The Zink Family Foundation concentrates philanthropic dollars in the Tulsa/Oklahoma region, prioritizing youth development, experiential STEM/engineering education, and major community amenities. Their largest gifts are to higher-education engineering and leadership programs (notably Oklahoma State University) and to youth-serving organizations (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts), while also funding public attractions and capital projects such as the Tulsa Zoo and Gathering Place. Grants are often restricted to capital campaigns or named program initiatives but include some general operating support.
A defining feature of the Zink Family Foundation is its sustained support for Oklahoma State University’s engineering and leadership ecosystem, including the Zink Center for Competitive Innovation & Leadership and the university’s SAE Baja and SAE Formula Racing teams. Across recent years, that university focus sits alongside major commitments to youth-serving organizations in Tulsa and to civic amenities that shape public life in the region. The foundation’s recent grants show a pattern of sizable, program-specific awards mixed with operating support. Oklahoma State University Foundation received $1.21 million in 2024 and $895,000 in 2023 for a cluster of restricted purposes tied to the College of Engineering, OSU Posse, the Zink Center, and student leadership support. In 2025, Oklahoma State University also received $500,000 for the Zink Center and $200,000 for the Zink Fund. Outside higher education, the foundation has backed Indian Nations Council Inc BSA, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa Zoo Management Inc, and Tulsa Gathering Place, reflecting an interest in youth development, capital projects, and public-facing community institutions.
Engineering education is a central thread. The foundation gave $500,000 in 2025 to Oklahoma State University for the Zink Center for Competitive Innovation & Leadership, after earlier support through Oklahoma State University Foundation for the College of Engineering, SAE Baja Team, SAE Formula Racing Team, and OSU Posse. Youth leadership programs are another recurring area. In 2024, Indian Nations Council Inc BSA received $340,000 for the National BSA Pillars of Scouting, and Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma received $290,000 for the Juliette Low Leadership Society and Camp Tallchief. The foundation also funds public attractions and cultural programming. Tulsa Zoo Management Inc received $315,000 in 2023 for the elephant exhibit and general operations, while Philbrook Museum of Art received $95,000 in 2025 for general operations.
Typical grants cluster around $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $41,750 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes several much larger awards tied to named programs and capital or operating support. The pattern is local and concentrated: 91% of grants go to recipients in Oklahoma. The foundation appears to combine restricted, project-based funding with unrestricted support, as shown in the same grantee relationships across multiple years. Recent records also show repeated awards to the same organizations over 2023–2025, including Oklahoma State University Foundation, Indian Nations Council Inc BSA, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa Zoo Management Inc, and River Parks Foundation.
$2.8M
$0
$6.9M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $8K and $42K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$42K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small set of regional institutions with repeated multi-year and multi-grant commitments; a mix of restricted capital/campaign gifts and occasional unrestricted operating support.
Notable grantees: Oklahoma State University Foundation / Oklahoma State University, Indian Nations Council, Boy Scouts of America, Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc., Tulsa Gathering Place, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma
Giving is overwhelmingly centered in Oklahoma, which accounts for 91% of grants by recipient location. Tulsa and Stillwater are the main recipient cities in the recent grant list, with multiple awards to Tulsa-based organizations such as Indian Nations Council Inc BSA, Tulsa Zoo Management Inc, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, and Philbrook Museum of Art, plus Stillwater-based Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University Foundation. Outside Oklahoma, the only listed recipient state is Kansas, through a grant to Planned Parenthood in Overland Park.
Recent grants show repeated support for Oklahoma State University and its foundation, Indian Nations Council Inc BSA, Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa Zoo Management Inc, Tulsa Gathering Place, Philbrook Museum of Art, River Parks Foundation, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, and Tulsa Ballet. The pattern points to higher education, youth development, and public cultural or civic institutions.
The grant-size distribution is $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $41,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger awards, including $1.21 million, $895,000, and $500,000 to education-related initiatives.
Yes. Oklahoma State University Foundation appears in 2023 and 2024; Indian Nations Council Inc BSA appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Tulsa Zoo Management Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and River Parks Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The foundation gives locally, with 91% of grants going to recipients in Oklahoma. Recent recipient cities include Tulsa and Stillwater, and the only non-Oklahoma recipient in the recent list is Planned Parenthood in Overland Park, Kansas.
