Mervin Bovaird Foundation
The Mervin Bovaird Foundation is a private foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, established in 1955. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since July 1957. It functions as an independent foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46.4M
+15.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+5.6% YoY
Grant Count
72
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-6.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports social services, health, and education. It maintains a significant scholarship program for Tulsa County high school graduating seniors and graduates of Tulsa Community College who plan to attend the University of Tulsa for undergraduate study. Scholarship recipients are selected by the schools themselves, not by the foundation's trustees. Individual scholarships are limited to $6,000 per academic year.
The foundation also supports academic initiatives at the University of Tulsa, including the Mervin Bovaird Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Endowment Fund, the Mervin Bovaird Endowed Professor of Energy Business, and the Mervin Bovaird Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund for the Health Sciences.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, typically selecting charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Oklahoma, with grantmaking concentrated in the state. Additional funding reaches organizations in Illinois and California. Overall, grantmaking reaches organizations across seven states, with Oklahoma, Illinois, and California accounting for 97% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets: $46.4 million (as of 2024)
- Total assets have grown from $37 million (2011) to $46.4 million (2024)
- Annual income: $4.1 million
- Total giving: $1.967 million (2023)
- Revenue: $1.938 million (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $46,378,361 | $40,215,281 | $38,311,132 |
| Revenue | $4,082,253 | $1,938,131 | $-2,385,149 |
| Expenses | $2,704,847 | $2,465,385 | $2,404,019 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,114,752 | $1,996,715 | $1,758,299 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,867,184 | $1,483,050 | $296,092 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,228,276 | $2,051,726 | $2,105,137 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christopher Woosley serves as the principal officer of the foundation. The foundation is governed by five officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
Address: 7424 S Yale Ave Ste 200, Tulsa, OK 74136-7151
Phone: 918-935-3250
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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