Puterbaugh Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Puterbaugh Foundation supports education, medical research, youth and human services in Oklahoma.

FUNDING AREAS: Education, medical research, youth, human services

IP TAKE: This is a very locally focused, low-key funder to know for southeast Oklahoma organizations, especially ones working in the fields of education and medical services.

PROFILE: Established in 1949, the Puterbaugh Foundation is an independent foundation based in McAlester, Oklahoma. This is the foundation of Jay G. Puterbaugh, a local industrial pioneer and entrepreneur who was the vice president and general manager of The Consolidated McAlester Coal Company. He was a major donor to charitable causes in McAlester during his lifetime and was also an organizer and the first president of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Steven Taylor, a retired chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, is the president of the foundation, which also has a treasurer and additional trustees but no full-time paid staff members. The foundation aims to “help make a difference by funding projects that may not happen otherwise.” It funds local efforts for education, medical research, youth and human services.

The Puterbaugh Foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, past tax records indicate that this funder gives to a wide variety of local causes in its home region. It has supported plans to revitalize downtown McAlester and for local museums, youth development programs, in-patient medical care and education at all levels. It is also interested in disease research, child welfare, historical preservation, leadership development and basic aid. The funder is known to provide grants for general support, capital campaigns, programs, equipment, research, endowments and scholarships.

Grants range between about $1,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Oklahoma and especially the southeastern part of the state. Past local grantees include the City of McAlester, McAlester Public Schools and the Oklahoma Historical Society.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. There are no specific application forms, but requests should include details about an organization, program purpose, budget and amount requested. The annual submission deadline is December 31 for grants to be funded in the following year. Grantseekers should submit application materials by mail. Direct general questions to the staff at 918-424-0998.

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