The environment comprises the fourth area of philanthropy for the Kirkpatrick Foundation, about 10 percent of overall giving. Our investment is reflected in grants that preserve Oklahoma’s natural habitats and built structures. From Price Tower Arts Center in Bartlesville to the Nature Conservancy’s Oklahoma Chapter, we strive to support nonprofits that will directly affect conservation and preservation in Oklahoma.

In 2010, the Kirkpatrick Foundation funded an internship program at Preservation Oklahoma, an organization working in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to promote historic preservation efforts around the state. Interns from the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, and the University of Texas assisted with outreach efforts and program support. The students also provided support for a statewide preservation conference, workshops for Route 66 communities, Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Historic Places List, and a “This Place Matters” tour in the town of Boley.