The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation (EEJF) is a private grant-making foundation based in Oklahoma City that awards grants to support advances in journalism. ¹ EEJF distributes grants according to four program areas, Investigative Reporting, Professional Development, Oklahoma Journalism, and Special Opportunities. ² The group is a supporter of the GroundTruth Project, a left-of-center journalism outfit that embeds left-leaning journalists in local news organizations. ³

EEJF is one of two foundations founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord in 1982, the other being the Inasmuch Foundation,⁴ which awards grants in the fields of education, health and human services, and community. ⁵ The two organizations share financials, and file their taxes under the name Inasmuch Foundation. Combined, the Foundations show assets of nearly $450 million in 2017,⁶ hold almost identical boards of directors, and share a grants manager and program officer. ^{7 8}

Grantmaking

EEJF grants millions of dollars annually to a variety of national and Oklahoman journalism organizations. ⁹

In 2019, EEJF granted $100,000 to the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting to report on the actions of government officials, $50,000 to Injustice Watch to report on criminal justice policies, and $50,000 to War Horse to strategically produce reporting that will influence public policy. ¹⁰

EEJF regularly grants funds to the left-of-center media organization GroundTruth Project, in support of its projects which include Report for America, a group created to insert left-leaning journalists into news organizations across the U.S. ¹¹

EEJF grants $75,000 annually to the National Press Club Journalism Institute to produce the “Kalb Report,” a television series that focuses on journalism and the media hosted by Marvin Kalb. ¹² Kalb is a left-leaning journalist who authored the book Enemy of the People criticizing President Donald Trump’s supposed “war on the press.” ¹³

People

Edith Kinney Gaylord is the founder of EEJF. Gaylord was the daughter of Edward King Gaylord, the editor and publisher of the Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Times. Gaylord worked as a reporter for her father’s newspapers before working for the Associated Press in New York and later Washington, D.C., where went on to cover former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s news conferences. Gaylord was a former president of the National Women’s Press Club, and later went on to serve on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Publishing Company. ¹⁴Tyler Tokarczyk is the Program Officer, and serves on board of Teach for America Oklahoma City. ¹⁵

Ed Kelley serves as a Journalism Consultant for EEJF, is the Dean of Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and has worked with the U.S. Department of State as a lecturer and as part of its Media Exchange Program. Kelley is a former editor of both the Washington Times and the Oklahoman. ¹⁶

Vivian Vahlberg serves as a Journalism Consultant. Vahlberg is the former executive director of the Society of Professional Journalists, former member of the advisory committee of Online News Association, and former project director of the Chicago Community Trust (CCT). ¹⁷

Board of Directors

William J. Ross is the chairman of the board and worked as attorney for Edith Kinney Gaylord. Ross formerly sat on the boards of United Energy Resources, PetroUnited Terminals, Hadson Petroleum, Clinton and Oklahoma Western Railroad, and First Interstate Bank of Oklahoma. ¹⁸

Robert J. Ross is the president and CEO of the Foundation, and formerly the vice president and executive director. Ross serves on the board of a number of organizations, including the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Watch, Roff Oil & Gas, State Board of Career and Technology Education, State Board of Education, and Teach for America Oklahoma City. ¹⁹

David O. Hogan is the chairman of the Investment Committee. ²⁰

Andrew W. Roff is Vice Chairman and co-chair of Roff Resources, and previously worked in the treasury department of the Pennzoil Company. Roff has also held positions at PetroUnited, and Sonat, Inc. ²¹ Hugh Roff, Jr. is Chairman and co-founder of Roff Resources, former Chairman, President, and CEO of United Energy Resources, and former Chairman of PetroUnited Terminals ²²

Patrick T. Rooney is CEO of First National Bank of Oklahoma, and is a former chairman of the Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM). ²³

1. “EEJF Home.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/eejf-home/.
2. “About.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/about-eejf/.
3. “Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Announces $1.533 Million in Awards.” Inasmuch Foundation, August 10, 2018. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/ethics-and-excellence-in-journalism-foundation-announces-1-533-million-in-awards/.
4. Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/.
5. “Home.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/home/.
6. Inasmuch Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part II, Line 16c
7. “About.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/about-eejf/.
8. “About.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/about/.
9. “EEJF News.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/eejf-news/.
10. “Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Announces $1.225 Million in Awards.” Inasmuch Foundation, August 14, 2019. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/ethics-and-excellence-in-journalism-foundation-announces-1-225-million-in-awards/.
11. “Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Announces $1.533 Million in Awards.” Inasmuch Foundation, August 10, 2018. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/ethics-and-excellence-in-journalism-foundation-announces-1-533-million-in-awards/.
12. “About the Series.” The Kalb Report, 2020. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.thekalbreport.org/about-the-series.
13. Roman, Steve. “Enemy of the People: Marvin Kalb Addresses President Trump’s Attacks on the Press and Judiciary.” The Brookings Institution, August 8, 2018. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2018/08/08/enemy-of-the-people-marvin-kalb-addresses-president-trumps-attacks-on-the-press-and-judiciary/.
14. “History.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/eejf-history/.
15. “Tyler Tokarczyk.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylertokarczyk/.
16. “Ed Kelley.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-kelley-48655558/.
17. “Vivian Vahlberg.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianvahlberg/.
18. “Ross, William J.” Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 2016. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/r/ross-william-j-2015.
19. “Robert J. Ross.” Acorn Growth Companies, 2019. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://acorngrowthcompanies.com/about-us/team/robert-j-ross.
20. “About.” Inasmuch Foundation. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://inasmuchfoundation.org/about-eejf/.
21. “Principals.” Roff Oil and Gas, 2010. Accessed January 15, 2020. http://www.roffoilandgas.com/Principals.htm.
22. “Principals.” Roff Oil and Gas, 2010. Accessed January 15, 2020. http://www.roffoilandgas.com/Principals.htm.
23. “Mr. Patrick T. Rooney.” Oklahoma City University. Accessed January 15, 2020. https://www.okcu.edu/directory/patrick-rooney/.