Lyon Foundation

The Lyon Foundation (EIN 23-7299980) is a private family foundation established in Bartlesville, Oklahoma with a ruling date of July 1973, founded by E.H. "Ted" and Melody Lyon. With $54.1 million in assets as of FY2024 and annual giving consistently between $2.1 million and $2.85 million over the past 13 years, it is the most significant private philanthropy anchored specifically to Washington County, Oklahoma.

The foundation's giving philosophy is deeply relational and hyper-local. Of 212 tracked grants in foundation databases, 208 (98%) went to Oklahoma organizations — virtually all within Bartlesville and the immediate Washington County region. The three exceptions (Colorado and Utah) appear tied to specific organizational relationships rather than geographic expansion. This localism is a structural feature, not an accident: the Lyons built their wealth in Bartlesville and have reinvested it there across decades.

Organization type matters less than mission fit and geography. The grantee roster is strikingly diverse: Boys & Girls Club, Woolaroc Museum, On the Rock Ministries, Family Healthcare Clinic, and the City of Bartlesville itself have all received substantial support. Faith-based, secular nonprofit, government entity, and civic organization — all are welcome provided they serve Washington County residents.

The foundation is a relationship funder above all else. Its top 10 historical grantees have each received between 4 and 5 grants over multiple cycles, totaling between $185,000 and $2 million per organization. Boys & Girls Club alone has accumulated over $2 million across five grants, and Paths to Independence has received over $1.25 million. First-time applicants should enter with realistic expectations: an initial grant typically establishes the relationship, and the larger multi-year commitments follow once trust is built.

The application process requires an initial email inquiry to Alex Singer (asinger@lyonfoundations.org). The foundation maintains semi-annual deadlines of May 1 and October 1, with decisions communicated in June and November respectively. Full proposals are capped at four pages and submitted by email. Required materials include a mission statement, specific grant purpose, financial statements, staff bios, and IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. Organizations already receiving annual general support should continue applying each cycle — the foundation renews grants regularly for its core grantee community.

Annual grantmaking has grown steadily from $1.58 million in FY2011 to approximately $2.3 million in FY2024, a 45% increase over 13 years. Total giving (including non-grant charitable distributions) has tracked similarly, ranging from $1.89 million (FY2011) to $2.84 million (FY2022). FY2024 saw 50 grants awarded — the largest recorded grant count — reflecting either more numerous smaller grants or continued portfolio diversification.

Grant size distribution: The historical database (212 grants, $11.8 million total) shows an average grant of $55,737 and a median of $21,750, with a range from $1,000 to $291,000. FY2024 data shows at least one grant of $402,500 (Bartlesville Community Foundation), suggesting the upper ceiling has expanded in recent cycles. The vast majority of grants cluster between $5,000 and $75,000, with a meaningful subset of "large" grants ($100,000–$400,000) going to flagship community institutions.

Program area breakdown (estimated from top-50 grantees): - Human/social services: ~30% (Youth & Family Services, Lighthouse Outreach, Family Promise, Salvation Army, Washington County Elder Care) - Faith-based & ministry: ~12% (On the Rock Ministries, Grace Community Church, Agape Mission, Bartlesville Warriors for Christ) - Civic & parks: ~12% (City of Bartlesville, Friends of Kiddie Park, Washington County Fire Dept) - Education & youth: ~12% (Bartlesville Public Schools, Boys & Girls Club, Girl Scouts, Tri County Tech) - Health: ~10% (Hopestone Cancer Support, Family Healthcare Clinic, Grand Lake Mental Health) - Arts & culture: ~8% (Price Tower Arts Center, Little Theater Guild, Bartlesville Community Center Trust) - Disability & special needs: ~8% (Paths to Independence, Ability Works of Oklahoma) - Other community: ~8% (Habitat for Humanity, Washington County Historical Society, Sutton Avian Research)

Grant purpose breakdown: "General support" is the single most common grant purpose, appearing in the majority of multi-year grants. Capital-specific grants — vehicle purchases, roofing, HVAC, construction, facility remodels — are the second major category, funded frequently and generously. The foundation's comfort with unrestricted operating support sets it apart from foundations that restrict to project-specific expenses.

