OCCF’s Response to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Bombing

Immediate Community Response by OCCF

• The impact this event had on our citizens, our city, and our state sent shockwaves around the world and generated an overwhelming outpour of support flowing into OKC to help the victims’ families and survivors.
  • It damaged over 300 buildings in a 48-block radius, including the building housing the Oklahoma City Community Foundation at 1300 N. Broadway.
• Donations poured into OCCF from around the world, and the Foundation was asked to assist the mayor’s office, and later the Governor’s office to manage donations made to support the victims with immediate medical needs as well as long-term expenses.
  • The Oklahoma City Community Foundation received nearly $12 million from donors nationwide to help victims’ families and survivors within the first year after the attack. In total, nearly $14.7 million was received.
• The immediate focus was on directing donations to help with medical expenses, counseling, housing and funeral expenses.
• The Oklahoma City Community Foundation established the Disaster Relief Fund to address immediate and long-term needs of victims’ families and survivors.
  • OCCF worked with over 40 organizations to provide emergency aid, including housing, counseling, and medical assistance.

Educational Support for Survivors

• Several donations were specifically earmarked to support the immediate and long-range needs of children, including paying for educational expenses for children in the building who survived and dependent children of any person permanently disabled or killed in the bombing. 217 students were eligible for Survivors’ Education Funding and nearly $5.9M has supported 159 different degree programs. Some students have received multiple degrees, and we have supported non-degree education opportunities, such as career tech. We have five students currently receiving education support and will continue providing  this support through the staff at OCCF, overseen by our trustees, as long as these students request support.

Ongoing Support

• OCCF received a total of nearly $14.7 million. As of July 1, 2024, OCCF had disbursed $15,639,545 for the benefit of victims’ families and survivors. This support, which exceeds donations, is possible due to the strong management and investment of the funds.
• More than 1200 individuals impacted by death or critical injury have benefited from services provided by the funds.
• OCCF funds a full-time caseworker to address medical and mental health needs, and OCCF staff and the Scholarship Committee oversee the educational needs of the children in the building who survived and dependent children of any person permanently disabled or killed in the bombing.
• A corporate trustee oversees individual trusts for five beneficiaries with complex needs as well as a group trust to support the medical and mental health needs of victims’ families and survivors. That company is InvesTrust Wealth Management located in Oklahoma City.
• OCCF Trustees receive and review reports on the individual trusts supporting critically injured survivors, case management for victims’ families and survivors, and the Survivors’ Education Fund.
• OCCF has chosen and committed to providing additional funding for the individual trusts, if needed. The group trust will be overseen and administered through 2064, and the education fund will continue to support identified beneficiaries.
• OCCF Trustees are obligated and committed to ensuring any funds not needed to support victims’ families or survivors are granted to meet community needs.