Frequently Asked Questions

GKFF works to break the cycle of poverty and make Tulsa a place where every person and family can thrive, no matter their background. We are committed to supporting children and their families — especially those from less advantaged backgrounds — and creating long-term opportunities that empower communities, foster sustainable economic growth and make a lasting social impact.

Discover more about our approach to equal opportunity.

Our approach focuses on reversing the cycle of poverty by creating solutions for its root causes and symptoms. In collaboration with public and private partners and local organizations, we pursue efforts that create lasting, positive change – with a dedicated focus on advancing progress in the areas of: Early Childhood Development and Education; Community Well-being and Justice; City Vibrancy and Strong Neighborhoods.

Explore the scale and scope of our impact.

GKFF focuses on Tulsa for a few reasons. First, our commitment to the city is rooted in a deep connection to the community that welcomed our founder’s family when they fled Nazi Germany. Second, we believe our place-based approach allows the foundation to be more effective in achieving the outcomes it desires. With our team based locally, we have a firsthand understanding of the people, organizations and challenges that shape Tulsa. This proximity allows us to build strong partnerships with local organizations, providing direct support aligned with our core areas of impact. By investing in programs that serve Tulsans, we’re able to stay closely engaged with the community and drive meaningful, lasting change.

See more about why we choose to focus on Tulsa.

GKFF is uniquely focused on making Tulsa a thriving place for children and families. With a deeply rooted, place-based approach, we tailor resources to address the specific challenges faced by Tulsans. Unlike many foundations, GKFF not only provides grants, we also deliver direct services in many instances. This hands-on, “operational versus distributional” model emphasizes active collaboration with local leaders and the use of evidence-based practices to make a meaningful impact to address pressing community needs and advance equal opportunity.

Learn more about our approach.

GKFF is guided by George Kaiser’s belief that no child is responsible for the circumstances of their birth and should not be penalized for them. This founding principle continues to guide our work to break the cycle of poverty today.

We are focused on providing the greatest opportunity for self-fulfillment for every child, especially for those from the least advantaged circumstances. We pursue initiatives that will do the greatest social good and make a true difference for Tulsans. In all of our work and the initiatives we support, we promote the values and practices of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

We collaborate with organizations, leaders, and partners who embody these values and share our commitment to creating equal opportunity for all. 

For more information about our people and opportunities to work at GKFF, see our employment page.

GKFF does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications from individuals. Application requirements are also program-specific and vary depending on the project.

Instead, we partner directly with community-based organizations and service providers that work within our core areas of impact: Early Childhood Development and Education; Community Well-being and Justice; City Vibrancy and Strong Neighborhoods.

See more about our grant process and learn about partnering with us.

In addition to our traditional grants, GKFF’s Accelerator Grants aim to increase access to funding and ensure historically disadvantaged and underfunded nonprofits have the financial and technical support to fulfill their missions within the Tulsa community. 

If your organization is interested in applying for an Accelerator Grant, you can learn more about the requirements and fill out an interest form here.

Form 990 filings provide detailed financial and operational information about nonprofit organizations. You can access GKFF’s by searching for the organization on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer website.

George B. Kaiser founded GKFF in 1999 with a belief that no child is responsible for the circumstances of their birth and should not be punished for them in this life. He chose to focus his charitable efforts in Tulsa, the community that welcomed his family from Nazi Germany.

Learn more about George Kaiser.

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Rather than following a rapid spend-down model or transitioning into a purely legacy foundation, GKFF has adopted a hybrid approach. Our foundation is governed by a board appointed primarily by the Tulsa Community Foundation, with family representation from our founder. This structure enables GKFF to continue operating actively in our current model for years to come, while eventually evolving to a more passive role focused on sustaining our core initiatives for the long term.

Founded in 1998, TCF was created to provide flexible charitable giving solutions for nonprofits, businesses, individuals and families. GKFF is a supporting organization of TCF. Learn more about TCF's work and story.