Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation
The Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation is a private foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It primarily supports Tulsa and Tulsa-area organizations and programs focused on community vitality, livability, education and youth development, social services, and social justice and civic opportunity.
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation at a glance
In short: Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation gave $12.1M across 101 grants in 2024 (avg $119K), mostly in Oklahoma. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,065,119
- +76.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 101
- +11.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $119,457
- +58.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $14,361,762
- -90.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (19 of 100, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
New organizations and organizations not funded in the last calendar year may submit a request for an invitation; the website lists request periods of January through March 15 and June through August 15. Current grantees and partner organizations use the renewal and reporting process. The website states that grant funds may be used only for the purpose in the grant agreement and that funded organizations are expected to report progress before seeking further funding.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 15 for spring-cycle reporting and renewal requests and September 15 for fall-cycle requests from current partners. Both dates have passed in 2026. Its listed invitation-request periods, January through March 15 and June through August 15, have also passed in 2026.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 15 for spring-cycle reporting and renewal requests and September 15 for fall-cycle requests…
- Contact
Application contact: Irene F Burnstein
Mailing address: 4110 S Rockford Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105
Phone: (918) 749-1140
Website: https://burnsteinfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tulsa Community Foundation ($1.4M). Together the top 10 received $8.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($428,040), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
422 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 319 grants of 422 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it contributes primarily to Tulsa and Tulsa-area programs and organizations. In filing year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma; the listed recipient-state shares for Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were each 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 101 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 100 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $183K; repeat grants $106K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 169% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 139% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.5M (2021) to $12.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 101 grants totaling $12.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa Community Foundation Tulsa, OK | Chamberlain/Berry Parks | $1,350,000 |
| A New Leaf Broken Arrow, OK | General Operations | $1,200,000 |
| Temple Israel Tulsa, OK | General Operations | $1,000,000 |
| Tulsa Library Trust Tulsa, OK | General Operations | $1,000,000 |
| Zarrow Pointe Tulsa, OK | General Operations | $1,000,000 |
| GKFF - Gathering Place Phase II Tulsa, OK | General Operations | $750,000 |
| Humble Sons Bike Company Broken Arrow, OK | General Operations | $625,000 |
| Vhit LLC (Veterans Hospital-Zarrowtcf) Tulsa, OK | General Operations | $600,000 |
| Tulsa Housing Authority Tulsa, OK | Installment 1 of 2 Hilltop Development Capital Project | $500,000 |
| Hunger Free Oklahoma Tulsa, OK | General Operations | $325,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation?
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 | $14,361,762 | $10,399,124 | $13,665,509 | $12,065,119 | 101 | $12,065,119 | $4,903,735 | $8,679,716 |
| 2023 | $152,577,117 | $10,924,308 | $8,339,418 | $6,850,700 | 91 | $6,850,700 | $6,127,417 | $9,024,971 |
| 2022 | $149,865,295 | $75,693,473 | $6,252,215 | $5,121,880 | 88 | $5,121,880 | $6,980,910 | $5,819,313 |
| 2021 | $81,529,191 | $9,320,612 | $5,391,189 | $4,488,183 | 80 | $4,488,183 | $7,050,788 | $5,569,895 |
| 2020 | $75,702,235 | $8,369,682 | $5,526,810 | $4,758,782 | 62 | — | $3,714,802 | $4,580,340 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote initiatives that enrich the community and foster inclusivity and equity, while empowering organizations and breaking down barriers to participation. Its website says it contributes primarily to Tulsa and Tulsa-area programs.
The foundation supports organizations whose policies and actions encourage diversity and inclusion and do not discriminate in hiring, volunteer recruitment, or the communities they serve. It provides funding only to organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, not to individuals. Community partnerships are a factor in its stated funding approach. Its website says most giving goes to general operations, direct services, and capital projects; event sponsorships are supported on a very limited basis.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of activities. Tulsa Community Foundation describes its charitable work as benefiting the Tulsa metropolitan area and eastern Oklahoma. A New Leaf says it provides people with developmental disabilities life-skills training, vocational placement, and residential services. Tulsa Library Trust says it benefits the Tulsa City County Library System. Humble Sons Bike Company says it provides bicycles and helmets to underprivileged children. Hunger Free Oklahoma describes its work as addressing hunger through improvements to systems, policies, and practices.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 101 grants totaling $12,065,119. Grants ranged from $229 to $1,350,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest reported grants included $1,350,000 to Tulsa Community Foundation for Chamberlain/Berry Parks; $1,200,000 to A New Leaf for general operations; and $1,000,000 each to Temple Israel, Tulsa Library Trust, and Zarrow Pointe for general operations. Other large grants included $750,000 to GKFF - Gathering Place Phase II and $625,000 to Humble Sons Bike Company, both for general operations.
The foundation’s website says new organizations and organizations that have not received funding in the last calendar year must request an invitation to apply. Current partnering organizations use a separate renewal and reporting process. The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Irene F. Burnstein as the contact for applications and states that no form or materials, deadline, or award restrictions are specified there.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Irene F. Burnstein is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation is led by Irene F. Burnstein, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Irene F. Burnstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation
How much does Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation give each year?
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation gave $12.1M across 101 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.9M across 91 grants.
What is Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's typical grant size?
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $119,457, across 101 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation that year got $183K on average.
Where does Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation give grants?
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (87 grants), Broken Arrow, OK (2 grants) and Sand Springs, OK (2 grants).
Does Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (97 of 101) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's largest grantees?
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tulsa Community Foundation ($1,350,000), A New Leaf ($1,200,000) and Temple Israel ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($428,040), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation?
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation reported $14.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote initiatives that enrich the community and foster inclusivity and equity, while empowering organizations and breaking down barriers to participation. Its website says it contributes primarily to Tulsa and Tulsa-area programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation?
New organizations and organizations not funded in the last calendar year may submit a request for an invitation; the website lists request periods of January through March 15 and June through August 15. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's EIN?
Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-6247047. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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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The foundation primarily supports publicly supported exempt organizations serving people who are poor, distressed, or underprivileged, with grants spanning health, education, culture, and community services. Its 2024 grants ranged from $328 to $600,000, with a median of $9,400, and awards are primarily for the Tulsa area. It says it does not limit giving to preselected organizations and requests a written program description and proof of tax exemption.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sanford-p-and-irene-f-burnstein-foundation-morg_721b2115bc024a90b6aff64d95a3eeef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_736247047_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sanford P \& Irene F Burnstein Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sanford-p-and-irene-f-burnstein-foundation-morg_721b2115bc024a90b6aff64d95a3eeef},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Sanford P & Irene F Burnstein Foundation'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.
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