Endowments
Endowments are powerful investments for the future of an organization, ensuring its longevity and sustainability.
Endowed gifts support the Oklahoma Hall of Fame forever. They are unique since the full dollar amount of the gift is invested and only a percentage of the income generated is made available for spending each year to support a specific initiative or program. Because the principal amount of the gift is not spent, endowed gifts provide annual support in perpetuity for our organization!
Endowments can be created for supporting the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in various ways, but the most common are via a cash donation or from an estate, will, or retirement account. Contact our Development Officer for more details on how YOU can making a lasting impact.
A gift from an Oklahoma legend
On May 25, 2023, T. Boone Pickens Foundation officer, Jay Rosser, announced a legacy gift of $2 million to be donated to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. This testamentary gift from the late Pickens will help to maintain the building and grounds of the museum, ensuring the beauty and historic preservation of the Gaylord-Pickens Museum for many years to come.
"Boone understood the role the Oklahoma Hall of Fame plays in preserving the history of this great state and the great people," said Rosser.
"He made us promise to hold high standards, reminding me that we couldn’t dream too big,” said Shannon L. Rich, President & CEO. "It was truly a gift to know Mr. Pickens, and his legacy is one that I proudly honor."
T. Boone Pickens was one of the nation's most successful businessmen, starting in oil & gas and later reinventing himself as a successful investment fund operator. Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2003, he helped establish the namesake museum with a $3 million gift in 2005, matching E.L. Gaylord's 2001 gift. The combined donations allowed for renovations to start on the former Mid-Continent Life Insurance Building and for exhibits to be developed. The Gaylord-Pickens Museum officially opened to the public on May 10, 2007.
The gift of education
The $6,000 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship is an endowed scholarship that was started by personal donations from multiple Oklahoma Hall of Fame Members. The scholarship is awarded annually to an Oklahoma high school senior that excels in leadership, civic/community involvement, academic achievement, and Oklahoma knowledge.
Scholarships awarded in each of Oklahoma's 77 counties through the annual Oklahoma Scholarship Competition are also endowed. The funding provided through our scholarship programs have been life-changing for many of the recipients.
"It was really important for me to apply for this scholarship because whenever I started to look into it and I started to read the questions, it really made me think about what it means to be an Oklahoman and how it has affected my life."
