Frank Phillips Foundation Inc.

The Frank Phillips Foundation is an operating foundation, not a grantmaking one. This is a critical distinction for grant seekers: the foundation does not distribute funds to external organizations. Instead, it operates two heritage properties — Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve and the Frank Phillips Home — using its $43.7 million asset base to fund educational programming, museum operations, and wildlife conservation directly.

Founded in 1937 by Phillips Petroleum Company founder Frank Phillips and his wife Jane, the foundation's mission is to preserve the history of the American West, educate, and entertain. All program expenses (approximately $1.77 million annually) flow into operating these two properties rather than external grants.

For organizations seeking funding, the Frank Phillips Foundation is not a viable target for grant applications. However, organizations working in western history, art conservation, wildlife education, or Oklahoma cultural heritage may find partnership opportunities — particularly around educational programming at Woolaroc or collaborative events. The foundation's centennial year (2025) and active capital campaign suggest openness to institutional partnerships, though not traditional grantmaking relationships.

As an operating foundation, the Frank Phillips Foundation's financial flows are fundamentally different from a typical grantmaking foundation. Rather than distributing grants, the foundation directs its resources into operating two cultural properties:

Annual program expenses total approximately $1.77 million, covering museum operations, wildlife preserve maintenance, educational programming, event hosting, and property preservation at both Woolaroc and the Frank Phillips Home. Total assets stand at approximately $43.7 million (EIN: 73-0636562).

The foundation's revenue comes from a combination of endowment income, admissions, event fees, and donations. The 2025 capital campaign — "Booming Second Century" — represents a major fundraising initiative kicked off with a $5 million gift from Phillips 66, aimed at preserving historic infrastructure, renovating the museum experience, and expanding access to wildlife and landscapes.

There is no evidence of external grant distributions, scholarship programs, or charitable giving to other organizations in the foundation's recent filings or public disclosures. All charitable activity is conducted through direct operation of its two properties.

The Frank Phillips Foundation occupies a unique niche among Oklahoma's cultural operating foundations. Here is how it compares to peer institutions:

Among western heritage operating foundations, Frank Phillips Foundation is mid-sized but distinguished by its unique combination of a wildlife preserve (3,700 acres with bison, elk, longhorn cattle) and a fine art museum within a single campus. Its centennial capital campaign and the Phillips 66 naming relationship give it a corporate partnership advantage that smaller peers lack. The foundation's intimate scale compared to Gilcrease or the National Cowboy Museum means it serves more as a regional treasure than a national destination, though its Colt firearms collection and Native American artifact holdings are nationally significant.

The Frank Phillips Foundation entered a transformative period in 2025, its centennial year. The most significant development was the launch of the "Booming Second Century" capital campaign, anchored by a landmark $5 million gift from Phillips 66. This donation — the largest publicly disclosed gift in the foundation's recent history — will fund preservation of historic infrastructure, strategic renovation of the museum experience, and expanded access to Woolaroc's wildlife and landscapes.

Phillips 66 also donated select artifacts from the Phillips Petroleum Company Museum in downtown Bartlesville to Woolaroc, consolidating the Phillips corporate heritage collection at the ranch preserve. This partnership reflects the deep historical connection between Frank Phillips' petroleum legacy and the foundation he created.

Kevin Hoch continues as CEO of the Frank Phillips Foundation and operating officer of Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Ann Oglesby with John Viskup as Vice Chair, supported by nine additional trustees.

The foundation acquired the Frank Phillips Home from the Oklahoma Historical Society in 2017, expanding its operational footprint. The home now operates Wednesday through Saturday, offering guided tours. Woolaroc's seasonal programming includes the Animal Barn (March through December), educational school visits, and the annual Wonderland of Lights holiday event — a 25+ year tradition featuring over 750,000 lights.

The Frank Phillips Foundation does not accept grant applications. As an operating foundation, it uses its resources to directly run Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve and the Frank Phillips Home rather than distributing funds to external organizations.

For organizations or individuals seeking to engage with the foundation, consider these alternative approaches:

1. Partnership programming. Organizations working in western history education, wildlife conservation, Native American cultural preservation, or Oklahoma heritage may propose collaborative educational programs at Woolaroc. The foundation welcomes school groups and could be receptive to co-developed curricula.

2. Event collaboration. The Frank Phillips Home and Woolaroc both host events. Cultural organizations may find opportunities to participate in or co-sponsor programming, particularly during the Wonderland of Lights or centennial celebrations.

3. Capital campaign contributions. Rather than seeking funding from this foundation, organizations and corporations may contribute to the "Booming Second Century" capital campaign. Phillips 66's $5 million anchor gift signals that the foundation is actively seeking supporters.

4. Venue partnerships. Both properties are available for private events and photoshoots, creating potential revenue-sharing opportunities for event-planning organizations.

5. If seeking western heritage funding in Oklahoma, redirect your search to grantmaking foundations in the state. The Sarkeys Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, and Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation are active Oklahoma grantmakers. The Frank Phillips Foundation, despite its significant assets, is not a funding source for external organizations.