Fugitt Foundation

The Fugitt Foundation is a Christian family philanthropic trust headquartered in McAlester, Oklahoma, established in 2005 by Gary and Ruyana Fugitt in honor of their son Garrison. Its explicit mission — "to extend the love and blessings of God to the community of McAlester, Oklahoma" — defines both its geographic and philosophical priorities in terms that are unusually direct for a private foundation. This is not a conventional open-application environment: the foundation operates with a relationship-first model, explicitly stating it "forms partnerships based on a shared vision and complementary capabilities, bringing our network, knowledge, and faith to every relationship."

The foundation's assets grew dramatically from approximately $4.9 million (FY2020) to $25.2 million (FY2021) following receipt of approximately $30.3 million in contributions — likely a major estate or family wealth transfer event. Since then, assets have stabilized around $31.8–$31.9 million, providing a durable and substantial endowment. Annual grantmaking has ranged from $542,890 (FY2022) to $1,845,527 (FY2021), with FY2023 ($1,593,469) and FY2024 ($1,549,553) reflecting a normalized post-expansion pattern.

First-time applicants should internalize several dynamics. Faith alignment is not optional — the foundation's top grantee, Kings House, received $2,796,289 across five grants, and major recipients including Kiamichi Baptist Assembly, Dream City Church, Assemblies of God, and Catholic Charities reinforce that explicitly faith-based work carries particular weight. Secular organizations can and do receive grants — Eastern Oklahoma State College received $300,000 and Hope House received $124,393 across three grants — but must articulate a shared vision centered on community transformation and service to vulnerable people.

McAlester and Pittsburg County geographic focus is dominant: 53 of 85 documented grants (62%) went to Oklahoma-based recipients, and the board of four members — a real estate professional, an educator and former pastor, a community advocate, and a physician — are all McAlester residents. Multi-year relationships are the norm for large awards; Hope House's $124,393 total came across three grants and Kings House's $2.8 million across five. New applicants should target the $5,000–$25,000 range to establish a track record before making larger requests. There is no formal LOI process documented, but an introductory call or email to Secretary Sarah Lance before the application window is strongly advisable.

The Fugitt Foundation's grantmaking has evolved across three distinct phases. In its early years (2011–2019), total annual giving ranged from $178,592 (FY2013) to $367,646 (FY2015), with individual grants rarely exceeding $50,000. Following a transformative $30.3 million contribution inflow in FY2021, grantmaking surged to $1,913,735 that year and has since stabilized at $542,890–$1,593,469 annually.

Across all 85 documented grants totaling $4,816,926, the average grant is $56,670 — but this figure is heavily skewed by a handful of major relationships. The median grant is $7,000, which more accurately reflects the typical award. The smallest recorded grants are $500 (small ministry support), while the largest single recipient relationship is Kings House at $2,796,289 across five grants. A standing pledge of $2.5 million to the McAlester Public Library and a $900,000 commitment to EOSC's nursing program demonstrate that the foundation is now comfortable with seven-figure capital commitments to trusted civic institutions.

Geographically, Oklahoma dominates: 53 of 85 grants (62%) are in-state, with McAlester and Pittsburg County representing the majority. Out-of-state giving (Tennessee 5, Texas 4, North Carolina 3, New York 3, Louisiana 3, California 3, Alabama 3) flows primarily to national organizations with a presence in the region — Tunnel to Towers Foundation ($30,000 across 3 grants), Samaritan's Purse ($14,000 across 3 grants), and St. Jude ($20,000 across 4 grants).

By purpose category, approximately 40% of grants carry "religious" designations (churches, ministries, faith-based outreach) and 60% are classified as "charitable." Key thematic clusters include: faith and ministry ($3.1M+ combined to Kings House, Kiamichi Baptist Assembly, Dream City Church, and smaller ministries), education ($714,000+ to Eastern OK State College, Friends of the Library of McAlester, McAlester Public Schools Foundation, and Lakewood Christian School), human services ($172,000+ to Hope House, Pittsburg County Youth Shelter, Good Samaritan Outreach, Habitat for Humanity, and Down Home Ranch), health ($126,000+ to Parkinson's Foundation, Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma, and St. Jude), and youth/sports ($137,000+ to McAlester Youth Golf, Young Life, and Boys & Girls Club).

