Launch of Tulsa Housing Impact Fund Marks Community’s Investment in Housing
In February, Housing Forward in partnership with the City of Tulsa, The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation and Smart Growth America released the Smart Growth Tulsa report, an analysis of Tulsa’s housing needs and opportunities. Since the report’s release, many of the recommendations made to expedite housing development have seen significant progress, through advocacy, collaboration and partnership between the City of Tulsa, Housing Forward, developers, housing nonprofits and influencers like Housing Partnership Network, Incremental Development Alliance and more.
This article is part of a multi-part series highlighting how these recommendations are being implemented as our community works to move housing forward in Tulsa.
Smart Growth Recommendation: Steering public infrastructure investment and incentive programs to specific geographic areas
What’s Changed: On Nov 19, Housing Partnership Network announced the launch of the Tulsa Housing Impact Fund, a locally-governed, Tulsa-based initiative that will support the development and preservation of rental and for-sale affordable and workforce housing. Launched with a fundraising goal of $120 million and already funded at $74 million, the fund was seeded through public-private investment from the City of Tulsa, The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation, Ruth Nelson Family Foundation, George Kaiser Family Foundation, Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and Coretz Family Foundation, with ongoing fundraising targeting regional corporate giving, and several national charitable foundations and financial institutions.
On December 3rd, Tulsa City Council approved distribution of $13.7 million as the first round of funding from the 2023 Improve Our Tulsa voter-approved initiative, marking a major step in the right direction toward investing public funds in historically underinvested communities. At their previous meeting, on November 19, Tulsa City Council approved an Economic Incentive Policy, which governs how Housing Partnership Network will administer the City funds. The City Legal Department is currently finalizing a contract with Housing Partnership Network and once that’s finalized, hopefully this month, Housing Partnership Network will be able to start accepting applications for funds. Housing Partnership Network plans to hold information sessions in advance of that to explain the process, so stay tuned.
Tulsa Housing Impact Fund Launch Event, November 19, 2025.
Pictured, left to right: City Councilor Karen Gilbert, Mayor Monroe Nichols,
Tulsa Housing Impact Fund Board members Bill Major, Gina Stilp and Burlinda Radney
Communities that grow, thrive. Tulsa’s present housing supply is not meeting the needs of its community. By tackling the recommendations made in our Smart Growth Report such as streamlining development, removing regulatory barriers, and aligning housing with transportation and infrastructure investments, Tulsa can create a more accessible and affordable housing market, giving Oklahomans the freedom to choose how and where they live.
Next Steps:
Finalize allocation of funds from the 2023 voter-approved Improve Our Tulsa funding initiative into the Tulsa Housing Impact Fund.
Collaborate with Housing Partnership Network to prepare application process facilitation and outreach.