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SOARING POSSIBILITIES
Letter from the Foundation I’ve spent years working with community members, nonprofits, military members and businesses, and what I see time and time again is that this community is strongest when we work together. That is what the Lawton Community Foundation founders saw all those years ago and what continues to make LCF successful. By partnering with individuals, families and organizations we are all creating opportunities to meet needs and elevate our community. This year, LCF is approaching an exciting milestone for our community. We will invest our 10 millionth dollar into the people and organizations that make Lawton so special. It’s a moment that would not have happened without each and every person that came before us, and it’s a model that I look forward to continuing to grow so we can make Lawton an even greater place to live. - Linda Neal, Lawton Community Foundation President
FY26 At A Glance Gifts Received
Total Assets
No. of Funds
$524,508
$17,989,846
81
Total Awarded
Total Awarded Since Inception
$620,828
$10,007,320
FISTA Foundation representatives with the first FISTA Foundation Scholarship recipient.
2026 ANNUAL REPORT | 3
A Launchpad for Learning When Nathan Warnock’s name was called last spring at the Lawton Community Foundation’s Scholarship Luncheon, the moment was extra sweet. As the FISTA Foundation’s first scholarship recipient, the moment marked a major step toward ensuring students in Southwest Oklahoma have access to the funding, resources and support needed to pursue STEM education.
access high-quality STEM education is vitally important.
“It was great to see so many community leaders standing up and moving forward with initiatives that support our youth,” said Dr. Krista Ratliff, FISTA Foundation President & CEO. “Knowing we helped that student get an opportunity they wouldn’t have otherwise had is so powerful.”
“Working with the Lawton Community Foundation has enabled us to help students take that next step,” Dr. Ratliff said. “It’s so important because smaller communities don’t always have access to opportunities like this. It is going to have a lasting impact.”
As an organization rooted in innovation, science and technology, creating opportunities for students to
Since its founding, the FISTA Foundation has focused on breaking down barriers by providing students in Lawton and the surrounding area with a launching pad to access training and learning opportunities, grow their skills and become the next generation of scientific and technological leaders.
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Scholarships Through the Lawton Community Foundation, our generous donors help more students reach their educational goals today and in the future.
2026 Lawton Scholarship Recipients
Endowed Scholarship Funds
Fund Value
Cleo and Lucille Craig Scholarship Fund
$223,704
CYA Franklin Scholarship Fund
199,420
FISTA Foundation Scholarship Fund
60,618
Frank Curran Memorial/Lawton Noon Lions Club Scholarship Fund
239,650
Lamont N. Wilson ROTC Scholarship Fund
66,493
Lawton Business Women Scholarship Fund
73,485
Lawton Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship Fund
88,167
McMahon Legacy Scholarship Fund
125,117
Nell Franklin Scholarship Fund
126,746
$1,203,400
FY26 Total Scholarship Recipients - 20
FY26 Scholarship Awarded - $45,000
Support an existing or create a new scholarship at lawtoncf.org
2026 ANNUAL REPORT | 5
Community Grants The Lawton Community Foundation’s Community Grants bring together individuals, families and organizations to support nonprofits that are meeting needs and elevating our community. FY26 Community Grants Awarded $58,800 Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City $5,000 to support the Lawton Regional Office. Citizens Caring for Children - $5,000 to support Lawton Mobile Foster Futures visits. City of Lawton - $2,500 to support the Southern Police Institute Administrative Course. Family Promise of Lawton Inc. - $5,000 to support shelter renovations. Giddy Up ‘N Go Inc. - $3,300 to o support training and certification for a therapeutic riding instructor. Hearts That Care Volunteer Health Clinic - $5,000 to support their Pharmacy Program. Junior League of Lawton - $5,000 to purchase diapers to satisfy one year of diaper distributions.
Lawton Farmers Market Institute - $5,000 to provide a year of free educational programming. Lawton Food Bank - $5,000 to support their Produce Pop-In. McMahon Auditorium Authority - $5,000 to support the International Festival 2025. Paws with Love Therapy Dogs - $5,000 to help expand access to their training and therapy dog programs. Teen Court Inc. - $3,000 to expand the reach and impact of their Delinquency Prevention. United Way of Southwest Oklahoma - $5,000 to expand their Success by 6 programming.
