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The Tristesse Grief Center Inc

EIN 73-1619790 · Tulsa, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE GRIEF CENTER IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO GRIEVING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL CONSELING SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS.

Income
$723,832
Spending
$719,519
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
14
Volunteers
143
Highest pay
$101,000, executive dir.

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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 94% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $301,544 spent. GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING - PROFESSIONAL GRIEF COUNSELING AND CRISIS SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND ADULTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT LOSS BY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS WITH ADVANCED TRAINING IN GRIEF AND TRAUMATIC LOSS. COUNSELING SESSIONS CAN INCLUDE MUSIC THERAPY AS WELL AS ART THERAPY WHEN INDICATED. ALL COUNSELING SESSIONS ARE PROVIDED ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE. OUR GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS INCLUDE LOSS-SPECIFIC GROUPS (CHILD LOSS, SUICIDE LOSS, SPOUSE LOSS, FAMILY GROUP)THAT OFFER UNIQUE BENEFITS RELATED TO PROCESSING GRIEF WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR LOSSES AND DECREASING ISOLATION DURING THE GRIEVING PROCESS. ALL GROUPS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.
  2. $149,652 spent. GRIEF AND OUTREACH INTERVENTION PROGRAM - RECOGNIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS TO ACCESSING GRIEF COUNSELING FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE GRIEF CENTER PROVIDES GRIEF COUNSELING AND SUPPORT INSIDE SCHOOL WALLS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. OUR HEALING HEARTS PROGRAMMING IN TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE TULSA METROPOLITAN AREA IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
  3. $93,828 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM - WE RECOGNIZED EARLY ON THAT AREA THERAPISTS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OFTEN LACKED GRIEF SPECIFIC TRAINING. IN RESPONSE, THE GRIEF CENTER PROVIDES GRIEF SENSITIVITY TRAINING TO BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHO ENCOUNTER GRIEF AND LOSS IN THE POPULATION THEY SERVE.
  4. $71,204 spent. CAMP ERIN - CAMP ERIN SUPPORTS GRIEVING CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES THROUGH A CAMP EXPERIENCE THAT COMBINES GRIEF EDUCATION AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WITH FUN, INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES. LED BY GRIEF PROFESSIONALS AND CARING VOLUNTEERS, CAMPERS ARE PROVIDED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO EXPLORE THEIR GRIEF, LEARN ESSENTIAL COPING SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO GRIEVING. ADDITIONAL SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE FAMILY OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP EXPERIENCE. TWO SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE, CAMP ERIN KIDS CAMP IS OPEN TO CHILDREN AND TEENS AGES 6 -17 ACROSS THE STATE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A SIGNIFICANT PERSON. CAMP ERIN FAMILY CAMP , INTRODUCED IN 2023, IS OPEN TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A DEATH LOSS IN THEIR FAMILY UNIT. CAMP ERIN AND ALL SERVICES RELATED TO CAMP ERIN ARE FREE.

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 April 2002.

    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.