ONEOK Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4-5 million (foundation) / $9+ million (total community investments)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly reviews (4-6 weeks for board review)
• Grant Range: $500 - $500,000
• Geographic Focus: 22 states where ONEOK operates

Contact Details

• Website: www.oneok.com/about-us/community-investments
• Email: communityinvestments@oneok.com
• Phone: 918-588-7700
• Application Portal: Online submission through website

Overview

The ONEOK Foundation Inc (EIN: 73-1503823) is the philanthropic arm of ONEOK Inc., a major midstream energy company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Established in 1997, the foundation maintains approximately $26 million in assets and distributes $4-5 million annually through over 200 grants. Combined with corporate giving, ONEOK's total community investments reached nearly $9 million in recent years. The foundation's mission centers on strengthening communities where ONEOK operates across 22 states, with particular emphasis on education, programs promoting self-sufficiency, and diversity initiatives. Approximately 35% of their giving supports diversity and inclusion organizations, reflecting their commitment to equitable community development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Direct Grants: $500 - $500,000 (quarterly review based on amount)
  • ≤$5,000: Rolling quarterly review

  • $5,000: Board meetings in March, June, September, December

• Employee Matching Gifts: $25 - $10,000 per employee annually (dollar-for-dollar match)
• Retiree Matching: Up to $2,500 per year
• Volunteer Service Grants: Up to $500 per employee/retiree annually
• K-12 Education Grants: Specific program for public school enrichment

Priority Areas

• Education (emphasis on K-12 public schools)
• Health and Human Services (programs promoting self-sufficiency)
• Arts and Culture
• Community Development
• Environmental programs
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives (35% of giving)

What They Don't Fund

• General operating expenses
• Private foundations
• Individuals
• Religious organizations (except programs benefiting broad community)
• Tax-supported organizations (generally)
• Disease-specific prevention organizations
• Fundraising walks/runs for single organizations
• Private college preparatory schools
• Organizations with discriminatory policies
• Capital campaigns exceeding 1% of total goal

Governance and Leadership

The ONEOK Foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) entity affiliated with ONEOK Inc., led by Pierce Norton, President and CEO of the parent company. The foundation's board meets quarterly to review larger grant requests. Corporate philosophy emphasizes that "strong operations and strong communities go hand in hand," with leadership stating "we pick issues, not sides" and prioritizing investments that serve employees, customers, and communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online through www.oneok.com/about-us/community-investments. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits serving communities in ONEOK's 22-state service area: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. All requests must specify a particular program, project, or campaign rather than general operations.

Decision Timeline

• Requests ≤$5,000: Reviewed quarterly on rolling basis
• Requests >$5,000: Reviewed at quarterly board meetings (March, June, September, December)
• Lead time required: 4-6 weeks before board meetings for larger requests
• Notification: Following quarterly reviews

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the foundation awarded 203 grants in 2022 with a median grant of $5,000.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated, though organizations can submit multiple requests for different programs.

Application Success Factors

Based on ONEOK's funding patterns and stated priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

• Clear geographic alignment with ONEOK's 22-state service territory and employee presence
• Focus on self-sufficiency - Programs that help people gain skills and independence receive priority
• Specific project focus rather than general operating support requests
• Educational impact particularly for K-12 public school programs
• Diversity and inclusion commitment - 35% of foundation giving supports these initiatives
• Appropriate capital campaign sizing - Requests should not exceed 1% of total campaign goal
• Community-wide benefit for religious organization programs
• Recent successful grants include Tulsa Community Foundation's Gathering Place Boathouse ($1M), Gilcrease Museum reimagining ($500K), and Greenwood Rising ($375K)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Submit smaller requests (≤$5,000) for faster quarterly rolling review versus board approval process
• Emphasize programs helping people achieve self-sufficiency - a core foundation priority
• Must serve one of ONEOK's 22 operational states where employees work and live
• Capital campaign requests should stay at or below 1% of total campaign goal
• Diversity and inclusion programs receive significant support (35% of total giving)
• Apply 4-6 weeks before quarterly board meetings for requests over $5,000
• Focus on specific programs or projects - general operating support is not funded

References

• ONEOK Foundation profile, Candid Foundation Directory (https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/), accessed February 2026
• ONEOK Community Investments webpage (https://www.oneok.com/about-us/community-investments), accessed February 2026
• ONEOK 2023-2024 Corporate Sustainability Report, accessed February 2026
• Form 990 filings, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and GuideStar, 2022-2023
• Cause IQ nonprofit database, ONEOK Foundation Inc profile, accessed February 2026
• Instrumentl grant database, ONEOK Foundation grants 2022-2024, accessed February 2026