The David B Waters Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Tulsa, OK EIN: 81-6856059

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Tulsa, OK. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $610K. Net investment income was $617K.

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation at a glance

In short: The David B Waters Charitable Foundation gave $610K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $153K), top state Oklahoma. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$610,350
+0.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
4
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$152,588
+0.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$175,575
Total assets
$8,427,223
+0.0% vs 2024
Primary geography
Oklahoma (34% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who The David B Waters Charitable Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2025

The Nature Conservancy: $200KThe Nature Conservancy$200KUniversity of Michigan School of Medicine: $200KUniversity of Michigan Schoolof Medicine$200KTulsa Symphony Orchestra: $151KTulsa Symphony Orchestra$151KUniversity of Tulsa: $59KUniversity of Tulsa$59K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Nature Conservancy ($200K). Together the top 4 received $610K.

Grant Size Distribution

27 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K4$50–100K18$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 18 grants of 27 (67%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

TulsaArlingtonAnn ArborCimarron

How The David B Waters Charitable Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K3 grants2019 3 grants2020 6 grants2021 7 grants2022 6 grants2023 4 grants2024 4 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $600K (2019) to $774K (2023). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $610K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VAConservation in the State of Oklahoma$200,000
University of Michigan School of Medicine Ann Arbor, MISupport of the University of Michigan Medical School$200,000
Tulsa Symphony Orchestra Tulsa, OKSupport Tulsa Symphony Orchestra$151,150
University of Tulsa Tulsa, OKSupport the University of Tulsa TSO/Tu Collaboration$59,200
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The David B Waters Charitable Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$8,427,223$702,595$705,217$610,3504$610,350$616,768$679,409
2024$8,425,229$524,436$684,278$607,5534$607,553$440,521$636,784
2023$8,586,795$292,883$846,239$773,7036$773,703$226,096$567,414
2022$9,143,519$478,568$706,502$623,7037$623,703$407,767$584,796
2021$9,367,696$611,139$687,415$605,0006$605,000$528,879$659,230
2020$9,452,694$189,743$670,778$600,0003—$171,094$558,350
2019$9,934,168$321,748$670,428$600,0003—$254,335$542,653

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The David B Waters Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $679K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's only listed officer is The Trust Company Of Oklahoma, Trustee on every filing since 2019 (compensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • The Trust Company Of Oklahoma

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $62K (2019) → $81K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

The Trust Company of Oklahoma — Trustee: $81KThe Trust Company of…Trustee$81K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $81K, to The Trust Company of Oklahoma (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about The David B Waters Charitable Foundation

How much does The David B Waters Charitable Foundation give each year?

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation gave $610K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $608K across 4 grants.

What is The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $175,575, and its average grant was $152,588, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The David B Waters Charitable Foundation give grants?

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's top state is Oklahoma, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (33%) and Michigan (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (2 grants).

Does The David B Waters Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

How large is The David B Waters Charitable Foundation?

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation reported $8.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $610K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $679K (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 is The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's EIN?

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6856059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The David B Waters Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Oklahoma

Zink Family Foundation

Broken Arrow, OK

The Zink Family Foundation funds education, youth development, fine arts, community quality of life, and outdoor conservation, primarily in the greater Tulsa area and elsewhere in Oklahoma. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,700 to $500,000, with a median of $15,000; it provides online grant applications, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$49.8M

Grants

41

Total Given

$2.3M

One Gas Foundation Inc

Tulsa, OK

ONE Gas Foundation supports community enrichment and assistance, education and workforce development (including STEAM and leadership), and community collaboration, with grants benefiting public services, schools, workforce programs, culture, and recreation. Its 2024 grants ranged from $50 to $366,741, with a median of $2,370; most funding went to Oklahoma, followed by Texas and Kansas. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$32.7M

Grants

212

Total Given

$2.6M

Mervin Bovaird Foundation

Tulsa, OK

The Mervin Bovaird Foundation supports a range of organizations, including universities, arts and cultural institutions, and nonprofits working in food assistance, literacy, conservation, housing, and services for homebound people. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,000 to $330,000, with a median of $10,000; 91% of grant dollars went to Oklahoma recipients. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$46.4M

Grants

72

Total Given

$2.0M

Cross Charitable Foundation

Bozeman, MT

The foundation funds education, homelessness and assistance for oppressed people, wildlife and environmental conservation, and dog health and welfare in Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; organizations must be invited by the Board to apply.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$58.2M

Grants

110

Total Given

$2.6M

The Arthur & Patricia Price Foundation

Encino, CA

The Arthur & Patricia Price Foundation supports emergency relief, food assistance, health, social services, and the arts, with most 2025 grant dollars going to California organizations. Grants ranged from $250 to $92,000, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Assets

$3.8M

Grants

77

Total Given

$254K

Gulf Power Foundationinc

Pensacola, FL

The foundation funded education, environmental stewardship, affordable housing, human needs, and community services, primarily in Florida, with a small share going to Alabama. In 2021, its 71 grants ranged from $500 to $210,000, with a median of $10,000. It required grant applications, but its 2021 return was marked final, so the application process and deadlines are not current.

Assets

—

Grants

71

Total Given

$1.6M

More similar funders

More Funders in Oklahoma

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The David B Waters Charitable 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.

The David B Waters Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?