THE CITY LIGHTS FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE CITY LIGHTS FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA

EIN 47-4362563 · Human Service Organizations (P20)

What they do

THE CITY LIGHTS FOUNDATION of OKLAHOMA BEGAN AS A GRASSROOTS OUTREACH IN 2013 WITH NIGHT LIGHT TULSA, A WEEKLY GATHERING AIMED AT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AS NEEDS and SERVICE GAPS BECAME CLEAR, CITY LIGHTS FORMALLY INCORPORATED IN 2015. for OVER A DECADE, WE HAVE PROVIDED RELIEF, RESTORATION, and RELATIONSHIP-BASED SUPPORT to TULSAS UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS WHILE MOBILIZING HUNDREDS of VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR. OUR MISSION is ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS RESTORE COMMUNITIES. THROUGH RELATIONAL SERVICE and DIGNIFIED HOUSING SOLUTIONS, WE WORK to HELP PEOPLE MOVE FROM SURVIVING to THRIVING.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $46.40 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders11 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

5.12%of revenue went to mission work46.4% of expenses · Program services

3.60%of revenue went to fundraising32.6% of expenses

$11.04spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

2.32%of revenue went to management and office costs21.0% of expenses

$16.51in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

96.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $90,000 for SARAH GROUNDS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2025

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$9,292,248

Mission workProgram services$476,1645.12% of revenue46.4% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$215,4042.32% of revenue21.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$334,1513.60% of revenue32.6% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$8,266,52988.96% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$1,025,71911.04% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2025CurrentExpense mix: 46.4% mission · 21.0% management · 32.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 11.04% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 55.2% mission · 20.6% management · 24.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 12.74% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 50.4% mission · 15.6% management · 34.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 36.17% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 95.3% mission · 3.7% management · 1.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 107.88% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 96.5% mission · 2.8% management · 0.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.97% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 92.7% mission · 6.5% management · 0.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 93.09% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 65.5% mission · 30.1% management · 4.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.29% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 59.5% mission · 40.5% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.06% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$9,292,248

Expenses$1,025,719

Annual surplus $8,266,529 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$476,164 · 46.4% of expenses

Management and office costs$215,404 · 21.0% of expenses

Fundraising$334,151 · 32.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$9,292,248

Expenses$1,025,719

Assets$16,930,679

Income$9,344,298

Contributions$9,004,534

Mission work (program services)$476,164

Fundraising$334,151

Management and general$215,404

Stocks and bonds$5,066

Accounting fees$18,531

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

SARAH GROUNDSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $90,000

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (11)

SARAH GROUNDSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BLAKE EWINGBOARD MEMBER

CATIE COULTERIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

CHEYENE CHARLESTREASURER

DAMON DOMERSECRETARY

ERIN KELLEYBOARD MEMBER

KOJO ASOMOA-CAESARVICE PRESIDENT

LAURIE TILLEYBOARD MEMBER

RILEY KERNBOARD MEMBER

SAMUEL KURTZBOARD MEMBER

TODD WELSHPRESIDENT

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2015
Location: 1018 E 23RD STREET, TULSA, OK 74107-0000
County: Tulsa
In care of: % SARAH D GROUNDS
Primary officer: SARAH GROUNDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

Phone(918) 204-9595

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: REGIER CARR & MONROE LLP
NTEE classification: Human Service Organizations (P20)
IRS tax category: Human Service Organizations