About The McMahon Foundation

Founded in 1940, The McMahon Foundation is a private charitable foundation dedicated to strengthening communities across Oklahoma through strategic philanthropic investment. The Foundation provides grants and charitable support to qualified educational, scientific, governmental, and nonprofit organizations recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees and administered by an Executive Director.

Eligibility

Organizations seeking funding must:

• Hold current 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or be a governmental entity
• Be headquartered in Oklahoma
• Provide services benefiting Oklahoma communities

Primary funding consideration is given to organizations serving Comanche County. Requests benefiting organizations outside of Comanche County may be considered but require unanimous approval from the Board of Trustees.

Grant Application Process

The McMahon Foundation uses a two-step grant application process to help organizations assess alignment with the Foundation’s funding priorities before submitting a full proposal.

Step One: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

All funding requests begin with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The LOI provides the Foundation with an overview of the organization, the proposed project or need, the amount requested, and the anticipated community impact.

Once submitted, Letters of Inquiry are reviewed by the Board of Trustees to determine whether the request aligns with the Foundation’s mission, geographic priorities, and funding guidelines.

Step Two: Full Grant Proposal

Organizations invited to move forward will receive access to the Foundation’s full grant application.

Complete applications must be submitted by the 28th of each month to be considered for the next review cycle.

Applications are reviewed during the Board of Trustees meetings, which are held on the second Monday of each month.

Depending on the nature and scope of the request, funding decisions and notifications may take up to 90 days.

Organizations are encouraged not to wait until the deadline to begin the process, as incomplete submissions or missing documentation may delay consideration.

For additional information regarding the grant process, please contact:
grants@mcmahonfoundation.org

Areas of Support

The Foundation primarily supports projects and programs in the following areas:

Education

Programs and initiatives that expand educational opportunities and improve learning outcomes.

Social and Human Services

Efforts addressing community needs, family stability, food insecurity, health, housing, and related human services.

Cultural and Humanitarian Programs

Projects that enrich community life through arts, culture, history, and civic engagement.

Construction and Capital Projects

Facility improvements and construction projects that strengthen nonprofit organizations and expand community impact.

Requests Typically Not Supported

The Foundation generally does not fund:

• Direct mail or general fundraising solicitations
• Out-of-state institutions
• Permanent operational financing
• Grants to individuals
• Requests requiring expenditure responsibility by the Foundation
• Religious institutions or their subsidiaries