$18 million gift from Herman Meinders to university for scholarships

The Meinders Foundation has committed an $18 million gift to Oklahoma City University, matching the most significant previous contribution made in the name of the foundation’s namesake.

The funds will be placed into the newly established Herman Meinders Endowment, with approximately two-thirds of the annual payout earmarked for scholarships and operations at the university’s Meinders School of Business.

The remaining portion will support the Kramer School of Nursing and the Wanda L. Bass School of Music.

By directing resources into an endowment rather than a one-time capital project, the university strengthens its long-term capacity for student aid and programmatic investment while reinforcing the donor’s enduring commitment to higher education in business, nursing, and music.

Herman Meinders, a self-made Oklahoma entrepreneur and philanthropist, founded American Floral Services, which grew into one of the world’s leading floral wire services before merging with Teleflora.

Renowned for his business acumen and community spirit, he became a prominent benefactor of educational and civic causes throughout Oklahoma, with the Meinders School of Business at OCU being one of his most notable legacies.