Kirkpatrick Foundation

What Kirkpatrick Foundation does

Kirkpatrick Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established on May 17, 1955, by John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick with an initial $10,000 contribution and headquartered at 1001 West Wilshire Boulevard in Oklahoma City. Over its 70-year history the foundation has distributed more than $92 million in grants and currently distributes approximately $3 million annually across six focus areas: arts, culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation, with a geographic emphasis on Central Oklahoma. The foundation operates through a structured grantmaking program (small grants of $10,000 or less reviewed monthly; large grants averaging $25,000 with bi-annual Letters of Inquiry cycles), administered by a six-person staff led by Executive Director Kelley Barnes and Chairman Christian Keesee, a third-generation Kirkpatrick family member.

The foundation's products and endeavors include ArtDesk (a quarterly print magazine covering contemporary arts, distributed free in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado), the Oklahoma Animal Study (a 200-page 2016 research publication), the Safe & Humane initiative (with a stated vision to make Oklahoma the safest and most humane place to be an animal by 2032), The Animal Conference (an annual convening), SQ 777 voter education resources, and the Kirkpatrick Medal (inaugural award in 2024). Distribution is via an online grant portal (YourCause Grants), a website with email newsletter, organic social channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and physical/digital publications.

The foundation has historically played a catalytic role in Oklahoma's philanthropic infrastructure, providing $40,000 in seed funding in 1969 to establish the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (now $830M+ in assets) and a $22 million grant in 1994 to create the Kirkpatrick Family Fund as an affiliated fund of OCCF. There is no proprietary technology product or AI capability; the foundation operates as a traditional grantmaking entity, and its business model is funded by investment returns on its endowment rather than by commercial revenue.

Name

Kirkpatrick Foundation

Legal name

Kirkpatrick Foundation

Website

https://kirkpatrickfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kirkpatrick Foundation is a private Oklahoma City-based philanthropic foundation established in 1955 that distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants across arts, culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation, primarily serving Central Oklahoma nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Private foundation grants
• Philanthropic giving
• Arts culture education
• Animal wellbeing advocacy
• Nonprofit grantmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Endowment Returns: Kirkpatrick Foundation operates from investment returns on its endowment, distributing approximately $3 million annually in grants and charitable activities to support arts, culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation primarily in Central Oklahoma.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kirkpatrick Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in Central Oklahoma across six focus areas: arts and culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation. In addition to its grant program (small grants up to $10,000 reviewed monthly; large grants averaging $25,000 with bi-annual cycles), the foundation operates named initiatives including ArtDesk magazine, the Oklahoma Animal Study, the Safe & Humane animal wellbeing initiative, the ANIMAL Conference, SQ 777 voter education, and the Kirkpatrick Medal award.

Product overview

Kirkpatrick Foundation is a private philanthropy organization founded in 1955 that distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants supporting five focus areas: arts & culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation. The foundation operates several named initiatives and publications including ArtDesk (a quarterly print magazine), the Oklahoma Animal Study (research publication), the Safe & Humane animal wellbeing initiative, SQ 777 voter education resources, the ANIMAL Conference, and the Kirkpatrick Medal award program. These offerings are coordinated through a grant application portal and supported by foundation staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ArtDesk: A quarterly print publication focusing on contemporary arts including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, dance, film, music, and architecture.
• Safe & Humane
• Oklahoma Animal Study
• SQ777
• Kirkpatrick Medal

