Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Tulsa, OK EIN: 47-1158317

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Tulsa, OK. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $264K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $175K. Net investment income was $92K.

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation at a glance

In short: Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation gave $175K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $58K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$175,000
-46.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
3
+50.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$58,333
-64.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$20,000
Total assets
$263,651
-16.1% vs 2023
Primary geography
Missouri (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

Who Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2024

Jesus Connecting Dots: $150KJesus Connecting Dots$150KSouth Tulsa Baptist Church: $20KSouth Tulsa Baptist Church$20KBarnabas Foundation: $5KBarnabas Foundation$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Jesus Connecting Dots ($150K). Together the top 3 received $175K.

Grant Size Distribution

13 grants across all recorded years

7<$50K1$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 13 (54%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

CreteTulsaLancasterChula VistaConwayRidgedale

How Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 106% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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$100K$200K$300K$400K2 grants2020 2 grants2021 4 grants2022 2 grants2023 3 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2021) to $326K (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $175K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Jesus Connecting Dots Ridgedale, MOChristian Mission$150,000
South Tulsa Baptist Church Tulsa, OKChristian Mission$20,000
Barnabas Foundation Crete, ILChristian Mission$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$263,651$135,376$185,802$175,0003$175,000$92,362$10,544
2023$314,077$428,446$328,984$325,5002$325,500$330,570—
2022$214,615$233,472$155,967$152,5004$152,500$102,898$7,262
2021$137,113$203,667$90,032$85,0002$85,000$182,008$336
2020$23,478$242,274$219,708$215,0002—$147,948—

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Sara E. Whitwell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas D. Whitwell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Frequently asked questions about Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation

How much does Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation give each year?

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation gave $175K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $326K across 2 grants.

What is Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation's typical grant size?

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $58,333, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation give grants?

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oklahoma (11%).

Does Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Christian Mission" (3 grants).

How large is Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation?

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation reported $264K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $175K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation's EIN?

Thomas D and Sara Whitwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1158317. 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.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 13, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

Figures come from Thomas D and Sara Whitwell 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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