See the full grant descriptions at lawtoncf.org/#grants.
Matching Grants Our matching grants allow donors to magnify their giving and provide sustainable support for nonprofit endowments. FY26 Matching Grants Awarded $40,000 Arts for All Bernice Ford Price Library Endowment Cache School Education Foundation Christian Family Counseling Center Endowment Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation First United Methodist Church Foundation of Lawton Friends of Ft. Sill General Donald R. Keith Memorial Scholarship
Lawton AMBUCS Lou Brox Endowment Lawton Athletic Foundation Lawton Public School Foundation Lawton Rotary Leadership Institute St. John’s Lutheran Church United Way of Southwest Oklahoma Western Trail Historical Society World Christian Broadcasting
Make your gift go further through a match at lawtoncf.org!
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Lawton Food Bank clients shop at their Produce Pop In.
camera Photos by Rylee Woessner Gant
Nonprofit Endowments For more than 25 years, the Lawton Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Endowment Program has partnered with individuals, families and organizations to provide reliable, ongoing support for nonprofits, making it easy for others to give and nonprofits to grow their support. FY26 Endowment Distribution - $408,280 Nonprofit Endowment Funds
Fund Value
FY26 Total Number of Endowed Funds - 55 *Indicates an organization sub-fund.
Artillery OCS Alumni Chapter Inc. Fund
$234,001
Giddy Up ‘N Go Fund
90,142
Arts for All Fund
112,563
95,581
Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Fires Chapter - Lawton - Fort Sill
42,726
Great Plains Technology Center Foundation Fund
86,798
Bernice Ford Price Library Endowment Fund
140,411
*Great Plains-Jim Nisbett Scholarship Fund Hackberry Flat Fund
84,866
Cache School Scholarship Fund
323,759
Hearts That Care - Wendy Bartanen Fund
451,536
Catalyst Behavioral Services - Roadback Fund
36,659
Holiday in the Park Fund
37,312
Center for Creative Living Endowment Fund
40,823
95,908
Christian Family Counseling Center Fund
86,931
Humane Society of Lawton - Comanche County Fund
Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation Fund
201,655
Kathy Bea Holsinger Reese Memorial Fund
145,252
Lawton AMBUCS Lou Brox Endowment Fund
224,218
Crime Stoppers/Drug Busters of Southwest Oklahoma
150,456
Lawton Athletic Foundation Endowment
105,733
First United Methodist Church Foundation Fund
271,694
Lawton Community Theatre Fund
45,685
Frederick School Enrichment Foundation
33,428
Lawton Family YMCA Fund
56,663
Friends of Fort Sill Endowment Fund
192,591
Lawton Food Bank Fund
284,783
Ft. Sill Armed Services YMCA Gene Love Endowment Fund
561,811
Lawton Friends of the Library
52,343
*Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society Fund
26,185
Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra Fund
90,483
2026 ANNUAL REPORT | 7
Nourishing Our Community Neighbors supporting neighbors – it’s a time-honored tradition for this community, and the Lawton Food Bank has been a large part of that support for more than 40 years. But for their team, that means more than just providing support. It means collaborating across the community, leveraging knowledge and resources to create a greater impact. For nearly two decades the Lawton Community Foundation has been a key member of that network. By providing expertise and support, LCF has helped the Food Bank grow their endowment faster and build long-term sustainability so they can focus on the important work of providing people with food and nourishment. It’s a challenging task, and with the expanding need in our community, they have had to think outside the box to figure out how they can break down barriers and serve more people. Over the past year, an LCF Community Grant provided the Food Bank the
Lawton Public Schools Foundation Fund
1,311,095
opportunity to expand their Produce Pop In program to consistently provide more people with better food. “The Pop In is not as strict of an application, so it has allowed us to serve more people,” Lawton Food Bank Executive Director Alex McCann said. “These families can hand-select the produce that best fits their needs so they have food today and are building healthy lifestyle habits long-term.” The program has been a resounding success, providing clients with more than 1,400 visits in the past year, and spurring clients to ask when the next pop in will be. “It’s always exciting when we feel a partnership has been beneficial, but it’s even better to hear when other people value that partnership as well,” Alex said. “We are so grateful to the Lawton Community Foundation and look forward to continuing to grow this relationship for years to come.”
