Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-0235689 · since 2004walkerfoundation.org·Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$18.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

This foundation funds broad charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational endeavours, so there is room for many types of work if it falls within one of these fields.
It only funds 501(c)(3) organisations located in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas, so only organisations in these states should approach it.
No grant range is stated, so there is no guide to typical request size, though total giving paid was $18,237,511, indicating meaningful capacity.
To apply, contact the foundation office by phone or email at least 30 days before submitting a request, and apply within the fixed deadline windows of January 15 to March 1 or August 15 to October 1.
Because the executive director and board, comprised primarily of Walker family members, say they aim to fund organisations they feel will benefit most from the foundation's support, the process reads as discretionary and relationship-led, so it is worth discussing eligibility directly with the office before preparing a full application.

Overview

Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Fayetteville, AR.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational endeavours, either directly or through contributions to organisations qualifying as exempt under Section 501(c)(3). It limits grants to 501(c)(3) organisations located in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Its executive director and board, comprised primarily of members of the Walker family, seek to provide funding to organisations they feel will benefit most from its support. Organisations must discuss eligibility with the foundation office before submitting a request, and applications follow the foundation’s published procedures. Its stated scope covers broad charitable fields rather than a named service sector.

Themes

Religious endeavours
Scientific endeavours
Literary endeavours
Educational endeavours

Geographic Focus

Arkansas; Oklahoma; Missouri; Kansas.

How to apply

Before submitting a grant request, organisations must contact the foundation office by phone or email at least 30 days ahead to discuss eligibility.

Deadlines:

January 15 to March 1.
August 15 to October 1.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

The Executive Director and Board strive to fund organisations they feel will benefit most from the Foundation’s support.

Officers and directors

Austin Walker — Director
Johnny M Walker — President
Amanda M Macke — Secretary

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$11,865,366	$10,385,362	$310,993,661	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$14,098,093	$12,626,383	$334,398,230	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$20,099,514	$18,237,511	$431,457,273	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.