Today, more than 50 fountains grace communities, hospitals and colleges throughout the United States in his name. A revered Stanford and University of Utah professor, Tanner's legacy also includes more than a dozen lectureships, including the Tanner Lectures on Human Values presented annually at such esteemed universities as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, University of California and University of Utah.

Obert Tanner’s cultural contributions include serving as the chairman of the commission that planned the construction of Utah's Symphony Hall, the Utah Arts Center and the restoration of Salt Lake City's historic Capitol Theater. The company also provided funding for the construction of the Adams Shakespeare Theater at Southern Utah University and the construction of the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater located near the entrance to Zion National Park.

The O.C. Tanner Foundation also benefits organizations such as the Utah Symphony, the United Way, the Road Home homeless shelter, Habitat for Humanity and the Nature Conservancy. The company and its employees have also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hurricane Katrina and Tsunami relief efforts, and sponsor an annual Christmas toy drive.