Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation
The Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation is an independent foundation established in 1999 in Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, the foundation was created by Jess and Miriam Stevens, who made their living through ranching and stock market investing. The foundation operates to honor their legacy of generous, discreet giving to support education, medical care, and research.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.4M
-6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+5.6% YoY
Grant Count
44
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $504K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is giving to organizations that benefit:
- Education
- Medical research
- The welfare of needy persons
The Stevens' personal philanthropic approach was characterized by quiet generosity. Following their deaths, hundreds of letters were discovered from children worldwide thanking them for their gifts and describing the positive impact on their families' lives.
Grantmaking
The foundation has established multiple permanent endowments at the University of Tulsa, including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with demonstrated support for institutions in Oklahoma, particularly the University of Tulsa.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,401,107 | $6,834,671 | $7,508,911 |
| Revenue | $807,968 | $512,721 | $720,156 |
| Expenses | $1,237,947 | $1,188,999 | $1,184,598 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,081,712 | $1,027,707 | $1,028,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $656,941 | $362,165 | $572,351 |
| Distributable Amount | $503,530 | $504,148 | $505,682 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
214 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Salvation Army ($252,210), Eagle Family Ministries ($100,000), Marriage and Family Initiative ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A NEW LEAF TULSA, OK | SUPPORT SERVICES | $7,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF TULSA TULSA, OK | SUPPORT SERVICES | $10,000 |
| ASTHMA & ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA ST LOUIS, MO | SUPPORT SERVICES | $12,000 |
| CAMP LOUGHRIDGE TULSA, OK | SCHOLARSHIPS | $15,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES TULSA, OK | SUPPORT SERVICES | $15,000 |
| CLAREHOUSE TULSA, OK | SUPPORT SERVICES | $9,272 |
| COMMUNITY ACTION RESOURCE ASSOCIATION TULSA, OK | SUPPORT SERVICES | $2,000 |
| COVENANT HOUSE MISSOURI ST LOUIS, MO | SUPPORT SERVICES | $10,000 |
| CROSSTOWN LEARNING CENTER INC TULSA, OK | SUPPORT SERVICES | $2,500 |
| DAJA DYER STILLWATER, OK | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH J MCCAIN JR | TRUSTEE | 10 | $95,900 |
Contact Information
Address: 4100 First Place Tower, 15 E 5th S, Tulsa, OK 74103, United States
Telephone: 918-694-5527
EIN: 73-1557364
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is giving to organizations that benefit: • Education • Medical research • The welfare of needy persons The Stevens' personal philanthropic approach was characterized by quiet generosity. Following their deaths, hundreds of letters were discovered from children worldwide thanking them for their gifts and describing the positive impact on their families' lives.
How do I apply for a grant from Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation?
The foundation has established multiple permanent endowments at the University of Tulsa, including: • Jess L. and Miriam B. Stevens Foundation Endowment for Rowing • Jess L. and Miriam B. Stevens Foundation Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund • Charles C. Killin Music Scholarship Endowment Provided by The Jess L. and Miriam B. Stevens Foundation • Charles C. Killin Scholarship Endowment for the Henry Kendall College
Where does Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with demonstrated support for institutions in Oklahoma, particularly the University of Tulsa.
What size grants does Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation award?
In 2025, Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $504K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation's EIN?
Jess L and Miriam B Stevens Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1557364. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jess L and Miriam B Stevens 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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