Oklahoma School Land Trust

Oklahoma School Land Trust

The Oklahoma Commissioners of the Land Office was established in 1907 to manage lands granted at statehood. Proceeds flow to the permanent school fund and support public education institutions. Four constitutional officers serve as commissioners alongside an appointed assistant secretary who oversees day-to-day operations. The trust holds surface land leased for agriculture and commercial use across 74 counties. It also controls mineral rights that generate oil and gas royalties. The securities sleeve includes public equities such as Unisys Corporation and allocations to AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund and AJO Emerging Markets All-Cap Fund. Geographic exposure remains concentrated in Oklahoma with additional U.S. market holdings. The agency employs 54 staff and maintains its headquarters in Oklahoma City. It retains Callan Associates as investment consultant and Northern Trust as custodian. In 2022 the trust participated as a speaker at the Badger Startup Summit on commercial real estate topics. Memberships include the National Association of State Land Farmers/Trusts and the Social Investment Forum. Governance rests with elected state officials rather than a private family or appointed board. This structure ties investment decisions directly to constitutional officers and limits external manager discretion compared with typical endowments.