Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,716,764 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $4,166,764
• Geographic Focus: Oklahoma, New York, Florida, North Carolina (particularly Tulsa, New York City, West Palm Beach, and Greensboro)
• Total Assets: $45,269,804

Contact Details

Address: C/O KKRFS Co LLC, 1345 6th Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10105

EIN: 73-1393621

Phone/Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a public website or listed contact phone/email.

Overview

The Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation was established in July 1992 in Oklahoma by Raymond Field Kravis, former chair of Raymond F. Kravis & Associates, Inc., a prominent geologist, oil and gas consultant, and philanthropist. Raymond and Bessie Kravis were devoted members of a special generation of philanthropists who helped shape Tulsa, serving on numerous civic, religious, and medical boards. The couple was instrumental in founding the Tulsa Jewish Federation (Raymond), the Tulsa Urban League (Bessie), and the Babies Milk Fund (Bessie). The city of Tulsa proclaimed "Raymond and Bessie Kravis Day" in 1993 to honor their contributions.

Now based in New York, the foundation continues to be managed by family members, with trustees Henry R. Kravis (renowned Wall Street financier and co-founder of KKR), his wife Marie-Josée Kravis, and their children Robert S. Kravis and Kimberly R. Kravis. Following the death of Raymond and Bessie's son George R. Kravis II in 2018, who was also a trustee, the foundation has maintained its commitment to arts and education. The foundation primarily gives support to the arts and higher education, focusing on geographic areas with deep family connections.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation without formally structured grant programs. Recent grants have included:

• SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity): $2,880,000 - Supporting educational opportunity programs
• Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts: $2,000,000 - Supporting performing arts in West Palm Beach, Florida
• Shift Education (shift_ed): $1,000,000 - Supporting educational programs focused on economic mobility

Grant amounts range from $25,000 to over $4 million, with an average grant size of approximately $1,476,250 and a median of $200,000. The foundation made 4 grants in 2023 totaling $5,905,000 and 3 grants in 2024 totaling $4,716,764.

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture:

• Performing arts centers (particularly the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach)
• Museums and visual arts institutions
• Arts education programs
• Cultural heritage preservation

Higher Education:

• University endowments and programs
• Arts management education
• Educational opportunity programs for underserved students
• Scholarship and internship programs

Geographic Focus:

• Strong preference for institutions in Tulsa, Oklahoma (the family's original home)
• New York City institutions
• West Palm Beach, Florida (where Raymond wintered for over 35 years)
• Greensboro, North Carolina

The foundation has particularly supported:

• The Philbrook Museum of Art (75,000-square-foot Kravis Wing)
• Gilcrease Museum (Kravis Discovery Center)
• University of Tulsa (Kravis Diorama Program Endowment)
• Tulsa Public Schools (Kravis Summer Arts Camp)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's giving history shows a focused approach on:

• Not funding outside their core geographic areas
• Limited support for organizations without established relationships
• Primary focus on arts and education rather than other charitable sectors

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Henry R. Kravis (Trustee, uncompensated) - Co-founder and Co-Executive Chairman of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), one of the world's leading private equity firms. Wall Street legend and prominent philanthropist who also manages the separate Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Foundation. Received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2019. Son of founders Raymond and Bessie Kravis.

• Marie-Josée Kravis (Trustee, uncompensated) - Prominent economist, President Emerita and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), former Senior Fellow of the Hudson Institute. Active philanthropist with deep involvement in New York cultural institutions.

• Robert S. Kravis (Trustee, compensated $45,469 in 2024) - Son of Henry and Marie-Josée Kravis, born 1973. Manages day-to-day foundation operations along with sister Kimberly.

• Kimberly R. Kravis (Trustee, compensated $70,531 in 2024) - Daughter of Henry Kravis from his first marriage (Kimberly Kravis Schulhof), born 1975. Also operates the separate Robert Kravis and Kimberly Kravis Foundation.

The foundation was originally managed by Raymond and Bessie's sons George R. Kravis II (who passed away in 2018) and Henry R. Kravis, extending their parents' extraordinary philanthropic legacy. In memory of George, Henry Kravis funded two important endowments in 2018: the Kravis Diorama Program Endowment at the University of Tulsa and the Kravis Discovery Center Endowment at Gilcrease Museum.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, the Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation appears to make grants based on trustee identification and initiative rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation files Form 990-PF as required of private foundations but does not maintain a public website, published application guidelines, or open grant cycles.

The foundation's giving reflects the family's long-standing relationships with institutions in communities where they have deep personal connections—particularly Tulsa (where Raymond built his oil and gas business), New York (where the family now resides), and West Palm Beach (where Raymond wintered for over 35 years).

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following are specific, documented approaches based on this foundation's history and structure:

• Geographic connection is critical: The foundation has demonstrated consistent support for institutions in Tulsa, Oklahoma; New York City; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Greensboro, North Carolina. Organizations outside these regions have historically not received funding.

• Family trustee involvement: Given that Henry Kravis serves as Chairman of SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity), which received $2.88 million from the foundation, direct board-level relationships with trustees appear to be a key pathway to funding. Marie-Josée Kravis's role as Board Chair of MoMA suggests similar patterns in arts funding.

