El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation
The E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation is a private foundation based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Established in 1994 by Edward L. Gaylord and his wife Thelma, it supports charitable activities, with a stated commitment to improving the lives of Oklahomans and preserving the state’s heritage and natural resources.
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation at a glance
In short: El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation gave $15.6M across 134 grants in 2024 (avg $116K), mostly in Oklahoma. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,556,685
- +10.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 134
- -13.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $116,095
- +27.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $260,100,056
- -2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (18 of 134, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says proposals are initiated through its online grant request system. Applicants are asked to submit a letter of inquiry for consideration; after review, the foundation will contact them about the request’s status and may invite them to submit an application. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions on awards. It lists January 15 and July 15 as deadlines; both 2026 dates have passed, and the filing does not confirm a future cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Mrs Christine Everest Co-Trustee
Mailing address: 6305 Waterford Boulevard Suite 350, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Phone: (405) 607-6301
Website: https://www.gaylordfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation
Who El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Casady School ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $8.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
803 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 530 grants of 803 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states a geographic preference for the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma, 8% to Texas, and 2% to Kentucky; the filing also lists shares for Colorado and New Jersey, each rounded to 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 134 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 134 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $129K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $36K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8.9M (2020) to $15.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 134 grants totaling $15.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Casady School Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $1,502,000 |
| University of Texas MD Anderson Houston, TX | General Purpose | $1,300,000 |
| University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc Norman, OK | General Purpose | $1,020,500 |
| Mercy Health Foundation Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $1,005,000 |
| Oklahoma Children's Hospital Ou Health Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $1,000,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $1,000,000 |
| Communities Foundation of Oklahoma Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $520,000 |
| National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $507,500 |
| Healthy Minds Healthy Lives Foundation Tulsa, OK | General Purpose | $500,000 |
| Hope Is Alive Oklahoma City, OK | General Purpose | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $260,100,056 | $12,788,185 | $16,730,150 | $15,556,685 | 134 | $15,863,381 | $12,749,774 | $15,441,447 |
| 2023 | $265,690,800 | $9,676,301 | $16,320,320 | $14,105,924 | 155 | $14,397,243 | $7,550,173 | $14,584,929 |
| 2022 | $272,330,285 | $60,015,065 | $13,744,064 | $12,701,484 | 161 | $13,044,712 | $58,472,000 | $13,364,133 |
| 2021 | $225,039,747 | $24,896,962 | $13,234,609 | $12,610,783 | 180 | $12,983,669 | $14,753,600 | $16,865,083 |
| 2020 | $213,377,394 | $14,556,342 | $9,545,851 | $8,892,583 | 173 | — | $13,545,966 | $12,273,633 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support a wide range of charitable activities, particularly in the arts, education, medical research, and children’s issues.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied charitable missions. For example, the University of Oklahoma Foundation says it manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma; the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation says it works to improve understanding of treatments for human disease; and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma says it leads a network providing food and pathways to self-sufficiency for people facing hunger. NewView Oklahoma describes its work as empowering people facing vision loss, while Healthy Minds Healthy Lives Foundation says it supports behavioral health and community-based initiatives.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 134 grants totaling $15,556,685. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,502,000, with a median of $30,000. Among the largest awards were $1,502,000 to Casady School, $1,300,000 to the University of Texas MD Anderson, $1,020,500 to the University of Oklahoma Foundation, $1,005,000 to Mercy Health Foundation Oklahoma City, and $1,000,000 each to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health and YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christy Gaylord Everest, Mary Gaylord McClean, Louise Gaylord Bennett, and Tricia L. Everest as co-trustees.
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christy Gaylord Everest
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Louise Gaylord Bennett
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Mary Gaylord McClean
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Tricia L. Everest
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: David O. Hogan (2020–2022) — Co-Trustee
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $10K, to Christy Gaylord Everest (Co-Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation
How much does El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation give each year?
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation gave $15.6M across 134 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.1M across 155 grants.
What is El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's typical grant size?
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $116,095, across 134 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation give grants?
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oklahoma City, OK (101 grants), Edmond, OK (9 grants), Tulsa, OK (7 grants) and Norman, OK (4 grants).
Does El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (134 of 134) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's largest grantees?
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Casady School ($1,502,000), University of Texas MD Anderson ($1,300,000) and University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc ($1,020,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation?
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation reported $260.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support a wide range of charitable activities, particularly in the arts, education, medical research, and children’s issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says proposals are initiated through its online grant request system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's EIN?
El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1463569. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/el-and-thelma-gaylord-foundation-morg_3113907ff166453e83e4b7de31b9f9a9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731463569_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/el-and-thelma-gaylord-foundation-morg_3113907ff166453e83e4b7de31b9f9a9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation'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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