The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation
The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 and based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The foundation was created to continue the lifelong philanthropy of its founders, Sharna and Irvin Frank. It operates as an independent, non-operating private foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations through operational grants rather than capital or building campaigns.
Key facts about The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation
- EIN
- 73-1503704
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,043,150
- Grants made (2024)
- 164
- Average grant
- $12,458
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (36 of 138, 2024)
- Total assets
- $17,421,501
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Who The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation's 164 itemized 2024 grants were Oklahoma (77%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (97 grants), New York, NY (25 grants), Baltimore, MD (6 grants) and Dallas, TX (3 grants). 1% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (87 grants) and "Tulsa Operations" (9 grants).
Is The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 36 of 138 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 200% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation
- How to evaluate The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.4M
-7.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+6.7% YoY
Grant Count
164
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+2.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established to support both Jewish and non-Jewish charitable organizations. According to the foundation's stated mission, it provides grants for operational purposes and focuses on assisting smaller organizations where funding will make a significant and meaningful impact.
The foundation's primary areas of support include:
- Social Services: Programs for individuals living in poverty, including those with physical or mental health challenges
- Education: K-12 and afterschool programming designed to assist at-risk youth
- Health Care: Non-hospital programs for those in poverty, including mental health and crisis intervention services
- Arts: Support for various arts organizations on a limited basis
Grantmaking
The foundation made 148 grants in 2024 with a total giving amount of approximately $2.0 million. Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Grant Range
s typically range from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation exclusively funds organizations with 501(c)(3) status that are based in the Greater Tulsa area, with a primary preference for the City of Tulsa. The foundation provides limited funding in Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 164 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $17,421,501
- Total Annual Giving: $2,043,150
- Total Revenues: $1,101,563
- Total Expenses: $2,425,655
- Giving Rate: 11.7% of assets
- Number of Grants: 148
The foundation's assets have declined from $20.3 million in 2022 to $17.4 million in 2024, while annual giving has remained relatively stable at approximately $2.0 million annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,421,501 | $18,772,557 | $20,309,324 |
| Revenue | $1,101,563 | $723,294 | $1,351,759 |
| Expenses | $2,425,655 | $2,292,598 | $2,464,521 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,264,616 | $2,140,282 | $2,242,882 |
| Net Investment Income | $954,704 | $570,978 | $1,160,841 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,129,644 | $1,122,732 | $1,344,190 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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
649 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation - Ou ($215,000 across 2 grants), Pef Israel Endowment Funds Inc ($145,360 across 11 grants), Tulsa Area United Way ($52,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION - OU Norman, OK | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GRANT (CONTINGENT MET) | $200,000 |
| TULSA AREA UNITED WAY Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| YOUTH SERVICES OF TULSA Tulsa, OK | HOUSING SERVICES | $45,000 |
| HONEST REPORTINGCOM New York, NY | OPERATIONS | $40,000 |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS | $40,000 |
| NEW WORKFORCE DIRECTIONS INC DBA MADISON STRATEG Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS | $35,000 |
| PROJECT ELF INC Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS (2ND OF 2 YEAR GRANT) | $30,000 |
| RESONANCE CENTER FOR WOMEN INC Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS | $30,000 |
| 1ST STEP MALE DIVERSION PROGRAM INC Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA Tulsa, OK | OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership includes:
- May Sheehan - President and Chairman
- David Finer - Trustee
- Jon Stolper - Trustee
- Dr. Jacob Howland - Trustee
- Sanford R. Cardin - Trustee
- Bradley Frank - Advisory Trustee
- Julie Frank - Advisory Trustee
- Lori Frank - Advisory Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| May Sheehan | President / Treasurer | 28 | $127,000 |
| Jacob Howland | Vice Pres/Secrtary/Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jon Stolper | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Sanford Cardin | Trustee | 1 | — |
| David Finer | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3125 S Yale Ave Ste B, Tulsa, OK 74135-8037
Phone: (918) 583-3244
Website: www.sifrankfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation fund?
The foundation was established to support both Jewish and non-Jewish charitable organizations. According to the foundation's stated mission, it provides grants for operational purposes and focuses on assisting smaller organizations where funding will make a significant and meaningful impact. The foundation's primary areas of support include: • **Social Services**: Programs for individuals living in poverty, including those with physical or mental health challenges • **Education**: K-12 and afte…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation?
The foundation made 148 grants in 2024 with a total giving amount of approximately $2.0 million. Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Recent grantees have included: • Tulsa Area United Way ($50,000 for operations) • Youth Services of Tulsa ($45,000 for housing services) • Mental Health Association Oklahoma ($40,000 for operations) The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis for grant proposals.
Where does The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation make grants?
The foundation exclusively funds organizations with 501(c)(3) status that are based in the Greater Tulsa area, with a primary preference for the City of Tulsa. The foundation provides limited funding in Israel.
What size grants does The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation awarded 164 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sharna and Irvin Frank 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 Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation's EIN?
The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1503704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.