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
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
**
Ready to take the next step with Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation?
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
No grants recorded for .
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 - CommunityGivingRelated Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Westreet Foundation Inc
TULSA, OK
Assets
$86K
Grants
7
Total Given
$43K
Trimble Strong Foundation Inc
TULSA, OK
Assets
$127K
Grants
3
Total Given
$13K
Berry Family Foundation Inc
SAPULPA, OK
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$45K
Krimbill Family Foundation
TULSA, OK
Assets
$1K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Leslie Powell Trust
NORMAN, OK
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$65K
Little Oklahoma Non-profit Boat Ramp Corporation
EUFAULA, OK
Assets
$2K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities