Chief of People & Performance

George B. Kaiser founded the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF®) in 1999 around a fundamental conviction: no child’s future should be limited by the circumstances of their birth. He believes those who have benefited from opportunity have an obligation to help extend it to others, and that philanthropy should be used to increase opportunity for children and families facing the greatest barriers.

That conviction has shaped a distinctive approach to philanthropy in Tulsa, grounded in evidence, analysis, long-term commitment, and a willingness to act boldly when existing systems or solutions fall short. From helping establish the Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) in 1998 to founding GKFF a year later, George has invested not only in individual programs and organizations, but in the institutions, partnerships, and capabilities needed to strengthen Tulsa over time.

GKFF practices hands-on, place-based philanthropy. Rather than simply making grants, it builds, convenes, and stays involved alongside the operators and partners closest to the work, using its resources and influence to make things happen that otherwise would not. It pairs transformational ambition with practical discipline: it seeks lasting change, learns from results, and adjusts course. Over the past several years, GKFF continues its legacy as a grantmaking foundation to one that both continues that legacy while also overseeing a network of affiliated programs and initiatives. 

Toda