Norman Arts Council
Norman Arts Council is a nonprofit based in Norman, Oklahoma, that supports and promotes the arts. Founded in 1976, it operates as a Form 990 (a public charity) and supports local arts organizations and individual artists through grants and other programs.
Norman Arts Council at a glance
In short: Norman Arts Council gave $536K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Oklahoma. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $535,500
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,184
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $23,728
- Total assets
- $742,570
- +11.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Norman Arts Council
- Contact
Mailing address: 122 E Main Street, Norman, OK 73069
Phone: (405) 360-1162
Website: https://normanarts.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Norman Arts Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Oklahoma ($133K). Together the top 10 received $377K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 81 grants of 83 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Council is based in Norman, Oklahoma. Its website describes its organizational Hotel Tax Grant Program as serving Norman-based nonprofit arts organizations; its artist grants serve Norman-based artists. The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Oklahoma recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Norman Arts Council open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $24K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $199K (2020) to $536K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $536K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma Norman, OK | — | $133,385 |
| Jazz in June Norman, OK | — | $30,000 |
| Norman Music Alliance Norman, OK | — | $30,000 |
| Central Oklahoma Dance Company Norman, OK | — | $29,875 |
| Oklahoma Youth Sing Norman, OK | — | $26,954 |
| The Depot Norman, OK | — | $26,752 |
| Cimarron Opera Norman, OK | — | $26,502 |
| Norman Cultural Connection Norman, OK | — | $25,150 |
| Pioneer Library Norman, OK | — | $24,336 |
| A to Z Productions Norman, OK | — | $23,728 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $742,570 | $1,086,973 | $1,054,634 | $535,500 | 19 | $12,530 |
| 2024 | $663,940 | $1,180,914 | $1,057,706 | $473,278 | 18 | $11,477 |
| 2023 | $422,817 | $804,767 | $814,135 | $334,925 | 16 | $2,920 |
| 2022 | $403,743 | $793,391 | $800,183 | $285,855 | 15 | $2,631 |
| 2021 | $389,274 | $967,533 | $744,194 | $367,174 | 15 | $2,336 |
| 2020 | $154,301 | $655,244 | $603,041 | $199,050 | 10 | $1,932 |
| 2019 | $197,691 | $673,923 | $687,863 | $227,950 | 15 | $1,918 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Council’s stated mission is to enrich the Norman community by stimulating artistic, cultural, and economic growth through support and promotion of the arts. Its 2024 filing describes support for arts organizations through operational and project funding, children through arts education scholarships, and individual artists through project grants. The filing also says it grants at least 60% of the funds allocated to the arts from the City of Norman through its grants programs each year.
The Council’s website describes its Hotel Tax Grant Program as providing financial and educational support to eligible Norman-based nonprofit arts organizations. The program places special emphasis on projects, programs, and organizations that attract overnight visitors to Norman. In 2025, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma. Among the organizations supported that year, Norman Music Alliance described its mission as supporting local musicians and providing assistance to the community. Central Oklahoma Dance Company described its work as dance instruction, performance opportunities, and creative development for children and adults.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Council reported 19 grants totaling $535,500. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $133,385, with a median of $23,728. The largest listed award was $133,385 to the University of Oklahoma. Other notable awards included $30,000 each to Jazz in June and Norman Music Alliance, and $29,875 to Central Oklahoma Dance Company. Additional 2025 recipients included Oklahoma Youth Sing ($26,954), The Depot ($26,752), Cimarron Opera ($26,502), and Norman Cultural Connection ($25,150).
The Hotel Tax Grant Program uses a seven-member awards panel nominated by the Arts and Humanities Roundtable and approved by the Council’s board. The panel reviews organizational applications and makes funding recommendations to the Council. After board acceptance, recommendations go to the Norman City Council for final approval. The program is described as serving Norman-based nonprofit arts organizations.
The website also lists artist grants for Norman-based artists and a yearly Creative Arts Resources grant offering limited, flexible funding to small Norman-based arts and cultural organizations. The Mural Incentive Program information provided is for the 2024 program, a past cycle: it described 1:1 matching funds up to $10,000 for murals within Norman city limits, with applications considered as received when funds were available. Its stated materials included property-owner approval when applicable, a mural rendering, an artist agreement, a project budget, and a timeline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Council’s website identifies Leslie Nottingham as executive director. The 2025 filing lists the following officers and directors: William Hickman, Joyce Green, Haley Dennis, Dennis Brigham, Amy Million, Francesca Giani, Aisha Ali, Tara Burnett, Aisha Ali, and Erinn Gavaghan.
Norman Arts Council is led by Joyce Green, President-El since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joyce Green
President-El
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President-El, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Hickman
President
President-El → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Francisco
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Greer
Director
Director → Past President, 2022
Past President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Gaddie
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chase Spivey
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cody Giles
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenny McCaleb
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aisha Ali
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Clowers
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Burwell
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Lillard
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shaun McGinnis
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tara Burnett
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Collin Rose
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ej Sweetly
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Barnhart
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Wells
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jinjo Garton
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Knudson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erinn Gavaghan
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$58K (2023) → $37K (2025)
Leslie Nottingham
Executive Di
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$47K (2025)
Dennis Brigham
Past President
Director → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Million
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Francesca Giani
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Haley Dennis
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Briggs
Executive Officio
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (30)
- Former: Lesha Maag (2019–2024) — Past President
- Former: Susan Adams Johnson (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Brad Stevens (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Leticia Galizzi (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jason Olsen (2023) — Executive Officio
- Former: Brady Sexton (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Bree Montoya (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Emily Virgin (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Erik Baker (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Gabriel Bird (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Hevaun Williams (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jin Jo Garton (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Joshua Hinkle (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Kristen Vails (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Liz Barfield (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Mariann Lawson (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Rhett Jones (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ron Collett (2019–2022) — President
- Former: Barrett Williams (2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Morton (2022) — Director
- Former: Mike Tower (2022) — Director
- Former: Norman Hammon (2022) — Director
- Former: Carolynn Loon (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Bill Hickman (2021) — Director
- Former: Dennis Haley (2021) — Director
- Former: Jana Atkins (2021) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Baker (2021) — Director
- Former: Cheryl Lockstone (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Shari Jackson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Giles Cody (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $47K, to Leslie Nottingham (Executive Di). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Norman Arts Council
How much does Norman Arts Council give each year?
Norman Arts Council gave $536K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $473K across 18 grants.
What is Norman Arts Council's typical grant size?
Norman Arts Council's median grant in 2025 was $23,728, and its average grant was $28,184, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Norman Arts Council that year got $18K on average.
Where does Norman Arts Council give grants?
Norman Arts Council gives mostly in Oklahoma: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norman, OK (19 grants).
Who are Norman Arts Council's largest grantees?
Norman Arts Council's largest 2025 grantees include University of Oklahoma ($133,385), Jazz in June ($30,000) and Norman Music Alliance ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Norman Arts Council?
Norman Arts Council reported $743K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does Norman Arts Council fund?
The Council’s stated mission is to enrich the Norman community by stimulating artistic, cultural, and economic growth through support and promotion of the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Norman Arts Council?
Norman Arts Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check normanarts.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Norman Arts Council's EIN?
Norman Arts Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1051578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Norman Arts Council funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Norman Arts Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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More similar funders
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Norman Arts Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/norman-arts-council-morg_eacf19eae3394bd495a3b5f27f75fc4d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731051578_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Norman Arts Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/norman-arts-council-morg_eacf19eae3394bd495a3b5f27f75fc4d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Norman Arts Council's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Norman Arts Council down — hundreds of funders to go?