• Institutional relationships spanning decades: The foundation has supported the same institutions repeatedly over many years (Kravis Center, Gilcrease Museum, Philbrook Museum, University of Tulsa), suggesting that new relationships are rarely formed.

• Memorial and naming opportunities: The foundation has created named facilities and endowments (Kravis Wing at Philbrook, Kravis Discovery Center at Gilcrease, Kravis Center in West Palm Beach), indicating potential interest in legacy-building opportunities that honor the Kravis family name.

• Connection to the family's Oklahoma roots: Despite now being based in New York, the foundation maintains strong ties to Tulsa institutions. Organizations with connections to the oil and gas industry, Jewish community organizations, or causes that Raymond and Bessie championed (such as the Tulsa Urban League) may be of interest.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As grants appear to be trustee-initiated rather than application-driven, there is no standard decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations positioned to potentially receive trustee-initiated grants:

Family Legacy and Values:

• Raymond and Bessie Kravis helped found critical Tulsa institutions including the Tulsa Jewish Federation, Tulsa Urban League, and Babies Milk Fund
• The family has consistently supported causes that build community infrastructure in arts and education
• Memorial gifts in honor of family members (such as Henry's 2018 endowments in memory of his brother George) are a documented giving pattern

Arts and Culture Focus:

• The foundation has created major named wings and centers at museums (Philbrook's Kravis Wing, Gilcrease's Kravis Discovery Center)
• Support for performing arts, particularly the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, which was named for Raymond in 1985 following a $7 million fundraising effort by his friends
• Interest in arts education programs, including the Kravis Summer Arts Camp at Tulsa Public Schools

Educational Opportunity and Access:

• SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity), which received the foundation's largest recent grant, focuses on creating educational and career opportunities for underserved students
• Shift Education's mission to ensure all children have access to quality education and economic mobility aligns with this priority
• The Kravis Diorama Program at University of Tulsa provides international arts management internships

Geographic Loyalty:

• Despite the foundation's New York address, Tulsa remains a major beneficiary
• The family's winter home of West Palm Beach is another key geographic focus
• Multi-generational commitment to specific communities rather than broad geographic distribution

Institutional Excellence:

• Support for prestigious institutions like MoMA, Rockefeller University (through the separate Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Foundation), and elite educational institutions
• Preference for established organizations with strong track records rather than start-ups

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a closed, family foundation: The Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and makes grants based on trustee initiative and family relationships. Traditional grant-seeking strategies will not be effective.

• Geographic focus is extremely narrow: Unless your organization is in Tulsa, New York City, West Palm Beach, or Greensboro, the likelihood of receiving support is minimal based on historical giving patterns.

• Relationship-based giving: Major grants have gone to organizations where trustees serve on boards (Henry Kravis chairs SEO; Marie-Josée Kravis chairs MoMA's board). Board-level relationships with trustees are the primary pathway to funding.

• Arts and education are the exclusive focus: The foundation does not appear to fund health, social services, environment, or other charitable sectors despite their importance. Stay within arts and higher education.

• Legacy and naming opportunities matter: The foundation has created multiple named facilities and endowment funds, suggesting interest in philanthropic vehicles that honor the Kravis family name and ensure lasting impact.

• Multi-million dollar grants to very few organizations: With only 3-4 grants per year averaging over $1 million each, this is not a foundation that spreads funding widely. They make substantial, transformative gifts to a small number of carefully selected organizations.

• Tulsa roots remain strong: Despite being managed from New York by the second and third generations, the foundation continues to honor Raymond and Bessie's commitment to Tulsa through ongoing support for the city's cultural institutions.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation (EIN 73-1393621): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/731393621 (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• Cause IQ - Raymond and Bessie Kravis Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/raymond-and-bessie-kravis-foundation,731393621/ (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Raymond & Bessie Kravis Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/raymond-bessie-kravis-foundation (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• University of Tulsa Chapman Legacy Society - The Raymond and Bessie Kravis Foundation: https://chapman.utulsa.edu/donor/the-raymond-and-bessie-kravis-foundation/ (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• Tulsa World - "Kravis Brothers Inherited Sense Of Giving Back to the Community": https://tulsaworld.com/archive/kravis-brothers-inherited-sense-of-giving-back-to-the-community/article_e254c386-e0af-5a6f-b071-62117b342342.html (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• Tulsa Foundation for Architecture - "We say goodbye to longtime TFA Trustee, George R Kravis II": https://tulsaarchitecture.org/we-say-goodbye-to-longtime-tfa-trustee-george-r-kravis-ii/ (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Foundation: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-k/marie-jose-and-henry-r-kravisnbsp-foundation (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• Kravis Center for the Performing Arts - History: https://www.kravis.org/about-us/history/ (Accessed February 5, 2026)
• PR Newswire - "The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Receives $10 Million Gift" (2019): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-raymond-f-kravis-center-for-the-performing-arts-receives-10-million-gift-300968929.html (Accessed February 5, 2026)