*General Carl E. Vuono Scholarship Fund
32,264
*Dale and Emma Faye Clodfelter Endowment Fund
104,494
*General Donald R. Keith Memorial Scholarship Fund
106,030
*Future Leaders of Lawton Fund
25,129
32,264
*Gene and Wanda Rochelle Memorial Education Fund
25,142
*General J.H. Binford Peay III Scholarship Fund *General Jack N. Merritt Scholarship Fund
32,434
*Larry Jantzen Endowment Fund
97,614
20,006
*Larry K. Freeman Endowment Fund
312,908
*United States Field Artillery Best Red Leg Competition Fund
Lawton Rotary Leadership Institute Fund
524,762
31,580
Museum of the Great Plains
63,822
*U.S. Field Artillery Association All-Star Scholarship Fund
On the Chisholm Trail Association Heritage Center Fund
121,462
*U.S. Field Artillery Association Eagle Scholarship Fund
29,938
Southwest Oklahoma Chapter of MOAA Scholarship Fund
20,609
*U.S. Field Artillery - Fort Sill Artillery Half Section Fund
35,622
St. John Lutheran Church Foundation Fund
222,540
United Way of Southwest Oklahoma Fund
881,170
Tipton Children’s Home
100,949
Western Trail Historical Society Fund
389,792
United States Field Artillery Association Foundation Fund
477,231
World Christian Broadcasting Fund
131,090
*Dennis J. Reimer Scholarship Fund
40,534
$9,573,475
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Our Donors The Lawton Community Foundation brings people together who want to contribute to our community and those who live here. Together, we strive to make the greatest impact in our community.
Donors *Donors who gave $500 or more from July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. All America Bank
Michael & Carolyn Keith
American Fidelity Foundation
Larry G. Jantzen Revocable Living Trust
Arts For All Inc.
Lawton Athletic Foundation
Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Fires Chapter - Lawton-Fort Sill
Lawton Business Women
James Brabenec
Lawton Food Bank
Dr. George I. Bridges
Lawton Public School Foundation Inc.
Brooke Pointe Apartments
Lawton Rotary Leadership Institute
Cache Economic Development Authority
Steve Livingston
Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Association
Museum of the Great Plains
Christian Family Counseling Center
Museum of the Western Prairie
Clayco Industries Inc.
Oklahoma Historical Society
Dennis D. & Anita R. Clippinger
Mr. George Porter
Coldwell Banker Salute
Stephen Price
Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation
Richard Properties LLC
Phil Ferrell
Mr. H. John Rogers
First United Methodist Church Foundation Inc. of Lawton
Mike E. & Melody E. Scott
FISTA Foundation Friends of Fort Sill Inc.
Southwest Oklahoma Chapter MOAA Scholarship Endowment Fund Inc.
Friends of the Lawton Public Library
St. John Lutheran Church
Greater Lawton Rotary Club
Daniel Threlkeld
Great Plains Technology Center Foundation Inc.
Tipton Homes Inc.
Hackberry Flat Foundation
United Way of Southwest Oklahoma
Wendi Harrison
Ruel Waldrep
Donald Herrick
Western Trail Historical Society
Jodie Herrick
Lawton Chapter of National AMBUCS Inc.
