George Kaiser Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, registered in 2000, with $549,695,640 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 64% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2024)
$549.7M
▼ 25.3% vs prior year
Philanthropy median: $168K
Expenses (FY2024)
$274.0M
Net assets
$4.9B
Employees
561
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For George Kaiser Family Foundation: 64% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For George Kaiser Family Foundation: 215 mo reserves · +50% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For George Kaiser Family Foundation: 5 of 6 checks met earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For George Kaiser Family Foundation: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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George kaiser family foundation (gkff) is a charitable organization based in tulsa, oklahoma. the foundation is a type i supporting organization of the tulsa community foundation as described in irc section 509(a)(3). the foundation is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through investments in early childhood education, community health, social services and civic enhancement.
Civic enhancement projects benefitting the citizens of tulsa. this includes legacy programs root guides llc, tulsa innovation labs llc, tulsa remote, adpm, american song archives, tulsa artist fellowship, intulsa initiative, invest northtulsa, and build in tulsa.
Indirect support of tulsa community foundation, through direct support of charitable organizations that engage in charitable activities which are consistent with the charitable purposes of tulsa community foundation, as well as government sponsored life enhancement projects. includes social services support and community health initiatives.
Salaries and benefits related to program services
Revenue grew from $147.5M (FY2020) to $549.7M (FY2024) across 5 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
50.2%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$5.1B
Total liabilities
$178.7M
Net assets
$4.9B
Salaries & benefits
$19.8M
7% of expenses
Board members
10
3 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $549,695,640▼25.3% | $274,018,679▲4.1% | $4,911,604,994▲3.8% | $5,090,304,364▲3.1% | 990 |
| 2023 | $736,156,680▼9.5% | $263,309,460▲9.1% | $4,729,734,572▲1.0% | $4,939,370,305▲0.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $813,108,548▲281% | $241,426,057▲1.1% | $4,683,025,690▼5.4% | $4,921,816,352▼6.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $213,681,742▲44.8% | $238,750,435▲31.6% | $4,950,609,849▲29.1% | $5,269,362,275▲25.0% | 990 |
| 2020 | $147,545,498 | $181,461,156 | $3,835,660,427 | $4,216,369,136 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Highest-paid: Lisa Lambert — $1,021,583 (0.37% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Lambert | Chief Inv. Off.-private Markets | 40 | $1,021,583 |
| Ken Levit | Exec. Director | 40 | $719,500 |
| William J Stava III | Sr Program Officer | 35 | $491,562 |
| John Budd III | Chief Op Officer | 40 | $443,552 |
| Annie Van Hanken | Sr Program Officer | 40 | $403,142 |
| Reid Spears | Sr Program Officer | 40 | $377,814 |
| Benjamin Stewart | Senior Program Officer | 40 | $367,491 |
| Amy Santee | Chief Program Officer | 40 | $367,247 |
| John Robson | Chief Acct Officer | 40 | $235,857 |
| Chester Cadieux III | Board of Dir. | 1 | — |
| Emily L Kaiser | Board of Dir. | 1 | — |
| Frederic Dorwart | Board of Dir. | 5 | — |
| Leah M Kaiser | Board of Dir. | 1 | — |
| Philip A Kaiser | Board of Dir. | 1 | — |
| Phil Lakin | Board of Dir. | 10 | — |
| Ray Owens | Board of Dir. | 1 | — |
| Rose Washington-jones | Board of Dir. | 1 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Prescott Capital | Investment Management | $6,131,516 |
| Fred Dorwart Lawyers | Legal Services | $3,291,169 |
| Atento Capital LLC | Investment Management | $3,028,091 |
| Morton Excavating LLC | Excavating | $1,940,375 |
| American Institute For Research | Outcomes Research | $1,672,803 |
15 grants to George Kaiser Family Foundation totaling $104.2M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa Community Foundation | General operations | 2024 | $24,355,075 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | General operations | 2023 | $12,422,832 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | General operations | 2023 | $423,359 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of dog play wednesday | 2023 | $22,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | General operations | 2022 | $13,970,335 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the gatheringplace.org mobile phone app project | 2022 | $18,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | General operations | 2021 | $8,400,867 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of gatheringplace.org mobile phone app project | 2021 | $20,000 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the tulsa gather place community park development | 2020 | $30,400 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the gathering place to support aarp's livable communities initiative | 2019 | $40,000 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the gathering place to support aarp's livable communities initiative | 2019 | $40,000 |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc | To support birth through eight strategy for tulsa (best) program | 2018 | $27,000,000 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the tulsa gathering place | 2018 | $40,000 |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc | To support tulsa strategy | 2017 | $17,000,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Public societal benefit | 2016 | $421,000 |
399 grants totaling $83.8M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by George Kaiser Family Foundation →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Action Project of Tulsa County Inc | Best oecp+match program grant fy25 | $20,163,905 |
| Housing Partners of Tulsa Inc | Choice neighborhood application: comanche park(over five years) | $10,750,000 |
| Still She Rises Inc | Fy25 general operating fund | $2,427,574 |
| Parent Child Center of Tulsa Inc | Best healthy steps program grant fy25 | $2,379,616 |
| Grand Lake Mental Health Center Inc | Capital campaign | $2,000,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Investnorth community fund tcf invest north quick | $2,000,000 |
| Family & Childrens Service Inc | Women in recovery | $1,718,423 |
| Tulsa City-county Health Depart | Best family advocates | $1,585,541 |
| Tulsa Educare Inc | Best early learning works | $1,577,326 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Greenwood rising pri loan forgiveness | $1,527,536 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Federal funding account at tcf: build back better | $1,500,000 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Tulsaresponds fund tcf: 2025 operating support | $1,432,059 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Take control initiative fund at tcf: 2025 operating support | $1,407,052 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Flat rock creek terrace project | $1,400,000 |
| Parent Child Center of Tulsa Inc | Best family connects program grant fy25 | $1,275,785 |
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Data for George Kaiser Family Foundation (EIN 73-1574370) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.