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George Kaiser Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$93.9M
Grant Range
$150K - $1.0M
Decision Time
3mo

George Kaiser Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $93,861,118 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly by program - from approximately $150,000 to multi-million dollar awards
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater Tulsa area; some statewide Oklahoma initiatives
  • Number of Grants: 533 awards in 2023
  • Application Method: Primarily invitation-only; Accelerator Grants program accepts applications on rolling basis

Contact Details

Website: https://www.gkff.org/
Email: inquiries@gkff.org
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Accelerator Grants Program: https://gkffaccelerator.org/

Overview

The George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) was established in 1999 by George B. Kaiser, Chairman of BOK Financial Corporation and President/CEO of GBK Corporation. With over $4 billion in assets, GKFF is one of Oklahoma's largest private foundations, distributing nearly $94 million in grants during 2023 across 533 awards. The foundation's mission is guided by Kaiser's belief that "no child is responsible for the circumstances of their birth and should not be penalized for them." GKFF works to break the cycle of poverty through evidence-based, operationally-involved investments in early childhood education, community health, social services, and civic enhancement. The foundation's programs impact approximately 40,000 children living in poverty each year. George Kaiser has committed to The Giving Pledge, pledging to give away at least half of his wealth to philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Traditional Social Services Grants (Invitation-Only)

  • Annual end-of-year grant process for established partners
  • Typical grants range from $150,000 to over $1 million
  • Recent examples: Family & Children's Services ($460,000), Domestic Violence Intervention Services ($333,333), Eastern Oklahoma Donated Dental Services ($186,000)
  • Application method: Potential applicants are contacted directly by GKFF

Accelerator Grants (Open Application)

  • Designed specifically for BIPOC-led nonprofits in the Tulsa community
  • Rolling application process with quarterly reviews (February, May, August, November)
  • Awards to organizations not currently receiving GKFF support but aligned with the foundation's mission
  • Grants accepted on rolling basis through dedicated portal

Priority Areas

Early Childhood Development and Education

  • Birth to 3 programs considered most critical
  • Parent engagement and early education initiatives
  • Supports approximately 2,400 low-income children in center-based early learning programs year-round
  • Partnership with Educare (over $30 million invested) for at-risk children

Community Well-being and Justice

  • Criminal justice reform and alternatives to incarceration
  • Women in Recovery (alternative to incarceration for women and mothers)
  • Center for Employment Opportunities (reentry employment services)
  • Still She Rises (legal representation for women in the justice system)
  • The Bail Project, JusticeLink, Project Commutation
  • ProsperOK (invested $16 million since 2021 in solutions to reduce incarceration)

Health and Family Well-being

  • Maternal and child health initiatives
  • Amplify Youth Health Collective (adolescent health, sex education)
  • Take Control Initiative (access to birth control)
  • ConnectFirst (partnership between Tulsa Health Department and Parent Child Center)
  • Behavioral health services

City Vibrancy and Strong Neighborhoods

  • Neighborhood revitalization in east and north Tulsa, and Kendall-Whittier neighborhoods
  • Nearly $250 million invested in Tulsa's Arts District revitalization
  • Mixed-income housing, greenspaces, small business support
  • Civic enhancement programs: Tulsa Remote, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, InTulsa Initiative, Invest NorthTulsa, Build in Tulsa

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited proposals (except through Accelerator Grants program)
  • Projects outside the Greater Tulsa area/Oklahoma (with rare exceptions)
  • Initiatives outside their core focus areas of early childhood education, community well-being/justice, and civic enhancement
  • Geographic expansion unlikely - Kaiser stated giving outside Oklahoma is "always possible, but it's unlikely" because effective philanthropy requires knowing "the territory, your partners well and who's doing the best work"

Governance and Leadership

Founder: George B. Kaiser - Established foundation in 1999; President & CEO of GBK Corporation; Chairman of BOK Financial Corporation; committed to The Giving Pledge

Board of Directors: Includes Philip A Kaiser (George's son), Leah Kaiser (George's daughter, nonprofit consultant in Chicago), Emily Kaiser (George's daughter), Ray Owens, and Rose Washington-Jones

Key Staff: John Ferrari (Investment Officer), Ian O'Guin (Investment Operations Manager), Lex Anderson (Director of Risk and Compliance)

Leadership Philosophy: George Kaiser articulated the foundation's guiding principle: "My charitable interest is almost entirely an evidence-based, operational involvement in finally fulfilling the American commitment to equal opportunity for young children, despite their unequal circumstances of birth." He also stated: "Those who have won the ovarian lottery by being born in an advanced society to loving parents have a special obligation to help restore the American Dream."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Traditional Grants: This funder does not have a public application process for their main grant programs. For GKFF's annual social services process, potential applicants are contacted directly by GKFF to apply for an end-of-year grant. The foundation "works directly with service providers in areas of mutual interest to develop projects in the community" rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.

