The Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Established in 1950 as a charitable trust to fund construction of a hospital, the foundation evolved into a private grantmaking institution following the 1996 sale of Southern Oklahoma Memorial Hospital to Mercy Health Systems. The foundation now distributes grants to nonprofit organizations throughout southern Oklahoma.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$105.7M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.0M
-6.9% YoY
Grant Count
54
-12.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$111K
+6.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation continues to honor the intent of its original donors by prioritizing grant requests that support health-related services, issues, and education. Additional funding areas include:
- Education
- Social services
- Civic and cultural activities that contribute to quality of life in Ardmore and surrounding areas
- Community development
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
award: $97,000
Review Cycle
March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grants are awarded to Oklahoma nonprofit organizations located within, or providing direct service to, a 50-mile radius of Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total assets: $103,244,967 to $105,723,600
- Total revenues: $4,458,525
- Total expenses: $8,013,175
- Annual income: $16.4 million
- Total giving: $5,967,620
Organization Details:
- EIN: 73-1300662
- Tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3), since October 1988
- Employees: 1
- Governed by: 10 officers and trustees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $105,723,600 | $103,244,967 | $106,799,617 |
| Revenue | $9,868,916 | $4,458,525 | $8,664,144 |
| Expenses | $7,390,283 | $8,013,175 | $7,971,437 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,285,440 | $6,715,709 | $6,602,392 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,734,793 | $3,615,329 | $7,102,269 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,797,685 | $6,538,404 | $6,444,438 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service Inc ($2,000,000), Murray State Ccollege Foundation Inc ($1,250,000), Hardy Murphy Coliseum Trust Authority ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLUS READING INC ARDMORE, OK | FYE 7/31/25 READING THERAPIST SALARIES | $60,000 |
| A PLUS READING INC ARDMORE, OK | OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | FY26 OPR SUPPORT CHAD RICHISON HOPE LODGE | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS SHAWNEE, OK | FY25 HOME FIRE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| ARDMORE DAY NURSERY INC ARDMORE, OK | PLAYGROUND REMODEL & EQUIPMENT | $10,000 |
| ARDMORE FAMILY LITERACY INC ARDMORE, OK | OPERATING SUPPORT 2025 | $1,000 |
| ARDMORE FAMILY LITERACY INC ARDMORE, OK | OPERATING SUPPORT 2025 | $20,000 |
| ARDMORE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC ARDMORE, OK | HOME CONSTRUCTION HOPE ADDITION | $75,000 |
| ARDMORE MAIN STREET AUTHORITY ARDMORE, OK | REPLACE HVAC UNITS SANTA FE DEPOT | $43,703 |
| ARDMORE SCHOOL DISTRICT I-19 ARDMORE, OK | FY25 SCHOOL NURSE REIMBURSEMENT | $174,713 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Curtis Davidson – Chairman
- Laura Clay – Vice Chair
- Mark Riesen – Secretary
- Gil Wallace
- Jeffrey Rother
- Cody Noble
- Gene Litteken
- Ann Crosby
- Jelana Aaron
Staff:
- Mary Kate Wilson – President
- Jean Hattensty – Controller
- Amanda Jackson-Willy – Grants Management Assistant
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY KATE WILSON | PRESIDENT | 30 | $165,610 |
| JELANA AARON | DIRECTOR | 0.4 | — |
| LAURA CLAY | VICE CHAIRMAN | 0.4 | — |
| ANN CROSBY | DIRECTOR | 0.4 | — |
| CURTIS DAVIDSON | CHAIRMAN | 0.4 | — |
| GENE LITTEKEN | DIRECTOR | 0.4 | — |
| CODY NOBLE | DIRECTOR | 0.4 | — |
| MARK RIESEN | SECRETARY | 0.4 | — |
| JEFFREY ROTHER | DIRECTOR | 0.4 | — |
| GIL WALLACE | DIRECTOR | 0.4 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a $5 million grant to support the Southern Oklahoma Nursing Education Consortium (SONEC).
Awarded $5 Million Grant from Southern Oklahoma Memorial FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation continues to honor the intent of its original donors by prioritizing grant requests that support health-related services, issues, and education. Additional funding areas include: • Education • Social services • Civic and cultural activities that contribute to quality of life in Ardmore and surrounding areas • Community development
How do I apply for a grant from Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Individual grants range from $100 to $3,000,000 • Average grant award: $97,000 • Median grant: $26,000 • Annual giving has grown from $4.7 million in 2020 to $6.4 million in 2024 • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2023 with $12.6 million distributed across 126 grants • The foundation has made 357 grants totaling $34.6 million to 108 unique organizations **Recent Grants (2024):** • Mercy Health Foundation Ardmore: $3,000,000 (Mercy Health Ardmore Operations …
Where does Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation make grants?
Grants are awarded to Oklahoma nonprofit organizations located within, or providing direct service to, a 50-mile radius of Ardmore, Oklahoma.
What size grants does Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation award?
In 2025, Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $6.0M — an average of about $111K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1300662. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Southern Oklahoma Memorial Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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