Grant Approval Guidelines

Eligible Charities.   

The Chapman Trusts make grants only to charitable organizations, not to individuals. To be eligible, charities must (i) be qualified as tax-exempt under §501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) also maintain a classification by the IRS as a public charity, not a private foundation, under §509(a)(1) or (2), of the Code. Because Congressional legislation approved in August, 2006 placed limitations on grants to certain supporting organizations classified as public charities under §509(a)(3), we do not make grants to such organizations. In some instances we can make grants to an organization supported by a supporting organization. Only in rare instances will the trusts make grants requiring the exercise of expenditure responsibility. Certain public instrumentalities are also eligible to receive grants.

Geographic Limitations.   

Grants are not made in support of operations or programs conducted outside the United States. Depending on the availability of funds and the program area of interest, the managers and Trustees may give priority to the following geographic areas of the United States:

• Colleges and Universities - Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas
• Elementary and Secondary Education - Oklahoma
• Healthcare - Oklahoma
• Human Services - Oklahoma
• Civic and Community - Oklahoma
• Arts and Culture - Oklahoma

Within Oklahoma, the order of priority will normally be (i) Tulsa and surrounding counties, (ii) eastern Oklahoma, and (iii) statewide.

Types of Requests.

The Chapman Trusts will consider requests for support of capital projects and operating programs. Grants are not made for the following purposes:

• To be passed-through to another organization that is not a §501(c)(3) public charity or a governmental entity.
  
• To attempt to influence legislation or the outcome of any election, or to political campaigns.

Grant requests for the following purposes are not favored:

• Endowments, except as a limited part of a capital project reserved for maintenance of the facility being constructed.
  
• Deficit financing and debt retirement.
  
• Projects or programs for which the Chapman Trusts would be the sole source of financial support.
  
• Travel, conferences, conventions, group meetings, or seminars. Camp programs and other seasonal activities.
  
• Religious programs of religious organizations.
  
• Project or program planning.
  
• Start-up ventures are not excluded, but organizations with a proven strategy and results are preferred.
  
• Purposes normally funded by taxation or governmental agencies.
  
• Requests made (i) less than nine months from the declination of a previous request by an applicant, or (ii) within nine months of the last payment made on a grant made to an applicant.
  
• Requests for more than one project.

Requests with the following attributes are favored:

• Funding the project or program will serve a documented need and have a significant impact on the community.
  
• Financial support of (i) the organization management and board of directors, (ii) individuals of the general community affected by the program or project, and (iii) other private foundations.
  
• Sound financial planning for maintenance and continuation of the project or program after the initial funding is complete.
  
• Potentially benefits a significant segment of people.
  
• Applicant has committed volunteers and staff leadership.