Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation
The Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1968 and based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The foundation was created by Grace Wilson Bernsen (1895–1982) and Franklin Bernsen (1893–1984) to provide ongoing charitable support to their community. The foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting deserving charitable causes in the Tulsa area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.7M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+21.1% YoY
Grant Count
56
+9.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+10.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation's mission is to enhance the health and social welfare needs of everyone in the community.
Founding Purpose: The foundation was created to provide grants in support of charitable, educational, literary, religious, and scientific purposes, as well as for the prevention of cruelty to children.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Arts
- Education (with particular interest in programs for at-risk, handicapped, or learning-disabled children, and innovative programs)
- Health
- Children and youth services
- Protestant churches
- Community welfare initiatives
Grantmaking
Grant Types
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation limits grants exclusively to non-profit organizations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the longtime home of Grace and Franklin Bernsen.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
- Total Revenue: $2,590,761
- Total Expenses: $1,893,183
- Net Income: $697,578
- Total Assets: $24,607,074
- Total Liabilities: $43,400
Investment Income: Primary revenue source is investment income and dividends ($1,279,169 in FY 2024, representing a 38.9% increase from the prior year)
Staffing: The foundation operates with no employees on staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,650,429 | $24,115,996 | $21,937,084 |
| Revenue | $2,590,761 | $3,700,444 | $2,038,416 |
| Expenses | $1,893,183 | $1,615,221 | $1,712,488 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,802,134 | $1,537,762 | $1,633,010 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,346,810 | $3,547,108 | $1,907,952 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,718,569 | $1,490,316 | $1,658,538 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Gathering Place ($150,000), Life Senior Services ($100,000), 1st Step Male Diversion Program ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST STEP MALE DIVERSION PROGRAM TULSA, OK | OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| 501 TECHNICAL TULSA, OK | CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM EXPANSION | $15,000 |
| A NEW LEAF BROKEN ARROW, OK | MATCHING GRANT | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS TULSA, OK | DISASTER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NE OKLAHOMA TULSA, OK | STORM RELIEF | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NE OKLAHOMA TULSA, OK | ROOF REPAIRS | $50,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF TULSA TULSA, OK | OPERATION SCHOOL BELL | $25,000 |
| BEHEARD MOVEMENT TULSA, OK | 7/24 GRANT | $20,000 |
| BRIDGES FOUNDATION JENKS, OK | AIR COMPRESSORS & DRYER | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR IND WPHY CHALLENGE TULSA, OK | LIFT BUS | $28,800 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David Zemel – Director (as of September 2023)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD E PRAY | TRUSTEE | 3 | $60,000 |
| MELISSA EASTERLING | TRUSTEE | 3 | $82,768 |
| W BLAND WILLIAMSON | TRUSTEE | 3 | $60,000 |
| BARBARA PRAY | TRUSTEE | 3 | $60,000 |
| DAVID ZEMEL | DIRECTOR | 3 | $73,206 |
| SUSAN RAINEY | TRUSTEE | 3 | $17,380 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to serve as a major supporter of Tulsa-area organizations. Recent grant recipients include cultural institutions (Tulsa Zoo), senior services organizations (Life Senior Services), and community safety organizations (Family Safety Center). The foundation has also provided founding sponsorship support to educational initiatives focused on preserving Oklahoma's history and making educational resources accessible to future generations.
Bernick Family Foundation Awards $300K in Grants - CommunityGivingSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation's mission is to enhance the health and social welfare needs of everyone in the community. **Founding Purpose:** The foundation was created to provide grants in support of charitable, educational, literary, religious, and scientific purposes, as well as for the prevention of cruelty to children. **Primary Funding Areas:** • Arts • Education (with particular interest in programs for at-risk, handicapped, or learning-disabled children,…
How do I apply for a grant from Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation?
**Grant Types:** The foundation supports capital, building, and program funding. Ongoing operational requests are occasionally considered. **Application Process:** • Organizations must submit an abstract as the first step • Applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status • Abstracts and proposals must demonstrate need, defined benefit, population served, service location, methodology, costs, and evaluation plans • The Board meets monthly and notifies organizations of approval within 60 days of…
Where does Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation make grants?
The foundation limits grants exclusively to non-profit organizations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the longtime home of Grace and Franklin Bernsen.
What size grants does Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation award?
In 2024, Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation's EIN?
Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7009414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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