Oklahoma Bar Foundation
The Oklahoma Bar Foundation (OBF) is an Oklahoma City-based public charity that makes grants for legal services, law-related education, and improvements to the administration of justice in Oklahoma. Its programs support nonprofit organizations, courts, and legal education, including scholarships and rural court reporter grants.
Key facts about Oklahoma Bar Foundation
In short: Oklahoma Bar Foundation gave $3.1M across 61 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), mostly in Oklahoma. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 73-0710244
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,145,214
- Grants made (2024)
- 61
- Average grant
- $51,561
- Median grant
- $35,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (15 of 60, 2024)
- Total assets
- $33,821,010
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Apply through the Foundation’s application process for the relevant grant program. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- For court grants, the listed application period opens January 5, 2026, with a March 9, 2026 deadline; applicant…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$33.8M
+28.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+88.8% YoY
Grant Count
61
+22.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$52K
+54.8% YoY
Is Oklahoma Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 60 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $56K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $35K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
OBF’s stated mission is to provide annual grant funding to advance justice, provide critical civil legal services to people in need, and increase public awareness and understanding of the American legal system.
Its grant programs include annual IOLTA grants for nonprofit legal services, law-related education, court advocacy, and improvements to the administration of justice; housing protection and community redevelopment grants restricted to mortgage foreclosure defense or landlord-tenant legal services; court grants for courtroom technology and related improvements; and rural court reporter employment and educational grants. The Foundation also supports law school scholarships and awards.
In 2024, OBF reported that its legal services grants supported civil legal aid and law-related education, including programs serving children, seniors, veterans, victims of domestic violence, and others in need. It estimated that about 100,000 individuals and families received law-related services. Its 2024 court grants supported technology for seven district courts.
Among the 2024 grantees, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma described its mission as making equal justice for all a reality. The Spero Project said it provides supportive services to resettled refugees and asylum seekers in Oklahoma City and educates the broader community about their issues. Tulsa Lawyers for Children said it recruits, trains, and assists volunteers representing children in abuse and neglect cases.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, OBF reported 61 grants totaling $3,145,214. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $210,000, with a median of $35,000. The largest awards included $210,000 to Lawyers Helping Lawyers Foundation for general operations; $196,100 to OCU Law School for its American Indian Wills Clinic and Help Program; and $140,000 each to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma for mortgage foreclosure, Oklahoma Lawyers for Families and Children for legal services for abused and neglected children, and The Spero Project for refugee legal support services.
Review Cycle
For court grants, the listed application period opens January 5, 2026, with a March 9, 2026 deadline; applicant interviews are tentatively scheduled for April 7, 2026.
How to Apply
. Court grants are for Oklahoma district and appellate courts and support courtroom technology. The Foundation’s application information requires court-grant recipients to sign grant agreements and submit mid-year and end-of-year reports.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Oklahoma Bar Foundation
Court Grant Program
Oklahoma Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies by project
Deadline
Rolling / Open
General Grant Program (Regular Grants)
Oklahoma Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies; 2014 total awards $345,066
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Law-Related Education Grants
Oklahoma Bar Foundation
Amount
Over $100,000 annually (2014)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Oklahoma Bar Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
OBF’s programs and grant applications focus on Oklahoma. In 2024, 98% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma, with 1% each going to recipients in Texas and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2022) to $3.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 61 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lawyers Helping Lawyers Foundation ($210K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
245 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 187 grants of 245 (76%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyers Helping Lawyers Foundation Oklahoma City, OK | General Operations | $210,000 |
| OCU Law School Oklahoma City, OK | American Indian Wills Clinic & Help Program | $196,100 |
| Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Oklahoma City, OK | Mortgage Foreclosure | $140,000 |
| Oklahoma Lawyers for Families and Children Inc Oklahoma City, OK | Legal Services for Abused & Neglected Children | $140,000 |
| The Spero Project Oklahoma City, OK | Refugee Legal Support Services | $140,000 |
| Safe Center Inc Duncan, OK | General Operations | $110,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation (Project Commutation Program) Tulsa, OK | Legal Interns | $100,000 |
| Oklahoma Bar Association Oklahoma City, OK | Mock Trial Program | $85,000 |
| Oklahoma Guardian Ad Litem Institute Edmond, OK | Family Court Gal Services | $85,000 |
| District Court of Delaware County Jay, OK | Upgrade Sound Systems in 3 Courtroom | $83,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,821,010 | $9,091,670 | $4,112,722 | $3,145,214 |
| 2023 | $26,417,532 | $9,122,623 | $2,585,219 | $1,665,869 |
| 2022 | $17,257,093 | $1,477,283 | $1,844,293 | $1,056,992 |
OBF says its investment distribution policy makes 5% of the average endowment market value over the preceding three years available for annual appropriation. It identifies donor gifts, Partners Giving Programs, investment and endowed-fund earnings, Cy Pres awards, and lawyer participation in the IOLTA program as funding sources.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,821,010 | $26,417,532 | $17,257,093 |
| Revenue | $9,091,670 | $9,122,623 | $1,477,283 |
| Expenses | $4,112,722 | $2,585,219 | $1,844,293 |
| Net Investment Income | $948,001 | $594,083 | $428,779 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Allen L. Huston as president, Jim Dowell as president-elect, M. Courtney Briggs as vice president, Andrew Shank as secretary, Leanne McGill as treasurer, and Judge Deanna Hartley-Kelso as past president. Listed trustees include Luke Adams, A. Wayne Billings, Shea Bracken, and Bob Burke.
