The Puterbaugh Foundation
The Puterbaugh Foundation is a private foundation based in McAlester, Oklahoma, established in 1952. The foundation was created by J. G. Puterbaugh (1876–1965), an Oklahoma industrialist, entrepreneur, and civic leader who built his wealth in the coal and oil industries. The foundation continues to carry out Puterbaugh's philanthropic mission across Oklahoma.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.6M
-5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+15.8% YoY
Grant Count
24
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+6.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Puterbaugh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the Puterbaugh Foundation focuses on:
- Education
- Health care
- Medical research
- Youth and children's programs
- Projects that enhance the quality of life in Oklahoma
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
The foundation is particularly known for its support of literary and international studies through the Puterbaugh Festivals of World Literature and Culture at the University of Oklahoma, a program that has operated since 1968.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 26 grants in 2024, with total giving of $1,316,662. Recent grantees include:
Average Grant
amount varies by year
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Puterbaugh Foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $11,559,472
- Total giving: $1,316,662
- Total revenues: $820,731
- Total expenses: $1,188,535
- Number of employees: 0
Funding sources: The foundation's grants are funded through investment income and royalty income.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,559,472 | $12,198,028 | $12,458,417 |
| Revenue | $820,731 | $789,222 | $1,045,654 |
| Expenses | $1,188,535 | $1,042,253 | $1,048,203 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,359,425 | $983,231 | $977,778 |
| Net Investment Income | $765,109 | $680,240 | $925,270 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,102,418 | $941,856 | $941,646 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Southeast Oklahoma Public Library S ($600,000), Oklahoma Medical Resrch Foundation ($100,000), McAlester Public Schools ($81,507).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Heritage Museum Oklahoma City, OK | General Operations | $26,200 |
| Oklahoma National Memorial Oklahoma City, OK | General Operations | $25,168 |
| University of Oklahoma Foundation Norman, OK | Scholarships | $25,000 |
| Okla State University Foundation Stillwater, OK | Scholarships | $25,000 |
| Oklahoma Medical Resrch Foundation Oklahoma City, OK | General Operations | $100,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of McAlester McAlester, OK | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton, OK | Scholarships | $20,000 |
| Youth Emergency Shelter McAlester, OK | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Legal Aid Services Oklahoma City, OK | General Operations | $3,000 |
| Pittsburg County Holiday Commission McAlester, OK | General Operations | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Steven Taylor — President
- Cara Bland — Treasurer
- Sayer Brenner — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Taylor | President | 6 | $38,667 |
| Cara Bland | Treasurer | 2 | $30,316 |
| Sayer Brenner | Trustee | — | $9,758 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Puterbaugh Foundation continues to support the Puterbaugh Festivals of World Literature and Culture at the University of Oklahoma. These annual festivals bring internationally acclaimed authors—often Nobel Prize winners or nominees—to campus for courses, symposia, public talks, and student engagement. The festival series has educated thousands of University of Oklahoma students since 1968.
World Literature Today to Host Persian-themed Puterbaugh Lit Fest -The foundation has also made recent gifts to Eastern Oklahoma State College, which named its nursing skills lab in honor of Puterbaugh Foundation support.
Eastern names nursing skills lab in honor of Puterbaugh Foundation giftsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Puterbaugh Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the Puterbaugh Foundation focuses on: • Education • Health care • Medical research • Youth and children's programs • Projects that enhance the quality of life in Oklahoma • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Human services The foundation is particularly known for its support of literary and international studies through the Puterbaugh Festivals of World Literature and Culture at the Universit…
How do I apply for a grant from The Puterbaugh Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $175,000 to $600,000 • Median grant amount: $14,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Recent Activity:** The foundation made 26 grants in 2024, with total giving of $1,316,662. Recent grantees include: • Boys and Girls Club of McAlester ($50,000) • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum ($25,168) • The University of Oklahoma Foundation ($25,000) • McAlester Public Schools • Eastern Oklahoma State College **Grant Types:** The foundation pr…
Where does The Puterbaugh Foundation make grants?
The Puterbaugh Foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Oklahoma.
What size grants does The Puterbaugh Foundation award?
In 2024, The Puterbaugh Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Puterbaugh Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Puterbaugh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Puterbaugh Foundation's EIN?
The Puterbaugh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-6092193. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Puterbaugh Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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