The Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Established in 1987 by philanthropist Sam K. Viersen, Jr., it continues a family legacy of charitable giving and supports nonprofit organizations serving northeast Oklahoma.
Key facts about Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc
In short: Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc gave $2.6M across 69 grants in 2024 (avg $37K), mostly in Oklahoma. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 73-1295358
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,575,128
- Grants made (2024)
- 69
- Average grant
- $37,321
- Median grant
- $5,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (26 of 67, 2024)
- Total assets
- $32,667,181
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s published process asks new applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry by June 30; applicants whose LOIs are approved are invited to submit a full proposal online by August 1. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- For the published annual process, LOIs are due by June 30 and invited full proposals by August 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 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-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.7M
+18.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
69
+3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
-6.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 67 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 126% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 169% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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
The foundation says it seeks to provide meaningful support to nonprofit organizations whose work serves communities in northeast Oklahoma. Its stated priorities are providing basic human needs such as food and shelter; supporting education and learning opportunities; helping people achieve independence and self-sufficiency; and providing cultural experiences to underserved populations.
Supported organizations work across a range of areas. For example, the Okmulgee County Humane Society says its mission is to enrich the lives of dogs and cats and support the people who love them. Tulsa Area United Way describes its mission as uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities. Tulsa Children’s Museum says it inspires children, connects families, and builds community through exploration, exhibits, programming, and play.
Grantmaking
The foundation advertises grants of $1,000 to $500,000. In filing year 2024, it reported 69 grants totaling $2,575,128; individual grants ranged from $500 to $975,416, with a median of $5,500.
Review Cycle
For the published annual process, LOIs are due by June 30 and invited full proposals by August 1.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc
Ready to take the next step with Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its service area as northeast Oklahoma and identifies Okmulgee and Tulsa Counties as priorities. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma; the reported shares for other recipient states were DC 2%, UT 1%, TX 1%, and IL 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $2.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 69 grants totaling $2.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tulsa Community Foundation ($1.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
299 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 264 grants of 299 (88%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa Community Foundation Tulsa, OK | Community Support | $975,416 |
| Stonebridge Academy Okmulgee, OK | Community Support | $234,500 |
| Okmulgee County Humane Society Okmulgee, OK | Community Support | $201,663 |
| YMCA of Greater Tulsa Tulsa, OK | Community Support | $148,000 |
| Okmulgee County Family Resource Cen Okmulgee, OK | Community Support | $115,500 |
| OSU Foundation Stillwater, OK | Community Support | $101,000 |
| OU Foundation Norman, OK | Community Support | $100,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation Tulsa, OK | Community Support | $96,000 |
| The Academy of Seminole Seminole, OK | Community Support | $91,459 |
| Tulsa Area United Way Tulsa, OK | Community Support | $51,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,667,181 | $2,483,050 | $2,971,756 | $2,575,128 | 69 |
| 2023 | $27,606,725 | $822,850 | $3,042,655 | $2,676,730 | 67 |
| 2022 | $29,935,531 | $377,363 | $2,423,021 | $2,008,800 | 57 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,667,181 | $27,606,725 | $29,935,531 |
| Revenue | $2,483,050 | $822,850 | $377,363 |
| Expenses | $2,971,756 | $3,042,655 | $2,423,021 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,661,731 | $2,769,114 | $2,143,883 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,140,354 | $566,742 | $281,093 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,575,436 | $1,587,880 | $1,659,592 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adam Schenk as president; Sarah Miller as vice president; Eloise Johnson as secretary; and Terry Costanza as treasurer. Directors listed on the filing are Summer Andrus, Sam Miller, Edith Johnson, Brian Johnson, Jill Johnson, and Hugh Robinson.
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc is led by Audra Fogle, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 2 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Audra Fogle
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$45K (2024)
Adam Schenk
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Brian Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Hugh Robinson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jill Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sam Miller
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Summer Andrus
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Edith Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jason Winters
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Lisa Rhynes
Past Executive Director
Executive Director → Past Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$48K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Eloise Johnson
Secretary
Vice President → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sarah Miller
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Terry Costanza
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Julie Schenk (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Luana Dickerson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kathy Kennedy (2020–2022) — Secretary-Treasurer
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 $45K, to Audra Fogle (Executive Dir.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Audra Fogle
Mailing address: 320 S Boston Ave Ste 1130, Tulsa, OK 74103
Phone: (918) 998-6455
Website: https://viersenfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc
How much does Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc gave $2.6M across 69 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.7M across 67 grants.
What is Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,500, and its average grant was $37,321, across 69 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Oklahoma: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (23 grants), Okmulgee, OK (12 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Oklahoma City, OK (3 grants).
Does Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 69 grants with a stated purpose on Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (69 grants).
Who are Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Tulsa Community Foundation ($1,071,416 across 2 grants), Stonebridge Academy ($234,500) and Okmulgee County Humane Society ($201,663), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc?
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc reported $32.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it seeks to provide meaningful support to nonprofit organizations whose work serves communities in northeast Oklahoma. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s published process asks new applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry by June 30; applicants whose LOIs are approved are invited to submit a full proposal online by August 1. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1295358. 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. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Sam Viersen Family Foundation Inc by hand.
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