Ed Darby Foundation Inc.

The Ed Darby Foundation is a tightly focused, family-governed funder whose giving philosophy centers on geographic proximity and long-term partnership. Founded in 2013 by Ed Darby, CEO of Tulsa-based Darby Equipment, and continued after his passing on February 10, 2018, by the Darby family, the foundation operates under Board Chair Bonnie Darby with Directors Bob, Bobby, and Ryan Darby. Marlow Sipes now serves as Executive Director and is the primary staff contact for grant seekers.

The foundation's core conviction — that economic circumstance should not determine educational outcomes — is translated into practice through sustained investment in North Tulsa's Monroe/McLain school feeder pattern and surrounding community. This geographic specificity is not incidental; it is the primary selection filter. Organizations working outside North Tulsa's corridor are unlikely to receive funding regardless of program quality or broad alignment with youth education.

EDF's giving follows a relationship-deepening model rather than a broad-reach one. Top grantees have received repeated, escalating support: Foundation for Tulsa Schools ($686,567 across 8 grants, ~$85,821 per grant), Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma ($515,100 across 5 grants), and Gaining Ground ($305,700 across 5 grants) demonstrate that the foundation rewards proven partners with increased investment over time. First-time applicants should expect an initial grant in the $5,000-$25,000 range and position their ask as the beginning of a multi-year relationship, not a one-time request.

The Expanded Learning Network is the foundation's most structured grant pathway. Now in its fifth year (2026-2027), it funds organizations that deliver programs directly within Monroe/McLain schools. Applications are submitted via a Microsoft Forms portal using a combined impact report and funding request form — meaning returning grantees must demonstrate prior-year results to qualify for renewal. For new applicants, this is the clearest and most accessible entry point for school-based program providers.

For community grants outside the Expanded Learning Network, the process is relationship-based: email Marlow Sipes at edf@eddarbyfoundation.org to discuss organizational fit before submitting anything formal. No public portal exists for general grants. DEI is an explicit structural requirement: EDF mandates that grantee organizations maintain formal policies ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion across age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability status — not just stated values, but documented organizational practices.

The Ed Darby Foundation has grown from a modest $23,208 in annual giving (FY2013) to a record $1,291,785 in FY2023 — a nearly 56-fold increase over a decade. Total assets grew from $77,895 (FY2013) to a peak of $15,230,433 (FY2022), fueled by substantial donor contributions in the foundation's early years ($1.44M in contributions in FY2014 alone) and strong investment returns ($2.25M net investment income in FY2021). FY2023 assets stood at $15,201,040; FY2024 data shows assets of $14,549,299 with only $608,538 in revenue, suggesting the full 990 is not yet filed.

Typical grant size based on analyzed grants (33 transactions): median $12,000, average $23,461, range $491-$139,200. Across all 173 documented grants totaling $4,173,323, the portfolio average is $24,123. The smallest grants are direct student assistance payments to named indigent students (as low as $491), while the largest single awards have approached $140,000. Grants above $100,000 are reserved exclusively for anchor grantees with multi-year track records.

Program area allocation, based on grantee purpose analysis:

• Education and school enrichment (~50% of giving): Led by Foundation for Tulsa Schools ($686,567 across 8 grants), with secondary investment in Gaining Ground — children's literacy ($305,700), OPSRC-Teaching Leading Institute — teacher professional development ($160,000), Monroe Demonstration Academy ($154,923), Unity Learning Academy ($80,246), John Hope Franklin Elementary ($50,340), and CAP Tulsa — early childhood ($55,000).
• Community food and basic needs (~20%): Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma ($515,100 across 5 grants) and Food on the Move ($325,000 across 5 grants) account for the majority, supplemented by Global Gardens ($168,422).
• Youth development and enrichment (~20%): Includes Tulsa Changemakers ($137,800), Bike Club/Humble Sons Bike Company ($170,300), Harmony Project — youth music ($60,000), Tulsa Debate League ($59,000), Tulsa Fab Lab ($60,500), Tulsa Air and Space Museum ($35,000), and Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance ($23,335).
• Direct student support (~5%): Small grants of $491-$5,849 directly to named students through the Personal Student Support program.
• Other community (~5%): Assistance League, Catholic Charities, Tulsa Area United Way, arts organizations.

Year-over-year giving: $716,764 (FY2019) → $972,791 (FY2020) → $926,802 (FY2021) → $958,387 (FY2022) → $1,291,785 (FY2023, +35%). FY2023's investment income of $960,985 is the engine of grantmaking, meaning grant volume tracks closely with portfolio performance.

