The E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation is a private philanthropic organization focused on supporting charitable activities with a particular emphasis on the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area. Rooted in a long-standing tradition of community involvement, the Foundation operates with a commitment to strengthening the civic, educational, and cultural fabric of the region. It is administered by a Board of Trustees, with Debi Moore serving as Director of Administration.
The Foundation’s primary goal is to provide financial support to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that propose impactful and sustainable projects aligned with the Foundation’s mission. However, the Foundation does not support individuals and only entertains one grant request per organization per year. The application process begins with a required Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which acts as a preliminary proposal. Submissions must be made via the Foundation’s online Grant Request Portal by one of the two annual deadlines: January 15 or July 15.
Grants are evaluated on the merits of the proposal and the financial resources available during the year. The Foundation emphasizes adherence to the submission deadlines, as late proposals are automatically delayed until the next cycle. The submission window for the Spring Cycle is from November 15 through January 15, with award announcements made by April 15. For the Fall Cycle, the window runs from May 15 through July 15, with decisions issued by October 15.
A significant update to the eligibility criteria now limits grant requests to organizations located within the greater metropolitan Oklahoma City area. This restriction ensures that the Foundation remains focused on localized impact and community-based initiatives.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare and submit their proposals well ahead of the deadline, as the system will not accept late entries. For further information or assistance with the application process, potential applicants can contact Debi Moore, Director of Administration, at 405.607.6301 or via email at dmoore@gaylordfoundation.org.
