On April 19, 1995, a devastating bomb exploded at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, claiming 168 lives and injuring approximately 680 others. Among those who felt the impact of this tragedy was Nancy Anthony, a Yale alum and executive director of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF). The bombing was a profound shock not only to Anthony but also to the community she had long served. In the wake of this tragedy, the OCCF shifted its focus from regular philanthropic activities to disaster relief, marking a pivotal moment in its history.
In the immediate aftermath, the foundation faced the monumental task of coordinating support for victims and their families. “No, we were not going to go down there and dig through the rubble,” Anthony recalled. “But we could try to coordinate the services that were going to be necessary for these people after those first few weeks.” As donations flowed in from around the world, OCCF became a vital resource, assisting the mayor’s office and later the governor’s office to manage contributions aimed at addressing medical needs, counseling, housing, and funeral expenses for the victims.
In the year following the bombing, OCCF raised nearly $12 million to support the victims’ families and survivors. Under Anthony’s leadership, the foundation aided more than 1,200 individuals affected by the bombing, setting a new course for the organization and for her career. Over the next 38 years, Anthony played a crucial role in transforming OCCF into a leading philanthropic institution in the region.
From Yale to Community Leadership
Nancy Anthony’s journey began in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where she learned the value of community. After being accepted to Vanderbilt University, she developed an interest in mathematics, which led her to pursue a graduate degree in statistics at Yale University. During her time at Yale in the early 1970s, she stood out as one of the few female students in her department, honing her skills in data analysis.
After completing her M.Phil, Anthony moved to Oklahoma City with her husband, Robert. For a decade, she focused on raising their four children while volunteering with the city’s Metropolitan Library Commission. Eventually, her desire to return to work led her to OCCF, which had been established in 1969 to facilitate charitable giving in the community. In 1985, she became the foundation’s executive director.
Initially unfamiliar with endowments and fundraising, Anthony leveraged her academic background to enhance OCCF’s operations. She revamped the organization’s databases, significantly improving its data management capabilities. “I was only there [at Yale] for two years,” she said. “But it made me realize how important very high-quality academic work was and the impact it can have.”
Building a Culture of Giving
Under Anthony’s stewardship, OCCF emerged as a leader among community foundations across the United States. When she assumed the role, the foundation had $19 million in assets and a staff of just one other full-time employee. By the time she retired in 2022, OCCF boasted 47 full-time staff members and distributed an average of $46 million annually to charitable organizations throughout Oklahoma City.
Anthony expanded OCCF’s endowed funds, and now over 400 organizations participate in its Nonprofit Endowment Program, making it one of the largest in the country. The foundation also initiated various programs focused on education, public spaces, and community wellness. “We felt like we could work with donors and let them determine what needs in the community they wanted to support,” she explained.
Bob Blackburn, who first met Anthony in 1988 while working with the Oklahoma Historical Society, praised her ability to blend private donations with state funds. He noted, “Nancy channeled good intentions into lasting outcomes, served as a voice for those who needed help, and shaped public opinion about priorities to deal with challenges and seize opportunities.”
During her tenure, OCCF disbursed over $640 million to various charitable organizations across Oklahoma, including significant contributions following the bombing. Nancy Coats-Ashley, a retired district court judge and former trustee of the foundation, emphasized its essential role in the aftermath of the bombing, stating, “OCCF’s reputation for integrity and trustworthiness under Nancy Anthony’s leadership provided people the assurance that the funds would be properly applied.”
Anthony also took her experience to the national stage following the September 11 attacks. For two years, she provided consulting support to charitable organizations in New York City, helping them navigate the complexities of serving those impacted by the tragedy. “You’re dealing with families where something awful had happened to them,” she noted. “This is not about just handing out money. This is really about trying to do the things that help people move on with their lives.”
Three years after retiring from OCCF, Anthony remains actively engaged in the Oklahoma City community. Her commitment to service is evident in her more than 40 years on the library commission and her ongoing involvement with various volunteer boards. Through her leadership and dedication, Nancy Anthony has cultivated a culture of giving that will benefit Oklahoma City for generations to come.
