Lyon Foundation is a private foundation established in the mid-1970s, based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The foundation was created by E. H. "Ted" and Melody Lyon, native Texans with deep roots in the petroleum industry. The foundation maintains offices in Bartlesville and Houston in the United States, as well as an office in Kew, Victoria, Australia.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$54.1M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-3.2% YoY
Grant Count
50
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
-22.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lyon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to "aid public religious organizations, charitable organizations, preparatory, vocational and technical schools, institutions of higher learning and scientific research and to establish, maintain, conduct, assist and endow public charitable, religious, literary, educational and scientific activities, agencies and institutions, hospitals and other public agencies."
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Human Services
- Education (K-12 and higher education)
- Community and Economic Development
- Youth Services
- Aging and Disabilities
- Civic Projects, particularly parks and recreation
Grantmaking
The foundation made 40 grants in 2024, with a total of 35 grants documented totaling approximately $1.9 million.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $1,002,500.
Grant Types
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts applications at any time via email or mail.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Lyon Foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in the Bartlesville area of Oklahoma. While the foundation maintains a small geographic focus, many grantees receive ongoing support from year to year.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $54,072,637 (as of 2024)
- Total Giving: $2,334,876
- Total Revenues (2024): $2,952,903
- Total Expenses (2024): $2,676,826
- Investment Income and Dividends (2024): $1,408,432
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $54,072,637 | $52,020,922 | $48,417,514 |
| Revenue | $2,952,903 | $1,255,438 | $1,774,844 |
| Expenses | $2,676,826 | $2,752,488 | $2,843,238 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,471,611 | $2,545,871 | $2,608,570 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,777,688 | $1,071,245 | $1,540,350 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,631,447 | $2,465,868 | $2,530,670 |
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
217 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Lyon Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bartlesville Community Foundation ($402,500), City of Bartlesville ($304,687), Friends of Kiddie Park ($292,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILITY WORKS OF OKLAHOMA INC BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AGAPE MISSION BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,500 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| B THE LIGHT BARTLESVILLE, OK | REMODEL FACILITY | $102,000 |
| BARTLESVILLE ART ASSOCIATION BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,330 |
| BARTLESVILLE ATHLETIC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BARTLESVILLE CHAPTER NSDAR BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BARTLESVILLE CIVIC BALLET INC BARTLESVILLE, OK | COSTUMES AND BACKDROP | $12,200 |
| BARTLESVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $402,500 |
| BARTLESVILLE EDUCATION PROMISE BARTLESVILLE, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Kane is identified as a representative of the Lyon Foundation involved in grant distribution.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS JANER | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BRUCE W ROBINETT | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JOHN B KANE | PRESIDENT/MANAGER | 10 | $72,000 |
| MARK A MYERS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| GLENN BONNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID KING | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SPENCER KING | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2023, the Lyon Foundation awarded $100,000 to B the Light Mission, a Bartlesville nonprofit, to support the development of a new homeless shelter. The grant was presented by John Kane of the Lyon Foundation to founders Christy and Keith McPhail.
Mary Lyon Foundation Celebrates Reaching $5 Million Milestone for StudentThe foundation approved a $250,000 grant for the Tower Center at Unity Square in Bartlesville.
Lyon Foundation OKs $250000 grant for Tower Center at Unity SquareSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lyon Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to "aid public religious organizations, charitable organizations, preparatory, vocational and technical schools, institutions of higher learning and scientific research and to establish, maintain, conduct, assist and endow public charitable, religious, literary, educational and scientific activities, agencies and institutions, hospitals and other public agencies." Primary funding focus areas include: • Human Services • Education (K-12 and higher education) • C…
How do I apply for a grant from Lyon Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $1,002,500. **Grant Types:** The foundation primarily funds projects, programs, and capital purchases. The foundation does not award grants for general operations, though some grants do support general support alongside specific projects. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Bartlesville Community Foundation: $402,500 (General Support) • City Church of Bartlesville: $304,687 (General Support and Reconstruct Greens on Golf Course) • Friends of the Kidd…
Where does Lyon Foundation make grants?
The Lyon Foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in the Bartlesville area of Oklahoma. While the foundation maintains a small geographic focus, many grantees receive ongoing support from year to year.
What size grants does Lyon Foundation award?
In 2024, Lyon Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lyon Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lyon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lyon Foundation's EIN?
Lyon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7299980. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lyon 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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