Ruth Nelson Family Foundation
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Tulsa, OK. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $96.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $5.5M. Net investment income was $4.7M.
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth Nelson Family Foundation gave $5.5M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $5.5M), mostly in Oklahoma. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,459,860
- +49.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,459,860
- +49.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,459,860
- Total assets
- $96,173,613
- -1.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Ruth Nelson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was See Attachment 3 ($5.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 2 grants of 3 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Ruth Nelson Family Foundation gives
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2020) to $5.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $5.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attachment 3 Tulsa, OK | See Attachment 3 | $5,459,860 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $96,173,613 | $5,516,621 | $6,526,343 | $5,459,860 | 1 | $5,463,085 | $4,744,852 | $6,359,901 |
| 2023 | $97,181,460 | $60,268,069 | $3,958,674 | $3,643,350 | 1 | $3,644,580 | $6,367,548 | $3,001,589 |
| 2022 | $51,300,541 | $26,318,875 | $249,699 | — | — | $1,455 | $2,120,631 | $1,768,636 |
| 2021 | $25,229,910 | $3,716,276 | $226,028 | — | — | $3,103 | $3,493,687 | $1,748,723 |
| 2020 | $21,739,662 | $1,364,310 | $1,520,419 | $1,271,500 | 1 | — | $1,177,556 | $1,457,090 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth Nelson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael S Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela B Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randolph M Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas W Murphy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy B Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ruth K Nelson (2020–2023) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Ruth Nelson Family Foundation
How much does Ruth Nelson Family Foundation give each year?
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation gave $5.5M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 1 grant.
How large is Ruth Nelson Family Foundation?
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation reported $96.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Ruth Nelson Family Foundation operate?
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation has awarded grants in Oklahoma.
What is Ruth Nelson Family Foundation's EIN?
Ruth Nelson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1210115. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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