For Accelerator Grants:

  • Open application process through https://gkffaccelerator.org/
  • Complete an interest form on the Accelerator Grants website
  • Rolling basis with quarterly reviews in February, May, August, and November
  • Specifically for BIPOC-led nonprofits aligned with GKFF's mission to create equal opportunities for all Tulsans
  • Organizations should not be currently receiving GKFF support

Getting on Their Radar

GKFF identifies potential partners through:

  • Partnership with Tulsa Community Foundation: GKFF is the largest supporter of the Tulsa Community Foundation and works closely with that organization to identify effective community programs
  • Operational involvement: The foundation takes an evidence-based, operational approach, meaning they engage deeply with service providers in areas of mutual interest before establishing formal grant relationships
  • Board connections: Board members, including George Kaiser's children who serve on the board, are involved in identifying effective programs in the sector
  • Sector presence: Organizations doing exceptional work in early childhood education, criminal justice reform, community health, or civic enhancement in the Tulsa area may be noticed through their demonstrated impact and community reputation

Decision Timeline

  • Traditional Grants: Timing varies; annual social services grants typically awarded at end-of-year
  • Accelerator Grants: Quarterly review cycles mean decisions made four times per year (February, May, August, November)

Success Rates

With 533 awards made in 2023 from invitation-only and Accelerator processes combined, specific success rate data for applicants is not publicly available. The foundation's approach of inviting applicants for traditional grants means that invited organizations have a relatively high likelihood of receiving funding.

Reapplication Policy

For Accelerator Grants, the program is designed for organizations "not currently receiving GKFF support," suggesting it serves as an entry point for new grantees. Successful applicants may transition to traditional GKFF partnership arrangements. No specific waiting period for unsuccessful applicants is documented.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Seeking Accelerator Grants (BIPOC-Led Nonprofits):

  • Clear alignment with GKFF's mission to "create equal opportunities for all Tulsans"
  • Focus on breaking cycles of poverty through early childhood education, community well-being/justice, or civic enhancement
  • Strong connection to and leadership from the communities you serve
  • Demonstrated operational capacity to fulfill your mission with additional resources
  • Not currently receiving GKFF support (Accelerator is designed as entry point)

For Organizations Hoping to Be Invited for Traditional Grants:

  • Evidence-based approaches: GKFF emphasizes "evidence-based, operational involvement" - demonstrate that your programs are backed by research and proven effective
  • Focus on root causes: The foundation states it works to "reverse the cycle of poverty by developing solutions for its root causes" rather than treating symptoms
  • Tulsa/Oklahoma geographic focus: Must serve the Greater Tulsa area or Oklahoma
  • Alignment with priority areas: Early childhood (especially birth to 3), criminal justice reform, community health, or neighborhood revitalization
  • Operational excellence: GKFF partners with "service providers in areas of mutual interest" - demonstrate you're doing the best work in your field
  • Long-term commitment: The foundation takes a deep, sustained approach to partnership rather than one-time grants

Recent Funding Patterns Show:

  • Human services organizations received approximately $4.2 million in recent grant cycle
  • Education groups received about $1.3 million
  • Health organizations received almost $1 million
  • Criminal justice reform programs continue to receive substantial support (ProsperOK alone has received $16 million since 2021)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Accelerator Grants are your entry point: If you're a BIPOC-led nonprofit in Tulsa not currently funded by GKFF, this is the accessible application pathway - take advantage of the rolling application process
  • Traditional grants require relationship building: For GKFF's main grant programs, focus on building visibility and demonstrating excellence in your field rather than submitting unsolicited proposals
  • Geography matters intensely: GKFF is deeply committed to Tulsa and Oklahoma; out-of-state organizations should not apply
  • Evidence-based is non-negotiable: Show research backing your approach and demonstrate measurable outcomes - the foundation's founder emphasizes "evidence-based, operational involvement"
  • Think root causes, not symptoms: Frame your work as addressing the underlying causes of poverty, not just providing services
  • Impact at scale: With 40,000 children served annually and nearly $94 million distributed, GKFF thinks big - demonstrate how your work creates systemic change
  • Equal opportunity framing: Use language that connects to George Kaiser's core belief about "fulfilling the American commitment to equal opportunity for young children, despite their unequal circumstances of birth"

References

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