The peer foundations below are matched by asset size (~$14.5-14.6M) as of the most recent IRS data. None maintains a detailed public web presence comparable to EDF's, limiting direct comparison on giving patterns and program focus.

At $1.29M in FY2023 giving against $15.2M in assets, EDF's payout rate is approximately 8.5% — well above the IRS-mandated 5% minimum for private foundations and a signal of genuine programmatic activity. What most distinguishes EDF from similarly-sized peers is its place-based specificity: rather than supporting broad regional or national causes, EDF channels nearly all giving (172 of 173 documented grants) into a single urban geography in North Tulsa. This depth-over-breadth orientation creates stronger community relationships and more accountable outcomes measurement, but strictly limits access to organizations embedded in that specific corridor.

The most significant operational development in 2025-2026 is a leadership transition: Marlow Sipes now appears as Executive Director on the foundation's official website, replacing Alexandra Paschal, who was compensated $46,725 in FY2023 per IRS filings and listed as Executive Director through that filing period. This staffing change is the key relationship update for prospective applicants — all inquiries and correspondence should now go to Marlow Sipes at edf@eddarbyfoundation.org.

The Expanded Learning Network entered its fifth year for 2026-2027, with applications open as of summer 2026. The foundation has formalized its accountability model by combining the prior-year impact report and new-year funding request into a single Microsoft Forms submission, a structural process change that tightens the link between demonstrated results and renewed investment.

Impact Reports for 2025-2026 grantees were due June 1, 2026 — creating a sequential cycle where the foundation assesses prior-year outcomes before committing to the next round of funding. This June deadline is the annual inflection point in EDF's grant calendar.

Financially, FY2023 (the most recently fully-filed 990) recorded $1,291,785 in total giving — EDF's highest on record, up 35% from FY2022's $958,387. FY2024 revenue of $608,538 is partial and may reflect timing of asset recognition rather than reduced capacity. No major press coverage, new program announcements beyond the Expanded Learning Network fifth-year opening, or additional leadership changes were identified in public sources for 2025-2026.

Build the relationship before submitting anything formal. EDF does not maintain a general application portal. For any grant outside the Expanded Learning Network, the entry point is an introductory email to Marlow Sipes at edf@eddarbyfoundation.org. Keep it brief: who you are, which North Tulsa schools or neighborhoods you serve, and what outcomes you generate for students. Cold formal submissions without prior outreach rarely succeed at relationship-driven family foundations like this one.

Leverage existing grantee relationships. A warm introduction from Foundation for Tulsa Schools, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Gaining Ground, or Tulsa Changemakers — all long-standing EDF partners — meaningfully raises your profile. Ask program directors at these organizations if they can connect you with the EDF team.

Apply through the Expanded Learning Network if eligible. Organizations that deliver programs directly within Monroe/McLain feeder pattern schools (Monroe Demonstration Academy, John Hope Franklin Elementary, McClain High School, Will Rogers, Unity Learning Academy) should prioritize this pathway. Contact edf@eddarbyfoundation.org to receive the Microsoft Forms application link. The 2026-2027 cycle is open as of summer 2026.

Lead with quantified student outcomes, not program descriptions. Impact reporting is built into every EDF grant cycle. In your proposal or introductory email, quantify your work: students served, specific schools, measurable results (reading level gains, attendance improvements, participation rates, skill acquisition). EDF's grant renewal model is explicitly outcome-contingent.

Calibrate your ask to your relationship stage. First-time applicants should request $5,000-$25,000, centered on the $12,000 median grant. The $85,821 average grant to Foundation for Tulsa Schools reflects an 8-grant, multi-year anchor relationship — not a first-cycle benchmark. Frame your initial ask as a pilot investment.

Document your DEI infrastructure. EDF requires formal written DEI policies and organizational practices — not philosophy statements. Reference specific policies: board composition, hiring practices, language access, and how you ensure inclusion for students across backgrounds. This is a structural requirement, not a values check.

Avoid these hard disqualifiers: after-the-fact grants (funds already spent), lobbying activities, private school primary service, religious institution affiliation as primary identity, immigration/refugee programming, and fundraising event support. Applications touching any of these areas will not advance.

Plan your calendar around June. The Expanded Learning Network deadline cycle anchors in June (aligned with the school year). Organizations that build internal capacity to submit by June 1 and collect student outcome data throughout the program year are best positioned for annual renewal.