Oklahoma Bar Foundation is led by Renee Demoss, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 28 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Renee Demoss
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
38 hrs/week
$147K (2020) → $174K (2024)
Allen L. Huston
President
Vice President → President Elect, 2023
President Elect → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
A. Wayne Billings
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Burke
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Ray
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry Mason Moore
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiece Dempsey
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Taylor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison Cave
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Carruth
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luke Adams
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April Moaning
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Morton
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eddie D. Valdez
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin D. Meek
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Russ
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dylan Erwin
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judge Richard Ogden
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shiny Mathew
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline M. Shaffer Siex
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David W. Van Meter
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Williams
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shea Bracken
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Shank
Secretary
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Dowell
President Elect
Secretary → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President Elect, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judge Deanna Hartley-Kelso
Past President
President Elect → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leanne McGill
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M. Courtney Briggs
Vice President
Treasurer → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Valerie Couch (2020–2023) — Past President
- Former: Mark Fields (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kim Hays (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Miles Pringle (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Benjamin Russ (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jeff Trevillion Jr. (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Rachel Mathew (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Tom Vincent II (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Brian Hermanson (2022) — Trustee
- Former: O. Chris Meyers II (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Patrick O'Hara Jr. (2020–2021) — Past President
- Former: Woody K. Glass (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Barbara Klepper (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jim Hicks (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jordan Haygood (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Brandi Nowakowski (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Gary W. Farabough (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Castillo (2020) — Past President
- Former: Judge Bret A. Smith (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Micheal Torrone Jr. (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mike Mordy (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Paul Kluver (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $174K, to Renee Demoss (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 1901 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4901
Phone: (405) 416-7070
Website: https://okbarfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma Bar Foundation
How much does Oklahoma Bar Foundation give each year?
Oklahoma Bar Foundation gave $3.1M across 61 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 50 grants.
What is Oklahoma Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Oklahoma Bar Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $51,561, across 61 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Oklahoma Bar Foundation that year got $56K on average.
Where does Oklahoma Bar Foundation give grants?
Oklahoma Bar Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Oklahoma City, OK (21 grants), Tulsa, OK (13 grants), Edmond, OK (2 grants) and Lawton, OK (2 grants).
Does Oklahoma Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 16% of Oklahoma Bar Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 61) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Court Advocates" (11 grants).
Who are Oklahoma Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Oklahoma Bar Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Lawyers Helping Lawyers Foundation ($210,000), Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma ($200,000 across 2 grants) and OCU Law School ($196,100), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Oklahoma Bar Foundation?
Oklahoma Bar Foundation reported $33.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.1M.
What does Oklahoma Bar Foundation fund?
OBF’s stated mission is to provide annual grant funding to advance justice, provide critical civil legal services to people in need, and increase public awareness and understanding of the American legal system. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oklahoma Bar Foundation?
Apply through the Foundation’s application process for the relevant grant program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Oklahoma Bar Foundation's EIN?
Oklahoma Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-0710244. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Oklahoma Bar Foundation by hand.
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