The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation is a private foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It primarily supports activities in the areas of arts and arts education, and its 2024 filing says it made grants to Oklahoma tax-exempt organizations focused on arts, arts education, and culture.
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation gave $45K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Oklahoma. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $44,700
- -9.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,725
- -1.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,675
- Total assets
- $614,300
- -6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- 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 Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry at any time. Its website says inquiries should be no more than one page and summarize the organization, proposed activities and outcomes, schedule, funding need, amount requested, and other support. The foundation may invite a full proposal; proposals should be submitted only upon request. The 2024 filing states that any form is acceptable, there are no award restrictions, and applicants should contact John T Westby. The website says applicants must be tax-exempt organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) classification. Final decisions are made at semiannual meetings, typically in June and December.
- Review Cycle
- None is stated on the 2024 filing. The website says letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time during the year.
- Deadline
- None is stated on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: John T Westby
Mailing address: 401 S Boston Suite 220, Tulsa, OK 74103
Phone: (918) 743-8321
Email: tcollins@westbyoffice.org
Website: https://westbyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Newview Oklahoma ($7K). Together the top 10 received $43K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Oklahoma. The foundation’s filing describes its 2024 grantees as Oklahoma organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $45K (2024) to $50K (2022). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $45K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Newview Oklahoma Tulsa, OK | OIS Training Tulsa | $6,500 |
| RSU Public Television Claremore, OK | 2024 Support - I Want Answers | $6,350 |
| Tulsa Opera Tulsa, OK | 2024 Season Support | $5,000 |
| Tulsa Botanic Garden Tulsa, OK | Exhibit Florigame | $5,000 |
| Tulsa Children's Museum Tulsa, OK | Exhibitions Support | $5,000 |
| Tulsa Symphony Orchestra Tulsa, OK | 2024 Season Support | $3,850 |
| Oklahoma Humanities Council Oklahoma City, OK | Museums on Main Street | $3,500 |
| Signature Symphony Tulsa, OK | Music Education Programming | $3,000 |
| Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK | ORU Scholar Student Leadership | $2,500 |
| Youth Services of Tulsa Tulsa, OK | Support for Teen Coffee House | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $614,300 | $27,961 | $67,683 | $44,700 | 12 | $46,700 | $7,179 | $39,501 |
| 2023 | $654,022 | $40,750 | $67,910 | $49,250 | 13 | $51,498 | $24,338 | $37,280 |
| 2022 | $681,182 | $38,922 | $76,610 | $49,700 | 19 | $51,700 | $14,525 | $40,799 |
| 2021 | $718,870 | $62,832 | $69,740 | $45,670 | 13 | $47,670 | $41,568 | $43,804 |
| 2020 | $725,778 | $52,062 | $66,621 | $46,500 | 14 | — | $35,977 | $39,680 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K 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’s stated funding areas are arts and arts education. Its 2024 filing also describes its grants as supporting organizations focused on culture.
Its 2024 grantees included organizations with varied missions. Tulsa Opera says it furthers public appreciation of music, particularly opera, and conducts educational programs. Tulsa Children’s Museum says it inspires children and connects families through exhibits, programming, and play. Tulsa Symphony Orchestra says it entertains, educates, heals, and inspires through musical excellence, innovation, and collaboration. NewView Oklahoma says it empowers people facing vision loss to live life without limits.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $44,700. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $6,500, with a median grant of $3,675. Among the largest were $6,500 to NewView Oklahoma for OIS training in Tulsa; $6,350 to RSU Public Television for “I Want Answers”; $5,000 each to Tulsa Opera for season support, Tulsa Botanic Garden for the “Floriga me” exhibit, and Tulsa Children’s Museum for exhibitions support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John T Westby, Kathleen H Westby, Scarlett V Westby, and John V Leonard as trustees.
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John T. Westby
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Kathleen H. Westby
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2024)
John V. Leonard
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2024)
Scarlett V. Westby
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$1K (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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2K, to John T Westby (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation
How much does The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation give each year?
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation gave $45K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $49K across 13 grants.
What is The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,675, and its average grant was $3,725, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation give grants?
The Gerald H Westby Jr 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 (9 grants).
Does The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Newview Oklahoma ($6,500), RSU Public Television ($6,350) and Tulsa Opera ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation?
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation reported $614K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $40K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated funding areas are arts and arts education. Its 2024 filing also describes its grants as supporting organizations focused on culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation?
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry at any time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's EIN?
The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1288880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Gerald H Westby Jr Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Gerald H Westby Jr 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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