Yes. Recent grants include unrestricted general operations support to organizations such as Tulsa Zoo Management Inc, Indian Nations Council Inc BSA, Philbrook Museum of Art, River Parks Foundation, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, and Tulsa Ballet, alongside restricted awards for specific programs and capital projects.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National BSA Foundation | Irving, TX | $330,000 | 2026 | Commitment 1MM Pmt 2 of 3 |
| Tulsa Zoo Management Inc | Tulsa, OK | $300,000 | 2026 | Commitment 1.5MM Pmt #4 of 5 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $250,000 | 2026 | Capital Campaign Camp Tall Chief |
| OU Foundation | Norman, OK | $200,000 | 2026 | Zink Scholarship Fund 1MM 5yr Pmt 1 of 5 |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $200,000 | 2026 | Horizon Scholar Fund 1MM 5yr Pmt 1 or 5 |
| Tulsa Oktoberfest Inc | Tulsa, OK | $183,000 | 2026 | Oktoberfest 2025 |
| Indian Nations Council Inc BSA | Tulsa, OK | $150,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $100,000 | 2026 | OSU Zink Fund Capital Campaign |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $75,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Mental Health Association of Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $60,000 | 2026 | 2025 Carnivale |
| Mental Health Association of Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $60,000 | 2026 | Carnival Diamond Patron Event Sponsorship |
| Philbrook Museum of Art | Tulsa, OK | $50,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Tulsa Symphony Orchestra Inc | Tulsa, OK | $40,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Tulsa Opera | Tulsa, OK | $40,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $40,000 | 2026 | OSU Tulsa Scholarship Luncheon Sponsorship |
| Tulsa Ballet | Tulsa, OK | $40,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Philbrook Museum of Art | Tulsa, OK | $40,000 | 2026 | Philbrook Wine Experience 2026 Sponsorship |
| River Parks Foundation | Tulsa, OK | $35,000 | 2026 | Capital Campaign |
| Tulsa Zoo Management Inc | Tulsa, OK | $31,000 | 2026 | HallowZooeen WALTZ 2025 Donor Society |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | OSU College of Business |
| Alzheimers Association of Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025 Memory Gala |
| Indian Nations Council Inc BSA | Tulsa, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | Shooting Stars 2026 |
| Alzheimers Association of Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | Memory Gala 2026 Event Sponsorship |
| Tulsa Police Foundation | Tulsa, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Indian Nations Council BSA | Tulsa, OK | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025 Shooting Stars |
| Tulsa Area United Way | Tulsa, OK | $20,000 | 2026 | Tocqueville Society Operating Support |
| Emergency Infant Services | Tulsa, OK | $20,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $20,000 | 2026 | OSU Possee |
| Tulsa Zoo Management Inc | Tulsa, OK | $16,000 | 2026 | WALTZ World Tour 2026 Event Sponsorship |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | OSU SAE Formula Racing Team |
| Tulsa Tough Inc | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Media Tent Event Sponsorship |
| Gaining Ground | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Indian Nations Council BSA | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Leadership Award |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | 2025 Go Girl Gala |
| Junior Achievement of Oklahoma Inc | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Go Girls Gala 2026 Event Sponsorship |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | OSU SAE Baja Team |
| Tulsa Tough Inc | Tulsa, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | Saint Francis Tulsa Tough Sponsorship 2025 |
| Youth Services of Tulsa Inc | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Oklahoma State University Foundation | Stillwater, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | OSU Presidents Fellow Priorities Fund |
| Tulsa Zoo Management Inc | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | HallowZOOeen 2026 Event Sponsorship |
| Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Philbrook Museum of Art | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Art Festival |
| Indian Nations Council BSA | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Distinguished Leadership |
| Indian Nations Council Inc BSA | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | European Pheasant Hunt 2026 |
| Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Flight Night Mesosphere Sponsorship 2025 |
| Sutton Avian Research Center | Bartlesville, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Wildbrew 2026 Event Sponsorship |
| Sutton Avian Research Center | Bartlesville, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | WILD BREW 2025 Sponsor |
| Philbrook Museum of Art | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Philbrook Festival 2025 Event Sponsorship |
| Philbrook Museum of Art | Tulsa, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | Philbrook MIX 2026 Event Sponsorship |
Horizon Scholar Fund 1MM 5yr Pmt 1 or 5
Tulsa Oktoberfest Inc
$183,000Oktoberfest 2025
Indian Nations Council Inc BSA
$150,000Operating Support
OSU Tulsa Scholarship Luncheon Sponsorship
Alzheimers Association of Oklahoma
$25,0002025 Memory Gala
Indian Nations Council Inc BSA
$25,000Shooting Stars 2026
Alzheimers Association of Oklahoma
$25,000Memory Gala 2026 Event Sponsorship
Indian Nations Council BSA
$25,0002025 Shooting Stars
Indian Nations Council BSA
$15,000Annual Leadership Award
Youth Services of Tulsa Inc
$10,000Operating Support
Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park
$10,000Operating Support
Indian Nations Council BSA
$10,000Distinguished Leadership
Indian Nations Council Inc BSA
$10,000European Pheasant Hunt 2026