CIC Award for Philanthropy (Organization)
Presented to The J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation
The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation was established in 1948 by John and Lottie Mabee of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite beginning with limited means and John having only a third-grade education, their entrepreneurial drive, dedication, and financial expertise led them to become one of the nation’s most successful families. With no children of their own, the Mabees chose to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy through the Foundation. trustees in 2023 disbursed more than $176 million in grants and program-related investments.
For much of its 75+ years, the Mabee Foundation has dedicated itself exclusively to capital-focused projects, fueling new construction, building renovations, and the acquisition of major medical equipment for nonprofit organizations. Through its unique “challenge grant” model, grantee organizations must secure at least 40 percent of the project’s cost from private donors before consideration, and the Foundation will contribute up to 20 percent of the total project expenses. Grantees are then ‘challenged’ to raise the remainder of the project cost within one year. Funds are released only after the challenge is met and construction begins, ensuring both financial effectiveness and sustainable growth. To date, the Mabee Foundation has awarded over $1.6 billion in grants, empowering initiatives focused on higher education, healthcare, and a wide array of social services. Michael Goeke, who will be accepting the award on the Foundation’s behalf, has been the executive director of the Mabee Foundation since 2019.
History of the Philanthropy Award—Organization
Philanthropic foundations and corporate giving programs support innovative thinking and the development of ideas and programs. As important cultural agents, they focus the nation’s attention on pressing issues facing our society. This award celebrates a foundation or corporation whose support to CIC or private colleges and universities has demonstrated leadership and vision and consequently has made a significant difference in the vitality of independent higher education.
With this award, CIC seeks to honor philanthropic organizations, whether their scope is national or regional, that have made the support of independent colleges and universities a priority in their funding or have discovered that independent institutions are particularly successful grantees in addressing the funding organization’s priority areas. Many of the foundations and corporations that have received this award also have demonstrated sustained commitment to independent higher education over a number of years and even decades.
PREVIOUS PHILANTHROPY AWARD RECIPIENTS
2025: The Richard King Mellon Foundation
2024: TheDream.US
2023: The Jaharis Family Foundation
2022: The Cannon Charitable Interests
2021: The Duke Endowment
2020: Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, Inc.
2019: The Bernard Osher Foundation
2018: Newman’s Own Foundation
2017: Research Corporation for Science Advancement
2016: The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation
2015: James S. Kemper Foundation
2013: Coca-Cola Company
2012: The John R. Oishei Foundation
2011: The Arthur J. Schmitt Foundation
The Walmart Foundation
2010: The Bernard McDonough Foundation
2009: Shelby M. C. Davis United World College Scholars Program
2008: Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation
2007: George I. Alden Trust
2006: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Davis Educational Foundation
2005: The UPS Foundation
2004: Scholarship America
2003: Jessie Ball DuPont Fund
2002: The Bush Foundation
2001: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
2000: The Kresge Foundation
The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
CIC Allen P. Splete Award for Outstanding Service
Presented to Sarah Flanagan
Sarah A. Flanagan has an extensive background in higher education policy, education, and the federal government. She served as the vice president for government relations and policy development at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) for more than 30 years from 1994–2025. In this role, she directed a comprehensive government relations effort focused on issues of government regulation, student financial assistance, and tax policy in coordination with NAICU’s related state associations. She played a key role in advancing bipartisan support and funding for federal student aid programs like Pell Grants, establishing tax incentives for college savings, and balancing federal support for students with oversight of higher education institutions.
Before joining NAICU, Flanagan was the professional staff member for higher education on the Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts and Humanities and the staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Children, Families, Drugs and Alcoholism. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Providence College (RI) and a master’s degree in teaching from Rhode Island College. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Beacon College (FL) and is a trustee emerita at Providence College (RI) and at Mary Baldwin University (VA).
History of the Allen P. Splete Award
The Allen P. Splete Award is presented to an individual, organization, or publication in recognition of significant contributions to independent higher education. Recipients have demonstrated national leadership, through ideas and commitment, on behalf of private colleges and universities.
With this award, CIC recognizes individuals and organizations that have contributed to greater understanding and appreciation of the role of independent colleges and universities or have been responsible for significant improvements in these institutions. Examples include research and writing about this sector or a particular segment of it and giving voice to the needs and attributes of independent institutions in public forums, as well as behind the scenes. The award is named after Allen P. Splete, president of CIC from 1986 to 2000.
PREVIOUS ALLEN P. SPLETE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2025: Joanne Soliday
2024: Ann Die Hasselmo
2023: David L. Warren
2022: Judith Block McLaughlin
2021: Earl Lewis
2020: Peter T. Ewell
2019: Johnnetta Betsch Cole
2018: Ernesto Nieto
2017: Arthur Levine
2016: W. Robert Connor
2014: Sandy Baum and Michael McPherson
2013: Alexander Astin
2012: Gordon Winston
2011: Mary Patterson McPherson
2009: George D. Kuh
2008: Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
2007: Eugene M. Lang
2006: Ken Yamada
2005: Thomas A. Emmet
2004: Elizabeth J. McCormack and Jerry I. Aron
2003: USA Today
2002: Patricia Willis
2001: Richard Kimball