095,664 to Tulsa Educare Inc. and $2,683,806 to Union Public Schools, both for early childhood programs, followed by $1,431,924 to Sunbeam Family Services Inc. for early childhood programs. Other notable awards included $258,019 to the YMCA of Greater Tulsa and $218,103 to Crosstown Learning Center Inc., both for early childhood programs, and $127,400 to Tulsa Habitat for Humanity for neighborhood stabilization programs.

The filing describes an escrow arrangement supporting 26 early childhood classrooms: 16 operated by Tulsa Educare and 10 by CAP Tulsa. It states that CAP Tulsa has ultimate discretion over distributions to Tulsa Educare under the arrangement. The filing reports an escrow balance of $3,248,558 as of December 31, 2024.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing were Dr. Anita Ede, president; Brad Cunningham, vice president; Jonathan Joiner, treasurer; Dr. Joyce McClellan, secretary through July 2024; and directors Ryan Alden, Dr. Sherry Been, Carlos Bejarano, George Charlton Jr., Jim East through March 2024, and Dr. John Federline.

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc is led by Karen Tilkin, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 7 of 26 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Karen Tilkin

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $325K (2023) → $330K (2024)

  • Anita Ede

    President

    Vice President → President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Drew France

    Senior Director Strat Plann, It & Committee Ints

    Senior Director Development & Strategic Planning → Senior Director Development & Strategic Plann, 2023

    Senior Director Development & Strategic Plann → Senior Director Strat Plann, It & Committee Ints, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $131K (2020) → $167K (2024)

  • Jeff Gilstrap

    Director Information & Technology

    Director of Information & Technology → Director Information & Technology, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $146K (2020) → $169K (2024)

  • Lori Kerns

    Hr & Org Development Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $142K (2024)

  • Carlos Bejarano

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • George Charlton Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hitesh Pushpraj

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kirt Hartzler

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paula Settoon

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christy Ptak

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mica Harding

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim East

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ryan Alden

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sherry Been

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Valerie Jarvis

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amber Handy-Pipestem

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Govig

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Federline

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Phelps

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Boatright

    Chief Program Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $164K (2020) → $178K (2024)

  • Catheryn Ackenhausen

    Chief Talent Officer

    Director Hr & Org. Development → Chief Talent Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $132K (2022) → $180K (2024)

  • Michael Madsen

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $116K (2023) → $175K (2024)

  • Brad Cunningham

    Vice President

    Secretary → Vice President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jonathan Joiner

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joyce McClellan

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (16)
  • Former: Jennifer Zuyus (2020–2023) — Inhouse Legal Counsel
  • Former: Lex Anderson (2020–2023) — Chief Fiscal Officer
  • Former: Phil McCoy (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Norman Gayle (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Shalyone Richardson (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Eileen Leonard (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Karen Kiely (2020–2022) — Executive Director
  • Former: Bernard Mason (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Brian Paschal (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Catherine Ackenhausen (2020–2021) — Director Hr & Organizational Development
  • Former: Ed Fariss (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Kristina Zelenski (2021) — Director
  • Former: Carol Owens (2020) — Past Director
  • Former: Christina Zelenski (2020) — Director
  • Former: Elvira Bernal (2020) — Past Director
  • Former: Gregory Graham (2020) — Past Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Karen Tilkin — Executive Director: $330KKaren TilkinExecutive Director$330KCatheryn Ackenhausen — Chief Talent Officer: $180KCatheryn AckenhausenChief Talent Officer$180KMichelle Boatright — Chief Program Officer: $178KMichelle BoatrightChief Program Officer$178KMichael Madsen — Chief Financial Officer: $175KMichael MadsenChief Financial Officer$175KJeff Gilstrap — DIR Information/Technology: $169KJeff GilstrapDIR Information/Technology$169KDrew France — Sr DIR Strat Plann/It & Comm Ints: $167KDrew FranceSr DIR Strat Plann/It & Comm…$167KLori Kerns — HR & Org Development Director: $142KLori KernsHR & Org Development Director$142K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $330K, to Karen Tilkin (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc

How much does Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc give each year?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc gave $15.3M across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $13.4M across 11 grants.

What is Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's typical grant size?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's median grant in 2024 was $189,930, and its average grant was $1,388,068, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc that year got $27K on average.

Where does Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc give grants?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc gives mostly in Oklahoma: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (7 grants).

Does Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Early Childhood Programs" (9 grants).

Who are Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's largest grantees?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Tulsa Educare Inc ($10,095,664), Union Public Schools ($2,683,806) and Sunbeam Family Services Inc ($1,431,924), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc reported $70.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $68.9M.

What does Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc fund?

CAP Tulsa’s mission is to help young children in lower-income families grow up and achieve economic success. Its website says its approach combines high-quality child care and early childhood education with family services intended to support parenting skills, employability, and earning potential. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check captulsa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's EIN?

Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1019247. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 26, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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George Kaiser Family Foundation funds early childhood development and education, family and community well-being, justice, affordable housing, and Tulsa neighborhood and civic initiatives, primarily in Tulsa and Oklahoma. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $20.2 million, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited proposals for its general work, though eligible nonprofits may apply through its Accelerator Grants initiative.

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Total Given

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Sarkeys Foundation funds Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) organizations serving the state, with a focus on education, human and social services, and cultural or humanitarian programs—especially direct services for underserved people. Its examples include grants of $25,000–$100,000, but the available information does not establish a typical award size. It accepts online applications through a letter-of-inquiry process; applicants are asked to speak with foundation staff before submitting.

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Assets

$260.1M

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Total Given

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/community-action-project-of-tulsa-county-inc-morg_f896b293b22c47e0b57b1282902a2cbc

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731019247_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/community-action-project-of-tulsa-county-inc-morg_f896b293b22c47e0b57b1282902a2cbc},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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