The following foundations share asset levels close to Fugitt's $31.9 million and carry the same NTEE-T (Philanthropy & Grantmaking) classification. Annual giving data is unavailable for most peers, as these are private family foundations without active public-facing grant programs:

Among these asset-comparable peers, the Fugitt Foundation stands out for its relative transparency and accessibility. It maintains an active website, publishes two annual application windows with defined deadlines and decision timelines, and provides a direct staff email and phone number — making it more approachable than most comparable-sized private family foundations. Its giving-to-assets ratio of approximately 4.9% (FY2024: $1.55M on $31.9M assets) sits just at the IRS 5% minimum distribution threshold, indicating the foundation is meeting but not substantially exceeding its excise tax obligation. This conservative payout ratio suggests meaningful capacity to increase grantmaking if compelling opportunities emerge in its priority areas — a useful framing for organizations making the case for transformative funding requests.

The most significant recent commitments are the $900,000 award to Eastern Oklahoma State College's nursing program and the $2.5 million pledge for renovation of the McAlester Public Library at 401 N 2nd Street — the latter being the largest single commitment in the foundation's history and a direct reflection of co-founder Ruyana Fugitt's career-long championing of literacy and education. These capital investments signal a strategic shift from the foundation's historical pattern of smaller, recurring grants to faith-based organizations toward institution-strengthening partnerships with civic anchors.

FY2024 financials (filed December 2025) show $1,549,553 in charitable disbursements, net assets of $31,897,490, and $1,057,226 in new contributions received — the latter an unusual influx that may indicate the foundation is attracting outside donor contributions. Total officer compensation reached approximately $54,000 in FY2024, compared to $7,000 in FY2022, reflecting a more operationally active staff structure.

On the leadership front, Ruyana Fugitt — who co-founded the foundation with Gary Fugitt in 2005 — appears less operationally active in recent IRS filings, with no compensation listed. Tim Diehl (President, $12,000 in FY2024) and Sarah Lance (Secretary, $18,000) are the principal operational contacts. No major program announcements or press releases specific to early 2026 were identified in public sources.

The Fugitt Foundation's two defined application windows create a predictable rhythm that serious applicants should plan around well in advance. The Spring window runs February 1 through April 30, with board decisions communicated by the end of May — ideal for organizations with July 1 fiscal year starts seeking funding confirmed before their new program year begins. The Fall window runs October 15 through November 15, with decisions by end of December. Given the compressed Fall window (31 days versus 89 for Spring), first-time applicants should strongly prefer the Spring cycle.

Faith identity and language is the single most important alignment factor. Every communication surface on the foundation's website — mission statement, About page, application page — references extending "God's love and blessings" and supporting work that "ignites hope and compassion." Board member John Monnin is a former pastor with a 35-year friendship with the founders; Ruyana Fugitt served as a church leader. Faith-based applicants should frame their programs explicitly within this language. Secular organizations should not fabricate religious framing, but should emphasize human dignity, community healing, transformation, and service to vulnerable people — language that resonates with the foundation's values without being inauthentic.

Geographic specificity is the second critical differentiator. The board is composed entirely of McAlester residents. Name specific streets, schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations your work touches in McAlester or Pittsburg County. Avoid generic statewide language — this foundation funds on a community scale, not a regional one.

Right-size your first request. The grant record shows a clear escalation pattern: Hope House received three separate grants before its cumulative total reached $124,393; Kings House built to $2.8 million across five grants. An initial ask in the $5,000–$25,000 range demonstrates fiscal discipline and creates a stewardship track record that the board can point to when approving future growth.

Make personal contact before submitting. Email Sarah Lance at Sarah.FugittFoundation@outlook.com or call (918) 424-4005 two to three weeks before the window opens. A brief, specific message — referencing the foundation's mission, identifying your McAlester community connection, and previewing your request — will establish a relationship before the formal review process begins.