Arvest Foundation logo

Arvest Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Bentonville, AR EIN: 82-3700845 Website

Arvest Foundation is a private foundation based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and other states.

Arvest Foundation at a glance

In short: Arvest Foundation gave $4.3M across 562 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state Arkansas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$4,305,000
-2.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
562
+4.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$7,660
-6.9% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$21,003,898
-13.9% vs 2023
Primary geography
Arkansas (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Arvest Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 1860, Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 464-1570
Website: https://arvest.com

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Arvest Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Little Rock Chamber Foundation: $75KLittle Rock Chamber Foundation$75KTulsa Area United Way: $70KTulsa Area United Way$70KFort Kids: $50KFort Kids$50KOklahoma City Economic Development Foundation Inc: $50KOklahoma City EconomicDevelopment Foundation Inc$50KOklahoma Center for Nonprofits Inc: $43KOklahoma Center for NonprofitsInc$43KCommunity Foundation of the Ozarks Inc: $40K across 4 grantsCommunity Foundation of theOzarks Inc$40K · 4 grantsTulsa Performing Arts Center Trust: $35KTulsa Performing Arts CenterTrust$35KUnited Way of the Ozarks: $35KUnited Way of the Ozarks$35KSingle Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas Inc: $34KSingle Parent Scholarship Fundof Northwest Arkansas Inc$34KUnited Way of Central Oklahoma: $33K across 2 grantsUnited Way of Central Oklahoma$33K · 2 grants

The largest 2024 recipient was Little Rock Chamber Foundation ($75K). Together the top 10 received $464K.

Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($64,800), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

2,733 grants across all recorded years

2710<$50K22$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,710 grants of 2,733 (99%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 45% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arkansas, 38% to Oklahoma, 15% to Missouri, and 1% each to Kansas and New York.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 562 itemized grants.

Cities

TulsaLittle RockOklahoma CityBartlesvilleKansas CityJoplinSpringfieldFort SmithFayettevilleSiloam SpringsHot SpringsMountain HomeHarrisonSpringdaleEdmondBentonvilleJonesboroShawneeNormanConway

How Arvest Foundation gives

  • 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 335% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M1 grant2019 541 grants2020 545 grants2021 546 grants2022 539 grants2023 562 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.7M (2021) to $5.7M (2019). In 2024 it made 562 grants totaling $4.3M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Little Rock Chamber Foundation Little Rock, ARTo support the MetRock Forward Capital Campaign for the economic development initiative.$75,000
Tulsa Area United Way Tulsa, OKFor program support to strengthen local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resiliency.$70,000
Fort Kids Fort Smith, ARTo assist with the cost of construction of the museum building and exhibits.$50,000
Oklahoma City Economic Development Foundation Inc Oklahoma City, OKTo help fund Forward Oklahoma City VI for to help grow and build a new economy, improve the business climate and create an irresistible quality of life for OKC.$50,000
Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits Inc Oklahoma City, OKTo equip and strengthen the Oklahoma nonprofit sector through training, consulting, advocacy, membership, networking and awards.$42,500
Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust Tulsa, OKTo support the Discovery Awards and Orbit Arts.$35,000
United Way of the Ozarks Springfield, MOTo support the Give 5 program and remodel of existing office space to create a functional community meeting room.$35,000
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas Inc Bentonville, ARFor the capital campaign for scholarships across Northwest Arkansas.$33,750
Barnabas Foundation Inc Branson, MOTo fund 'The Farm' at Camp Barnabas.$25,000
Children's Tumor Foundation New York, NYTo support the Capital Campaign partnership between Arkansas Children's Hospital and UAMS to pilot the first of its kind Adult Neurofibromatosis Clinic.$25,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Arvest Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$21,003,898$1,217,210$4,616,319$4,305,000562$4,521,353$1,122,244$1,351,488
2023$24,403,007$643,255$4,888,280$4,435,000539$4,553,114$729,973$1,399,518
2022$28,648,032$15,598,004$4,793,057$4,435,000546$4,560,481$15,215,428$672,474
2021$17,843,085$1,195,224$3,919,620$3,712,500545$3,850,523$1,126,127$1,097,541
2020$20,867,481$413,779$3,972,397$3,725,000541—$333,013$1,105,460
2019$24,126,099$24,898,946$6,248,760$5,740,7981—$24,897,707$855,234

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arvest Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its grants include support for economic development, community programs, arts, nonprofit capacity, scholarships, and construction projects. For example, an individual recipient Chamber Foundation describes its mission as promoting civic activities and economic development; Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits says it empowers nonprofits to achieve excellence in their missions; and Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust says it provides opportunities to experience diversity through the arts.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 562 grants totaling $4,305,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $75,000 to an individual recipient Chamber Foundation for the MetRock Forward Capital Campaign, $70,000 to Tulsa Area United Way for program support, and $50,000 each to Fort Kids for its museum building and exhibits and to an individual recipient Economic Development Foundation for an individual recipient VI. Other notable grants included $42,500 to Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits and $35,000 to Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Arvest Foundation is led by Jim C. Walton, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Jim C. Walton

    President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Buddy D. Philpot

    Director

    Director & Treasurer → Director & Vice President, 2020

    Director & Vice President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jason Kincy

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Naccaman G. Williams

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Luke Mitchell

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marc Holley

    Vice President

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Karla Payne (2019–2023) — Assistant Secretary
  • Former: Robert A. