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Ruth Nelson Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Ruth Nelson Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$3.6M
Granted FY2023
79
Grants FY2023
6
States reached
$700k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Human Services$2.6MHealth$458kEducation$336kHousing & Shelter$200kCommunity Improvement$155kArts & Culture$139kFood & Nutrition$118kPhilanthropy$71kOther$0
02FY2023 · 79 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 79 grants below total $3,053,550, the rows itemized in this filing. The $3,643,350 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $589,800 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2023

  • Under $10k28 grants · $119k
  • $10k–50k31 grants · $633k
  • $50k–250k19 grants · $1.6M
  • $250k+1 grant · $700k
$15,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$96M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Catholic Charities$700,000
Clarehouse$231,000
Emergency Infant Service$160,000
Day Center for the Homeless$155,000
Helping Hands Ministry$120,000
Planned Parenthood Great Plains$100,000
Crosstown Learning Center$85,000
South Peoria Neighborhood Connect Fnd$75,000
Jewish Federation of Tulsa$71,000
Mental Health Association$70,000
Eastern Oklahoma Donated Dental$60,000
Tulsa Center for the Physically Limited$60,000
Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma$60,000
Life Senior Services of Tulsa$55,000
Parent Child Center$50,000
02Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

45%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.9M · 8 repeat orgs$2.3M to everyone else

8 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2023, 0 since wound down; 68 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

8
2

Total granted

$1.9M
$10k

Still filing today

50%
0%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 23% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2.3M went to new ones.

50%100%’20’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’23
Human ServicesArts & CultureHealthEducationFood & NutritionYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • Clarehouse Inc
    2× · 2020–2023 · $256k · revenue +16%
  • CROSSTOWN LEARNING CENTER INC
    2× · 2020–2023 · $110k · revenue +5%
  • LITTLE LIGHT HOUSE INC
    2× · 2020–2023 · $20k · revenue +58%

Funded once

  • CF
    Community Food Bank
    one grant, 2020 · $5k
  • BS
    Boy Scouts of America
    one grant, 2020 · $5k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Tulsa Legacy Charter School

To prepare students for college through a rigorous arts infused program.

Education
2
Tulsa Honor Academy Inc

The operation of a public charter school in the tulsa area with the mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, content knowledge, and ethical character required for college graduation and life success.

Education
3
Tulsa Regional Chamber (Fka Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce)

The tulsa regional chamber transforms the tulsa region by attracting and retaining employers, talent and tourism for long-term prosperity.

—
4
Tulsa Area United Way

The tulsa area united way unites people and resources to improve lives and strengthen our communities.

—
5
Tulsa Children's Museum Inc

To inspire children, connect families, and build community through exploration, exhibits, programming, and play.

Arts & Culture
6
Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children

To improve the lives of children and youth in oklahoma's child welfare system by providing resources and building community.

Crime & Legal
7
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Inc

To promote the flourishing of the people of oklahoma by advancing principles and policies that support free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility, and individual initiative.

Public Safety & Disaster
8
Tulsa Neighborhood Networks Inc

Provide the poor of the city of tulsa, oklahoma an opportunity to improve their quality of life through guidance and training in the areas of education, employment, family skills, healthcare, housing, socialization and spirituality.

Community Improvement
9
Oklahoma Hall of Fame

The oklahoma hall of fame preserves oklahomas unique history while promoting pride in our great state through each of its programs and the gaylord-pickens museum. the association honors our states rich tradition by telling oklahomas story…

Arts & Culture
10
Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences

The mission of tsas middle and high school is to provide students a multi-strand liberal arts education in a safe, supportive, individualized and challenging school environment through a college preparatory curriculum.

Education
11
Ywca Tulsa Inc

Ywca is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Human Services
12
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Mental Health Association in Tulsa Inc dba Mental Health Association Oklahoma; the most unlike its peers is Metropolitan Museum of Art. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

49 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 49 of the 80 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
47/49
Grantees still filing
24/49
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Life Senior Services of Tulsa: $1,165,000 · OtherLife Senior Services of TulsaCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY INC: $700,000 · OtherCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY INCDay Center for the Homeless: $175,000 · OtherDay Center for the HomelessEmergency Infant Service: $160,000 · Other+44 more: $805,250 · Other+44 moreClarehouse Inc: $256,000 · Human ServicesClarehouse IncBOSTON AVENUE HELPING HANDS INC: $120,000 · Human ServicesBOSTON AVENUE HE…CROSSTOWN LEARNING CENTER INC: $110,000 · Human ServicesCROSSTOWN LEARNI…DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES: $40,000 · Human ServicesDOMESTIC VIOLENC…TULSA BOYS' HOME INC: $30,000 · Human ServicesYOUTH SERVICES OF TULSA INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesOklahoma Caring Foundation Inc: $25,000 · Human Services+3 more: $24,700 · Human ServicesPLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT PLAINS: $120,000 · HealthMental Health Association in Tulsa Inc dba Mental Health Association Oklahoma: $70,000 · HealthINDIAN HEALTH CARE RESOURCE CENTER INC: $35,000 · HealthHIV Resource Consortium Inc dba Tulsa CARES: $20,000 · Health+2 more: $8,000 · HealthDREXEL ACADEMY INC: $50,000 · EducationKIPP TULSA ACADEMY COLLEGE PREP INC: $25,000 · EducationTulsa Community College Foundation: $20,000 · EducationSTREET SCHOOL INC: $15,000 · EducationSARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: $5,000 · EducationTHE PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART INC: $50,000 · Arts & CultureJOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER FOR RECONCILIATION INC: $25,000 · Arts & CultureTULSA OPERA INC: $15,000 · Arts & CultureTHEATRE TULSA INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureBRYN MAWR THEATRE FILM INSTITUTE: $5,000 · Arts & CultureOKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE INC: $5,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $2,100 · Arts & CultureCOMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA INC: $60,000 · Food & NutritionThe Food Project Inc: $50,000 · Food & NutritionJEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSA: $71,000 · PhilanthropyBOOKER T WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $8,000 · Philanthropy
Other$3,005,250Human Services$630,700Health$253,000Education$115,000Arts & Culture$112,100Food & Nutrition$110,000Philanthropy$79,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY INC: $700,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetClarehouse Inc: $256,000 over 2y, 11% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT PLAINS: $120,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetBOSTON AVENUE HELPING HANDS INC: $120,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetCROSSTOWN LEARNING CENTER INC: $110,000 over 2y, 4.4% of budgetJEWISH FEDERATION OF TULSA: $71,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetMental Health Association in Tulsa Inc dba Mental Health Association Oklahoma: $70,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA INC: $60,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Food Project Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetDREXEL ACADEMY INC: $50,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetTHE PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetDOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES: $40,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetA NEW LEAF INC: $35,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetINDIAN HEALTH CARE RESOURCE CENTER INC: $35,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTULSA BOYS' HOME INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetYOUTH SERVICES OF TULSA INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetKIPP TULSA ACADEMY COLLEGE PREP INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTransitional Living Centers of Oklahoma Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetJOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER FOR RECONCILIATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 7.7% of budgetOklahoma Caring Foundation Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetTulsa Community College Foundation: $20,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetHIV Resource Consortium Inc dba Tulsa CARES: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLITTLE LIGHT HOUSE INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetTULSA OPERA INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetHearts for Hearing Foundation: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTREET SCHOOL INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHEATRE TULSA INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetHOSPICE OF GREEN COUNTRY INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetBOOKER T WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $8,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetGlobal Gardens Incorporated: $8,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetOKLAHOMA POLICY INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTSHA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLiving Arts of Tulsa Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetBRYN MAWR THEATRE FILM INSTITUTE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetOKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNEIGHBORS ALONG THE LINE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetOKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetEXPANDED SCHOOLS INC: $4,700 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF TULSA INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWEST SIDE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LIFE: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE: $3,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetPALMER CONTINUUM OF CARE INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTulsa Coalition of 100 Black Men Association: $2,500 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $2,100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Anne and Henry Za…Tulsa Community Found…George Kaiser Family …Mervin Bovaird Founda…Maxine and Jack Zarro…The Sharna and Irvin …Ralph and Frances McG…The Hardesty Family F…The Gelvin FoundationHille Family Charitab…Grace & Franklin Bern…One Gas Foundation Inc
The Anne and Henry Zarrow FoundationOK74.6× affinity34 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation · Tulsa Community Foundation · George Kaiser Family Foundation · Mervin Bovaird Foundation · Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation · The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation · Ralph and Frances McGill Foundation the Trust Company of Oklahoma · The Hardesty Family Foundation Inc · The Gelvin Foundation · Hille Family Charitable Foundation · Grace & Franklin Bernsen Foundation · One Gas Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Ruth Nelson Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Ruth Nelson Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 80 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports $5.5M of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2023, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Ruth Nelson Family’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home