The Gelvin Foundation
The Gelvin Foundation is a private foundation based in Eufaula, Oklahoma. It supports nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma, with a focus on programs benefiting people within 30 miles of Tulsa or Eufaula.
The Gelvin Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gelvin Foundation gave $431K across 76 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Oklahoma. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $430,800
- -7.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 76
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,668
- -2.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $9,229,613
- +30.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (19 of 76, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (100% 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 The Gelvin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website advises first-time applicants to send a letter of inquiry before submitting a full proposal; the Foundation will respond about whether it is interested in receiving one. Proposals are reviewed quarterly.
- Review Cycle
- Proposals received by February 10, May 10, August 10, and October 10 are scheduled for review in March, June, September, and November, respectively.
- Deadline
- Proposals received by February 10, May 10, August 10, and October 10 are scheduled for review in March, June,…
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 837, Eufaula, OK 74432
Phone: (918) 452-3703
Website: https://gelvinfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Gelvin Foundation
Who The Gelvin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Parent Child Center of Tulsa Inc ($15K). Together the top 10 received $105K.
Grant Size Distribution
383 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 383 grants of 383 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
By policy, grants are limited to nonprofit organizations principally in Oklahoma. The Foundation emphasizes programs primarily benefiting people within a 30-mile radius of Tulsa or Eufaula. The 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Gelvin Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 76 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $418K (2021) to $526K (2022). In 2024 it made 76 grants totaling $431K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Child Center of Tulsa Inc Tulsa, OK | 12 Laptops, 100 BP Monitors | $15,000 |
| 501 Technet Tulsa, OK | Equipment | $10,000 |
| Bridges Foundation Tulsa, OK | Hvac Unit | $10,000 |
| Child Abuse Network Tulsa, OK | Outdoor Equipment | $10,000 |
| Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Tulsa, OK | Beds for kids program - approx. 25 mattress sets | $10,000 |
| Emergency Infant Services Inc Tulsa, OK | Therapy Supplies | $10,000 |
| McIntosh County Youth & Family Center Tulsa, OK | Conference Room Furniture, Carpet, Remodel | $10,000 |
| Tulsa Air and Space Museum Inc Tulsa, OK | Furniture & Tech Equip., Counseling/Waiting Areas | $10,000 |
| Tulsa Area United Way Tulsa, OK | Foster Family Resource Center Supplies/Equipment | $10,000 |
| Tulsa Historical Society Tulsa, OK | World in a Box Day | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gelvin 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 | $9,229,613 | $780,846 | $532,134 | $430,800 | 76 | $520,800 | $769,512 | $557,455 |
| 2023 | $7,059,409 | $345,792 | $581,105 | $467,000 | 80 | $467,000 | $273,687 | $502,965 |
| 2022 | $7,257,693 | $626,971 | $654,170 | $526,300 | 82 | $610,300 | $342,520 | $537,138 |
| 2021 | $9,216,433 | $1,264,919 | $524,032 | $418,100 | 75 | $500,100 | $739,987 | $600,574 |
| 2020 | $8,437,523 | $780,762 | $517,363 | $428,200 | 70 | — | $288,093 | $511,277 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gelvin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $557K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation identifies four primary fields of interest: Family and Community Services, Health Care, Education, and Cultural/Arts. Its website says funding allocations among these areas are reviewed annually.
Examples of grantees’ work include Emergency Infant Services, which says it provides essential supplies to children and babies whose families are in financial crisis; the Tulsa Zoo, whose mission is to connect, care for, and advocate for wildlife, people, and wild places; and the Tulsa Historical Society, which says it collects, preserves, and presents Tulsa’s history.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation’s IRS filing lists 76 grants totaling $430,800. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $15,000, with a median of $5,000. The Foundation’s website separately reports 76 grants totaling $431,800 for 2024.
Among the largest grants listed in the 2024 filing were $15,000 to Parent Child Center of Tulsa for laptops and blood-pressure monitors, and $10,000 each to 501 Technet for equipment, Bridges Foundation for an HVAC unit, Child Abuse Network for outdoor equipment, and Emergency Infant Services for therapy supplies. Other $10,000 awards included support for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Beds for Kids program and equipment or facilities needs at several Tulsa-area organizations.
The Foundation generally prioritizes clearly defined projects, including capital items, equipment purchases, and special program needs. It generally does not make multi-year grants or participate in capital campaigns. General support, debt reduction, and compensation to staff or program participants are discouraged. Education grants generally are not made to individual schools or public school systems; religious grants are primarily limited to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tulsa. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or have equivalent IRS status. The Foundation says proposals are assessed for planning, impact, fiscal management, collaboration where applicable, and the organization’s ability to provide requested information. Its website says proposals need not use a specific form and need not be elaborate or lengthy; it asks for a summary identifying the organization, project, and requested amount.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Therese Starr as president and Terry Doverspike as chief executive office. The Foundation’s board page identifies Starr and Doverspike as co-directors.
The Gelvin Foundation is led by Terry Doverspike, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Terry Doverspike
Chief Executive Officer
Vpres & Secretary → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
$36K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Therese Starr
President
President & Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
$36K (2020) → $0 (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $42K, to Therese Starr (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Gelvin Foundation
How much does The Gelvin Foundation give each year?
The Gelvin Foundation gave $431K across 76 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $467K across 80 grants.
What is The Gelvin Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gelvin Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,668, across 76 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gelvin Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Gelvin Foundation give grants?
The Gelvin Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (72 grants) and Claremore, OK (2 grants).
Does The Gelvin Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 76 grants with a stated purpose on The Gelvin Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Expenses" (4 grants).
Who are The Gelvin Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gelvin Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Parent Child Center of Tulsa Inc ($15,000), 501 Technet ($10,000) and Bridges Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gelvin Foundation?
The Gelvin Foundation reported $9.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $521K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $557K (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 Gelvin Foundation fund?
The Foundation identifies four primary fields of interest: Family and Community Services, Health Care, Education, and Cultural/Arts. Its website says funding allocations among these areas are reviewed annually. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gelvin Foundation?
The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gelvin Foundation's EIN?
The Gelvin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1419663. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Gelvin 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gelvin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gelvin-foundation-morg_f37b4296cd9b4ca6a8859d94352bd4a1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731419663_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gelvin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gelvin-foundation-morg_f37b4296cd9b4ca6a8859d94352bd4a1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Gelvin 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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