2026 ANNUAL REPORT | 9
Austin Rabon with John Carter at the 25th Lawton Celebration Anniversary
Creating a Lasting Legacy As a Lawton native, Austin Rabon grew up seeing people work every day to make Lawton a better place to live, work and raise a family. That strong work ethic and community pride stuck with him throughout his education and brought him back to Lawton to raise his family and do his part to help this community thrive. Following in the footsteps of Lawton’s community leaders, Austin has dedicated much of his time to supporting our community’s nonprofits, but it was his work as an estate planning attorney that first connected him to the Lawton Community Foundation. Working with clients to explore their passions and dreams, Austin found the conversations turning to nonprofits. People wanted to support this community, and the Lawton Community Foundation gave his clients the opportunity to use their estate plans to turn their
support into a lasting legacy. In 2025, Austin joined the Lawton Community Foundation Board of Trustees and quickly learned how much further the Foundation reaches than he realized. In addition to tax-savvy giving tools that benefit his clients and their families, the Foundation is structured to support our community’s needs today and in the future. Through grants, scholarships, nonprofit endowments and generous donors, the Foundation has invested more than $10 million in the community and will continue to invest for generations to come. “I’m amazed just how much LCF has given back to our community, and I am proud to be a small part of that effort and to help contribute to Lawton’s continued growth and success.” Austin said.
Donor-Advised Funds Terry K. Bell Charitable Trust Fund Virginia Brewczynski Legacy Fund Bridges Legacy Fund Cowboy Fund Cleo Craig Memorial Cancer & Research Foundation Fund Don Herrick Memorial Fund
Katherine D. Lacy Fund Gene & Carolyn Anne Love Gift Fund National AMBUCS Inc. of Lawton Fund Oklahoma Arts Institute Scholarship Fund
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Let’s Make an Impact Together! Lawton Area Fund
Donor-Advised Funds
By supporting the Lawton Area Fund, you join with hundreds of others to support grants that enhance lives in Lawton and surrounding areas.
A donor-advised fund is a simple and efficient way to streamline your charitable giving.
Nonproft Endowments
Scholarships
By supporting an existing or creating a new nonprofit endowment fund, you provide reliable, ongoing support to the nonprofits you care about, making it easy for others to give and nonprofits to grow their support.
Support an existing or create a new scholarship to help students achieve their goals.
Make an Impact Today
580-353-4747
Lawtoncf.org
Ways to Give Gift from a Will or Trust
Other Non-Cash Gifts
Make a provision in your will or trust for your estate to benefit others.
Cryptocurrency Life Insurance Policies Oil & Gas Royalty Interests Real Estate Retirement Plans Stocks, Bonds & Business Interests
Qualified Charitable Distributions from Your IRA Beginning at age 70 1/2, you can make Qualified Charitable Distributions of up to $111,000 from your IRA.
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Investment Performance Our sound investment and distribution policy provides sustained growth for your funds so you can continue to support the causes you care about for generations to come. For more information on our investment policies, visit occf.org/investment. Fiscal Yr 07/25–06/26
10 Years (Fiscal)
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
16.43%
9.36%
» Total General Pool Blended Benchmark2
18.10%
9.8%
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
22.42%
13.91%
» S&P 500 TR
22.32%
15.50%
» MSCI ACWI (Net)
23.67%
12.77%
Oklahoma City Community Foundation
4.28%
2.03%
» Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate
3.79%
1.54%
Total Return
Equities
Fixed Income
Alternatives Oklahoma City Community Foundation
21.25%
» Bloomberg Commodity
25.46%
» 50% Alerian MLP
21.47%
Cash Oklahoma City Community Foundation
3.89%
2.42%
» ICE BofA US 3 Month T-Bill
3.84%
2.34%
1
OCCF General Pool Blended Benchmark consists of: 25% S&P 500 TR, 10% Russell Mid Cap Index TR, 6% Russell 2000 TR, 10% MSCI EAFE Net TR, 5% MSCI Emerging Net Total Return, 20% BBG BARC US Aggregate Bond Index TR, 4% BBG BARC Global High Yield Index TR, 10% HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, 3% MSCI US REIT Gross TR, 2% ICE BofA 0-3 Month US T-Bills TR & 5% Alerian MLP Index TR.
2
Our investment returns are reported net of fees.
Trustees Linda Neal President
Phil Ferrell Vice President
Natalie Fitch
Austin Rabon
Michael Towe
Dr. Shane Hunt
Ervin Randle
Gene Love
David Madigan
Jennifer Stewart
Trustee Emeritus
1000 N. Broadway Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Start making your impact today.
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