The Cuesta Foundation Inc
The Cuesta Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It funds charitable organizations, with its website describing its community focus as Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its support as operational and capital funding for organizations addressing arts and humanities, education, social services, and community needs.
Key facts about The Cuesta Foundation Inc
In short: The Cuesta Foundation Inc gave $140K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Oklahoma. 41% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 73-6091550
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $140,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- Average grant
- $5,185
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (11 of 27, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,649,390
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s website says the application process is temporarily suspended beginning in 2026 during its University of Tulsa capital campaign. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
+7.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$140K
+0.7% YoY
Grant Count
27
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+0.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cuesta Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $173K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Cuesta Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 27 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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’s stated mission is to bring joy to its communities by funding charitable organizations that make a long-term impact and serve people in need who want to better themselves. It says organizations demonstrating this philosophy will be considered above others. It supports operational expenses and capital needs in arts and humanities, education, social services, and community needs.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. The University of Tulsa describes itself as a student-centered research university; Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance says it builds partnerships and learning pathways to prepare youth for a STEM-enabled future. Among human-services grantees, Eden Village of Tulsa describes its work as developing and operating tiny-home communities with wrap-around services, while Iron Gate says it feeds people experiencing hunger and homelessness through meals and food pantries. Tulsa Children’s Museum says it connects children and families through exploration, exhibits, programming, and play.
Grantmaking
In its 2025 filing, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $140,000. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. Larger awards included $25,000 to Holy Family Cathedral for an icon exhibit installation, $18,000 to The University of Tulsa for improvements to its biological science building, $11,000 to Metro Christian Academy Foundation for a capital campaign, and $10,000 to ESK8 Racing Academy for unrestricted support. Other grants included $7,500 to Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance and $5,000 each to South Peoria Neighborhood Connection, Eden Village of Tulsa, Child Abuse Network, Tulsa Children’s Museum, and John 316 Mission.
The foundation’s website lists 2026 awards of $156,250 to The University of Tulsa, $10,000 to ESK8 Racing Academy, $2,300 to CRU/Campus Crusade for Christ, and $2,000 to Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden. These website-listed awards are separate from the 2025 filing figures.
How to Apply
The foundation’s website says the application process is temporarily suspended beginning in 2026 during its University of Tulsa capital campaign. It invites organizations to reach out with questions or relevant information and says application deadlines are posted on the website. The 2025 filing states that an application is available online and that deadlines are posted on the website; it lists no restrictions on awards.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its funding as supporting the Tulsa, Oklahoma, community. In the 2025 filing, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma and 7% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $109K (2023) to $191K (2022). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $140K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Holy Family Cathedral ($25K). Together the top 10 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 124 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Family Cathedral Tulsa, OK | Icon Exhibit Installation | $25,000 |
| The University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK | Biological Science Building Improve | $18,000 |
| Metro Christian Academy Foundation Tulsa, OK | Capital Campaign | $11,000 |
| ESK8 Racing Academy Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
| Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance Inc Tulsa, OK | Flight Night | $7,500 |
| South Peoria Neighborhood Connectio Tulsa, OK | South Tulsa Community House General | $5,000 |
| Eden Village of Tulsa Tulsa, OK | The Restoration Farm at Eden Village | $5,000 |
| Child Abuse Network Inc Tulsa, OK | Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Tulsa Children's Museum Tulsa, OK | General Operation | $5,000 |
| John 316 Mission Tulsa, OK | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,649,390 | $65,982 | $203,299 | $140,000 |
| 2024 | $3,383,112 | $190,332 | $237,533 | $139,000 |
| 2023 | $3,337,315 | $179,651 | $430,518 | $108,500 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,649,390 | $3,383,112 | $3,337,315 |
| Revenue | $65,982 | $190,332 | $179,651 |
| Expenses | $203,299 | $237,533 | $430,518 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $159,177 | $166,433 | $131,758 |
| Net Investment Income | $45,607 | $119,232 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $172,541 | $163,833 | $165,269 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Greg Oliphant as chairman/president, Thomas Oliphant as vice president/treasurer, Eric Oliphant as lifetime director, Jamie Oliphant as director, Sawyer Oliphant as advisory director, Kari Blakley as secretary, and Nancy Gaden as assistant treasurer. The foundation’s website lists Gregory W. Oliphant as chairman/president, Jamie Oliphant as vice president, and Thomas J. Oliphant as director.
The Cuesta Foundation Inc is led by Greg Oliphant, Chairman & President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Greg Oliphant
Chairman & President
Vice President → Chairman & President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eric Oliphant
Lifetime Director
President → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Lifetime Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jamie Oliphant
Director
Trustee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sawyer Oliphant
Advisory Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Thomas Oliphant
Vice President
Trustee → Director, 2021
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kari Blakley
Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Nancy Gaden
Assistant Tr
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Sherrie Schroeder (2020–2022) — Assistant Tr
- Former: Judy Walker (2021) — Director
- Former: Arline Oliphant (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Will Merrick (2020) — Secretary
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.
Contact
Application contact: Cuesta Foundation
Mailing address: C/O Foundation Management Inc, 1024 E Britton Road Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73131
Phone: (405) 755-5571
Frequently asked questions about The Cuesta Foundation Inc
How much does The Cuesta Foundation Inc give each year?
The Cuesta Foundation Inc gave $140K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $139K across 27 grants.
What is The Cuesta Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Cuesta Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,185, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cuesta Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Cuesta Foundation Inc give grants?
The Cuesta Foundation Inc gives mostly in Oklahoma: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (24 grants) and Jenks, OK (2 grants).
Does The Cuesta Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of The Cuesta Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Cuesta Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Cuesta Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Holy Family Cathedral ($25,000), The University of Tulsa ($18,000) and Metro Christian Academy Foundation ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Cuesta Foundation Inc?
The Cuesta Foundation Inc reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $173K (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.
What does The Cuesta Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to bring joy to its communities by funding charitable organizations that make a long-term impact and serve people in need who want to better themselves. It says organizations demonstrating this philosophy will be considered above others. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cuesta Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website says the application process is temporarily suspended beginning in 2026 during its University of Tulsa capital campaign. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cuesta Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Cuesta Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-6091550. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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