Well Told Grants

Foundations / Oklahoma

Mary Lou Lemon Foundation

Preselected recipients only Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · EIN 461637247

Mary Lou Lemon Foundation is a private foundation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In tax year 2025 it gave $593,708 in 9 grants; the typical grant was $10,000 and the largest $431,608. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $109,100 the year before.

56% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$98,50010$480,257
2024$109,10013$629,656
2025$593,7089$43,838

How to apply

Mary Lou Lemon Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 5 states, the most to Oklahoma.

StateGrantsAmount
Oklahoma5$540,708
District of Columbia1$20,000
Maine1$15,000
California1$10,000
Texas1$8,000

Grants paid in 2025

All 9 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Church of the Open Arms
Oklahoma City, OK
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$431,608
Kgou
Norman, OK
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$100,000
The American Journalism Project
Washington, DC
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$20,000
Elected Officials to Protect America
Rockland, ME
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$15,000
Could You
Oceanside, CA
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$10,000
Artrandi Company
Austin, TX
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$8,000
Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Oklahoma City, OK
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$5,600
The Juice Radio Show
Tulsa, OK
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$2,000
African Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes Foundation
Oklahoma City, OK
Assist in the tax exempt purpose$1,500

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does Mary Lou Lemon Foundation accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does Mary Lou Lemon Foundation give?

$593,708 in tax year 2025, across 9 grants, with a typical grant of $10,000.

Who runs Mary Lou Lemon Foundation?

Its 2025 filing lists Robyn Lemon Sellers (President), Crys D Lemon (Secretary-Treasurer) and James H Lemon (Secretary-Treasurer).

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