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Oklahoma Hall of Fame Inc

EIN 73-0784696 · Oklahoma City, OK

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME PRESERVES OKLAHOMAS UNIQUE HISTORY WHILE PROMOTING PRIDE IN OUR GREAT STATE THROUGH EACH OF ITS PROGRAMS AND THE GAYLORD-PICKENS MUSEUM. THE ASSOCIATION HONORS OUR STATES RICH TRADITION BY TELLING OKLAHOMAS STORY THROUGH ITS PEOPLE.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
39
Volunteers
174
Highest pay
$221,006, president / ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    63 of 63 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. MUSEUM: HOME OF THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME, THE MUSEUMS HIGH-TECH, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS PROVIDE VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE OKLAHOMAS HISTORY THROUGH ITS PEOPLE. VISITORS MEET BOTH FAMOUS AND EVERYDAY OKLAHOMANS WHOSE LIVES HAVE IMPACTED OUR STATE, COUNTRY AND WORLD. THE CANDID NATURE OF THE EXHIBITORY ALLOWS VISITORS A UNIQUE LOOK INTO THE LIVES OF OKLAHOMANS LIKE REBA MCENTIRE, WILEY POST, AND MAT HOFFMAN. THE FACES, VOICES AND SPIRIT OF OKLAHOMA FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE THAT INHABIT THE MUSEUM CREATE AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE NATION.
  2. $628,109 spent. HALL OF FAME: BEING INDUCTED INTO THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME IS THE HIGHEST HONOR AN OKLAHOMAN CAN RECEIVE FROM THE STATE. OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME WAS CREATED TO HONOR OKLAHOMANS WHO HAD GIVEN OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE STATE DURING THEIR LIFETIMES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1926, 698 ACCOMPLISHED INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED THIS COMMENDATION. THE NAMES OF THE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS, AS WELL AS BUSTS AND PORTRAITS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE SEEN AT THE GAYLORD-PICKENS MUSEUM. INFORMATION ON EACH MEMBER ALSO IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERACTIVE COMPUTERS IN THE HALL OF FAME GALLERY AND ON THE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITE AT WWW.OKLAHOMAHOF.COM. IN ADDITION, THE ANNUAL CEREMONY IS HELD EACH YEAR IN THE STATEHOOD MONTH. THE EVENT IS HELD IN OKLAHOMA CITY TWO YEARS AND IN TULSA THE THIRD YEAR. IN 2010, THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME BEGAN SPONSORING A $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDENTS CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA. CURRENTLY, THAT SAME SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT HAS RISEN TO $6,000
  3. $142,764 spent. PUBLISHING: THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME HAS BEEN PUBLISHING BOOKS CELEBRATING AND PROMOTING OKLAHOMAS RICH HISTORY SINCE 1975. THE ORGANIZATION IS PRESERVING IN A PERMANENT FORM THE EFFORTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN OKLAHOMAS STORY THROUGH RELEASES LIKE THE JUDGE: THE LIFE OF ROBERT A HEFNER, THROUGH ITS VARIOUS NON-FICTION SERIES INCLUDING THE TRACKMAKER SERIES OF BIOGRAPHIES, VOICES SERIES OF AUTOBIOGRAPHIES, AND HORIZONS SERIES OF HISTORIES ON INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOVEMENTS. WITH MORE THAN 180 TITLES TO DATE, THE ORGANIZATION IS RECOGNIZED AS THE LEADER IN PUBLISHING OKLAHOMAS HISTORY. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE RESEARCH AND WRITING, EDITING LAYOUT AND DESIGN, AND PRINTING AS A WHOLESALER. TITLES PUBLISHED ARE CARRIED IN LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL BOOKSTORES AND ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH ITS LIBRARY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. MANY TITLES ARE PLACED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIABRARIES STATEWIDE AT NO COST TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR LIBRARY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.