The Bilby Foundation
The Bilby Foundation is a private foundation based in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable, emergency-services, behavioral-health, animal-shelter, and educational organizations.
The Bilby Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bilby Foundation gave $236K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in Oklahoma. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $236,000
- +7.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,600
- -3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,500
- Total assets
- $2,728,198
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Bilby Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1486, Ardmore, OK 73402
Phone: (580) 226-1800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Bilby Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Children's Shelter & Family Services ($90K). Together the top 9 received $236K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 49 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma, 14% to Maryland, and 11% to Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Bilby Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $156K (2020) to $236K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $236K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Children's Shelter & Family Services Ardmore, OK | CapitalCampaign | $90,000 |
| Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service Ardmore, OK | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Ashley Inc Havre De Grace, MD | Renovations | $32,000 |
| Univ of Oklahoma Foundation Norman, OK | Shelley MullinsScholarshipEndowment | $25,000 |
| Ranch Hand Rescue Argyle, TX | General Operations | $15,000 |
| Univ of Oklahoma Foundation Norman, OK | OU POM | $8,000 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Lubbock, TX | ScholarshipFund | $7,000 |
| Ardmore Animal Shelter Ardmore, OK | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX | General Operations | $3,000 |
| Panhandle State University Goodwell, OK | GeneralExpenses | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,728,198 | $385,856 | $269,123 | $236,000 | 10 | $239,979 | $366,662 | $216,351 |
| 2024 | $2,611,465 | $508,847 | $243,085 | $220,000 | 9 | $223,788 | $490,550 | $198,836 |
| 2023 | $2,345,703 | $127,670 | $208,159 | $188,000 | 9 | $191,119 | $112,631 | $171,428 |
| 2022 | $2,426,192 | $157,233 | $225,964 | $199,500 | 10 | $203,241 | $139,357 | $173,305 |
| 2021 | $2,494,923 | $310,839 | $233,601 | $210,000 | 11 | $213,432 | $294,259 | $194,976 |
| 2020 | $2,417,685 | $241,483 | $176,918 | $156,000 | 9 | — | $227,745 | $151,915 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bilby Foundation reported a distributable amount of $216K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included capital campaign support, ambulance-service operations, renovations, university scholarships and endowments, and general operating or expense support. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service says it provides ambulance and emergency medical services to Carter and eastern Jefferson Counties; Ashley Inc says it integrates medicine, therapy, and spirituality to transform and save lives; and Texas Christian University describes itself as an institution of higher education whose mission is to educate people to act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $236,000 through 10 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $90,000, with a median of $11,500. The largest grants were $90,000 to Community Children’s Shelter & Family Services for a capital campaign, $50,000 to Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service for general operations, $32,000 to Ashley Inc for renovations, and $25,000 to the University of Oklahoma Foundation for the Shelley Mullins Scholarship Endowment. Other 2025 recipients included Ranch Hand Rescue ($15,000), the University of Oklahoma Foundation ($8,000 for OU POM), Texas Tech Foundation ($7,000), Ardmore Animal Shelter ($4,000), Texas Christian University ($3,000), and Panhandle State University ($2,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cody Noble as President; Blair Bissett and Nataly Bynum as Vice-Presidents; Jessie Nance as Treasurer; and Russell Noble and Jo Kate Parker as Trustees.
The Bilby Foundation is led by Cody Noble, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cody Noble
President
V-President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nataly Bynum
V-President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blair Bissett
V-President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Russell Noble
Trustee
V-President → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jo Kate Parker
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Jessie Nance
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Samuel Lars Noble (2020–2022) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Bilby Foundation
How much does The Bilby Foundation give each year?
The Bilby Foundation gave $236K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $220K across 9 grants.
What is The Bilby Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bilby Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $11,500, and its average grant was $23,600, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Bilby Foundation give grants?
The Bilby Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (14%) and Texas (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ardmore, OK (3 grants) and Norman, OK (2 grants).
Does The Bilby Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of The Bilby Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Bilby Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bilby Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Children's Shelter & Family Services ($90,000), Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service ($50,000) and Univ of Oklahoma Foundation ($33,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Bilby Foundation?
The Bilby Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $240K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $216K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Bilby Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included capital campaign support, ambulance-service operations, renovations, university scholarships and endowments, and general operating or expense support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bilby Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Bilby Foundation's EIN?
The Bilby Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1554618. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Bilby Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Bilby Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bilby Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Jerome Westheimer Family Foundation
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El Pomar Foundation
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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
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The foundation primarily supports agricultural research through Noble Research Institute and also funds charitable work in health, education, and community strength, with most grant dollars going to Oklahoma and some to other states. Its 2024 grants ranged from $150 to $36.5 million, with a median of $5,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited organizational requests.
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The Merrick Foundation
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McCrory Foundation
Ardmore, OK
The McCrory Foundation funds qualified nonprofits serving Carter County, Oklahoma, with priority for human services and health, youth development, and education. Recent grants ranged from $3,000 to $102,500, with a median of $20,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through an online application and encourages applicants to contact the foundation before applying.
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Total Given
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More similar funders
More Funders in Oklahoma
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bilby Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bilby-foundation-morg_94c61eae3ef94835b1f9530db6ec0b77
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731554618_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bilby Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bilby-foundation-morg_94c61eae3ef94835b1f9530db6ec0b77},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 The Bilby 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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