T. Boone Pickens Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $50,000 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: National, with focus on Texas and Oklahoma
• Total Assets: $785,886 (2022)

Contact Details

Address: 600 Parker Sq Ste 290a-Box, Flower Mound, TX 75028-7400

Website: https://tboonepickensfoundation.org/

EIN: 20-5892962

Important Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited inquiries. Contact information for phone and email is not publicly listed due to the invitation-only grant process.

Overview

The T. Boone Pickens Foundation was established in 2006 by the late energy entrepreneur and philanthropist T. Boone Pickens, who passed away in 2019. The foundation operates under the motto "Supporting the Exemplary Efforts of Extraordinary People." According to the most recent 990-PF filing (2022), the foundation reported total assets of $785,886 and grant distributions of $50,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses on six primary philanthropic areas:

• Health and Medical Research, Treatment and Services: Support for institutions including MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Center for Brain Health in Dallas, and Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary.

• Education and Athletics: Support for Oklahoma State University and athletic programmes.

• Kids at Risk: Programmes protecting, educating, and mentoring at-risk children to develop future leaders.

• Support for U.S. Military Members: Programmes benefiting veterans and active military personnel, reflecting Pickens' deep patriotic commitment.

• Entrepreneurship: Leadership development and support for business creators.

• Conservation and Wildlife Management: Environmental stewardship initiatives, including restoration of the 68,000-acre Mesa Vista property in the Texas Panhandle.

Priority Areas

• Physical, mental, and spiritual health initiatives
• Human performance and nutrition research
• Athletic facilities and programmes
• Student scholarships and educational access
• Veterans support programmes
• Wildlife conservation and land restoration
• Entrepreneurial leadership development

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking process.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by a small leadership team:

• Ronald D. Bassett - President
• Robert L. Stillwell - Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
• Jay Rosser - Director
• Andrew J. Littlefair - Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The T. Boone Pickens Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states: "The T. Boone Pickens Foundation does not accept unsolicited letters, emails or calls of inquiry. The grant application is by invitation only, through a request for proposal process."

Organisations cannot apply directly to the foundation. Grant recipients must be invited to apply by a member or members of the foundation committee. The foundation operates through a formal request for proposal mechanism, with invitations extended directly by foundation committee members.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates primarily through connections to T. Boone Pickens' established relationships and priorities. Based on the foundation's grant history, organisations most likely to be invited include:

• Institutions with existing Pickens connections: Oklahoma State University, where Pickens was an alumnus, has been a significant beneficiary.

• Organisations in the foundation's established focus areas: The foundation has demonstrated sustained commitment to specific institutions in health and medical research (MD Anderson, UT Southwestern, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Center for Brain Health in Dallas, Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary).

• Geographic alignment: Organisations based in Texas and Oklahoma appear to receive priority consideration, with Flower Mound, TX serving as the foundation's location.

• Foundation board connections: With only four leadership members (Ronald D. Bassett, Robert L. Stillwell, Jay Rosser, and Andrew J. Littlefair), invitations likely stem from their professional networks and strategic relationships.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available due to the invitation-only process. Organisations receive invitations through the request for proposal process initiated by foundation committee members.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's stated priorities reveal clear patterns:

Alignment with Pickens' Personal Values: The foundation prioritises causes that mattered deeply to T. Boone Pickens personally, with emphasis on physical, mental, and spiritual health reflected in grants supporting human performance research, athletic programmes, and medical institutions.

Long-term Institutional Relationships: The largest grants have gone to institutions with which Pickens had long-standing relationships, particularly Oklahoma State University.

Focus on Tangible Impact: The foundation supports concrete projects with measurable outcomes.

Health and Wellness Emphasis: The foundation's support spans institutions in medical research and human performance.

Veterans and Youth Development: Programmes benefiting military members and at-risk children align with Pickens' stated priorities and patriotic commitment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only process: Organisations cannot submit unsolicited applications. The foundation operates exclusively through invitations from committee members.

• Relationship-driven grantmaking: Success depends on existing connections to the foundation's leadership (Ronald D. Bassett, Robert L. Stillwell, Jay Rosser, Andrew J. Littlefair) or alignment with T. Boone Pickens' legacy priorities.

• Health and education focus: The strongest opportunities align with human performance research, medical research institutions, educational access (particularly scholarships), and athletic programmes.

• Geographic preference: Texas and Oklahoma institutions, particularly those with historical ties to Pickens, receive priority consideration.

• Legacy continuation: Post-2019, the foundation continues Pickens' philanthropic vision through established relationships and priorities rather than expanding into new areas.

References

• T. Boone Pickens Foundation official website: https://tboonepickensfoundation.org/
• T. Boone Pickens Foundation - About page: https://tboonepickensfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - T Boone Pickens Foundation (EIN 20-5892962): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205892962