Products and services

• Kirkpatrick Foundation Grant Program Grant program distributing approximately $3 million annually across five funding areas: arts and culture, education, animal wellbeing, historic preservation, and environmental conservation. Includes small grants (up to $10,000) reviewed monthly and large grants (over $10,000, averaging $25,000) with bi-annual application cycles. Grants are normally capped at 10% of an organization's fiscal year budget. For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Central Oklahoma.
• ArtDesk Magazine A twice-yearly (described also as quarterly) print publication devoted to contemporary arts including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, dance, film, music, and architecture. Published by Kirkpatrick Foundation and distributed free of charge in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. Intended for arts enthusiasts, educators, and the general public interested in contemporary art journalism.
• Oklahoma Animal Study A landmark 200-page comprehensive research publication published in 2016 examining the condition of animals in Oklahoma, covering companion animals, livestock, horses, wildlife, exotics, and laboratory animals. Serves as a way to understand and chart the current condition of Oklahoma animals. For policymakers, animal welfare researchers, and community stakeholders.
• Safe & Humane Initiative Initiative with a vision to make Oklahoma the safest and most humane place to be an animal by 2032, including a goal to increase cat and dog live release rate to 90% by 2025. Targeted at animal welfare organizations, policymakers, and Oklahoma communities.
• ANIMAL Conference Conference bringing together stakeholders to learn, discuss, and connect on current animal wellbeing topics locally and worldwide. Held annually in Oklahoma City. For animal welfare advocates, researchers, and community members.
• SQ 777 Education Resources Non-partisan voter education materials about State Question 777 (Right to Farm amendment), including fact sheets on foreign involvement in Oklahoma agriculture, food prices, and agricultural jobs. For Oklahoma voters and community members seeking balanced information on ballot measures.
• Kirkpatrick Medal Award Award honoring people who represent the six areas of focus of the foundation (arts, culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation). Recipients receive a $2,500 honorarium, a medal design by sculptor Eugene Daub, a citation, and a $50,000 endowment gift at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to the nonprofit of their choice. For individuals making outstanding contributions in the foundation's focus areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3 million distributed annually in grants and charitable activities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Oklahoma City Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Kirkpatrick Foundation granted $22 million in 1994 to establish the Kirkpatrick Family Fund as an affiliated fund of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The foundation also provided $40,000 in seed money in 1969 to help establish OCCF as a public community foundation.
• Kirkpatrick Family FundcoreOthersAn affiliated fund of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation established with a $22 million grant from Kirkpatrick Foundation in 1994. Now led by Elizabeth Eickman.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart Charities: National animal-welfare grantmaker and one of the largest funders in the U.S. pet welfare space; comparable to Kirkpatrick's Safe & Humane initiative and Animal Conference as an animal-welfare convener and grantmaker, but at far greater national scale.
• ASPCA: National animal-welfare advocacy and grantmaking organization aligned with Kirkpatrick's animal-wellbeing mission and Oklahoma-focused policy advocacy work; operates far broader advocacy and direct-service programs.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Large-scale private foundation that publishes Bloomberg CityLab and other journalism-adjacent media assets comparable to Kirkpatrick's ArtDesk magazine; broader mission and global scope but relevant for benchmarking foundation-owned media strategy.

Direct peers

• Kirkpatrick Family Fund: Affiliated Kirkpatrick philanthropic vehicle established by Kirkpatrick Foundation in 1994 as a $22M fund within OCCF; operates in the same Central Oklahoma region with overlapping arts, animal welfare, and education priorities, and shares Kirkpatrick family governance.
• Oklahoma City Community Foundation: Regional community foundation that Kirkpatrick Foundation helped seed in 1969; serves the same Central Oklahoma nonprofit ecosystem with substantially larger assets (~$830M, 1,800+ funds) and ~$80M annual grants under Kelley Barnes's prior oversight—making it the most direct comparable in mission and geography.
• Inasmuch Foundation: Oklahoma-focused private foundation supporting education, arts and culture, and community enhancement across Central Oklahoma—direct overlap in geography and mission priorities with Kirkpatrick Foundation.
• Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation: Tulsa-based private family foundation with similar multi-area grantmaking focus on education, social services, arts, and animal welfare across Oklahoma—closely comparable family-foundation model and regional mandate.
• Sarkeys Foundation: Oklahoma-based private family foundation with a similarly broad grantmaking mandate across arts, education, and human services in the state; comparable geographic scope and traditional family-foundation structure make it a natural side-by-side peer.

Regional players

• Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma: Oklahoma-focused philanthropy addressing human services, education, and community needs across the state—similar geographic restriction but distinct institutional-affiliation structure, providing a peer benchmark for state-level private grantmaking.
• Oklahoma Arts Council: State agency distributing public arts funding across Oklahoma, frequently co-funding the same arts & culture grantees that Kirkpatrick Foundation supports—useful peer for benchmarking regional arts philanthropy capacity and gaps.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kirkpatrickfdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/kirkpatrickfdn
• Instagraminstagram.com/kirkpatrickfdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirkpatrick-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirkpatrick Foundation