The peer foundations below are matched to Lyon Foundation by asset size (~$54 million), all classified under NTEE code T20 (Philanthropy & Grantmaking). Because these peers are private family foundations with minimal public web presence, giving totals are not publicly disclosed.

Lyon Foundation stands out among asset-matched peers in two ways. First, it maintains an unusually transparent application interface for a family foundation of its size: semi-annual deadlines, a named point of contact (Alex Singer), and published grant guidelines represent more process clarity than most similarly-sized private foundations provide. Second, its 50-grant portfolio in FY2024 across a single county represents deep penetration of a small philanthropic market — more grants per capita served than any peer in this cohort likely achieves. Organizations in Bartlesville and Washington County compete in a relatively small pool of eligible applicants, giving well-aligned nonprofits a meaningfully higher probability of success than they would face competing for equivalently-sized private foundation grants in major metro markets.

The most significant recent development is the FY2024 990-PF filing (received May 19, 2025), which documents a record 50 grants totaling approximately $2.3 million. This represents an increase in grant volume while maintaining consistent total dollar distribution — suggesting average grant sizes have moderated slightly compared to prior years.

New top recipients in FY2024 include Bartlesville Community Foundation ($402,500), City Church of Bartlesville ($304,687), and Friends of the Kiddie Park ($292,500). The Bartlesville Community Foundation's emergence as the single largest FY2024 grantee is notable — historically it ranked third among all-time top grantees with $1.08 million across five grants, but the $402,500 single-year award exceeds any prior individual year amount in the database.

Spencer King joined the board as a new Director by FY2024, per 990-PF data. This adds a fifth director position alongside Glenn Bonner and David King, potentially introducing new institutional perspectives. John B. Kane has remained President/Manager continuously since at least FY2011, drawing $72,000 in annual compensation — consistent across the entire documented period.

No formal public press releases, leadership transitions, or program strategy announcements were found through web research for 2025-2026, which is typical for a private family foundation of this profile. The foundation does not maintain an active social media presence or publish an annual report publicly. Asset growth from $52.0M (FY2023) to $54.1M (FY2024) suggests strong investment performance despite sustained payout, positioning the foundation well for continued giving through at least FY2026.

Know the geography first. The Lyon Foundation's giving is almost entirely limited to Bartlesville and Washington County, Oklahoma. Before any outreach, confirm your organization's primary service area overlaps with this geography. Out-of-area organizations — even adjacent Oklahoma counties — are rarely funded.

Make initial contact before any deadline. Email Alex Singer at asinger@lyonfoundations.org with a brief (2-3 paragraph) organizational introduction and your proposed grant purpose. Do not send a full proposal cold. The foundation's secondary contact is lyonfoundation@sbcglobal.net or (918) 336-0066. Some sources describe the foundation as invitation-only; others indicate email inquiries are welcomed. In either case, an advance introduction dramatically increases the likelihood of a positive response.

Target the May 1 deadline for a June decision if your project is time-sensitive. The October 1 / November decision cycle also works but is slightly less common for capital campaigns that need construction season funding.

Frame capital needs concretely. The foundation's most reliable funding category is tangible capital: a specific vehicle (make, model, cost), a defined roof replacement (square footage, contractor bid), an HVAC unit (capacity, installation cost). Vague "facility improvement" requests are less compelling than a line-item scope with actual quotes.

Lead with community impact in Washington County, not organizational credentials. The foundation already knows the local nonprofit landscape — your board credentials matter less than demonstrating how many Bartlesville residents your project serves and how it complements the foundation's existing grantee community.

Respect the 4-page limit strictly. Proposals exceeding four pages are likely to receive less favorable consideration. Prioritize: (1) specific grant purpose, (2) requested dollar amount, (3) organizational mission in one paragraph, (4) financial health, (5) expected outcomes.

Do not request: computers or any computer-related hardware/software, scholarship funds, coverage of existing organizational debt or deficit, or any project serving populations primarily outside Bartlesville.

If declined, reapply. The foundation funds the same organizations repeatedly — a first rejection is not a permanent door-close. Ask the contact person if feedback is available, address the gap, and apply in the next cycle.