Oak Ridge Foundation

Oak Ridge Foundation is a public foundation (NTEE T30 — Multipurpose Public Foundation) based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, managed by William E. Mason at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike Suite 100. The foundation was granted IRS exempt status in June 2022 and operates on a September fiscal year-end. Its stated mission — "supporting and fostering scientific and educational endeavors" — clearly connects to Oak Ridge's identity as a world-class scientific hub anchored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Department of Energy's largest science and energy laboratory, located just outside downtown Oak Ridge on the Bethel Valley campus. The foundation is likely positioned to support STEM education initiatives, science literacy programs, research partnerships, and educational institutions in Anderson County and the greater East Tennessee region. As a public foundation (not private), it files a Form 990 rather than 990-PF, which means it can receive tax-deductible contributions from the public and may raise funds beyond a single family endowment. The foundation appears to have received a large initial endowment ($2.4M in FY2021) and has been actively distributing grants since its founding, with peak assets of $4.4M in FY2023 before recent distributions brought assets to $2.05M. The GoDaddy-hosted website with only a homepage suggests limited staff capacity and a relationship-driven grant process.

Based on IRS 990 filings from 2021–2023 (fiscal years ending September):

• FY2021 (first full year): Assets $2,425,000; Revenue $2,425,000 (initial endowment contribution). The foundation launched with a single large founding gift.
• FY2022: Assets $3,813,921; Revenue $1,403,051 — significant additional contributions growing the endowment
• FY2023: Assets $4,368,613; Revenue $813,331 — continued growth with additional contributions

Current (estimated FY2024): Assets have declined to $2,051,215 from the $4.4M peak, indicating significant grant distributions were made. The $2.3M reduction in assets between FY2023 and current suggests approximately $2.3M in grants/qualified distributions over roughly 12–18 months — an extraordinary payout rate for a foundation this size.

Note: The ProPublica filings do not show individual grant data for FY2022 and FY2023, suggesting these may be Form 990 filings (public foundation) with program service data rather than itemized grants. The pace of asset deployment (from $4.4M to $2.05M) indicates active, large-scale grantmaking in the 2023–2024 period. Individual grants from this foundation could be sizeable — potentially $100,000–$500,000 to major scientific or educational institutions in Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge Foundation is a newer public foundation in the East Tennessee scientific community ecosystem. Key peers and comparables:

The Oak Ridge Foundation is notably smaller than institutional peers like ORAU but occupies a unique niche as an independent, locally-governed foundation specifically dedicated to scientific and educational purposes in the Oak Ridge community. The Mason family or associated principals likely have deep ties to the Oak Ridge scientific community through ORNL, ORAU, or related institutions.

Most recent IRS data shows the foundation at $2,051,215 in assets (FY2024, September year-end) with income of $396,041. This represents a significant decline from the peak of $4,368,613 in FY2023, strongly suggesting the foundation made large grant distributions totaling approximately $2.3M in FY2024 — a major deployment of its accumulated endowment. This pattern suggests an active grants program, potentially making several large grants to scientific institutions, universities, or educational programs in the Oak Ridge area. The foundation's address (1201 Oak Ridge Tpke Ste 100, Oak Ridge, TN 37830) is a commercial office building location, suggesting professional management. No press releases, public grant announcements, or news coverage of Oak Ridge Foundation grants has been located, consistent with a low-profile foundation making strategic targeted grants rather than a broad public grantmaking program. The care-of officer William E. Mason likely has significant personal or professional ties to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, or related scientific institutions.

Oak Ridge Foundation's minimal web presence (single-page GoDaddy site) and private management style suggest a highly relationship-driven grantmaking process. Key guidance:

1. Scientific and educational focus is essential: Your organization must have a clear connection to science education, STEM, scientific research, or educational programs. Generic community grants are unlikely.

2. Oak Ridge connection valued: Organizations with a direct connection to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge community schools, ORAU, or East Tennessee's scientific ecosystem are the most likely recipients.

3. Use the "Get in Touch" form: The website's only call-to-action is a contact form. Submit a brief, compelling introduction — not a full proposal — describing your scientific/educational mission and connection to Oak Ridge.

4. September fiscal year-end: Plan outreach in the spring (March–July) to align with budget cycles before the September fiscal close. The foundation is likely to make grant decisions before fiscal year-end.

5. Large grants possible: Given the foundation's $2.3M+ in annual distributions in FY2024, individual grants could be substantial ($50,000–$500,000+) for the right organizations. Don't undershoot your request relative to your organization's scale.

6. William E. Mason connection: Cultivate a connection to Mason or other principals. If you can find his professional affiliation (likely ORNL, a law firm, or financial services firm in Oak Ridge), leverage that network to secure an introduction.

7. University and institutional partnerships: Proposals that involve University of Tennessee or ORNL partnerships are likely to align well with the foundation's mission.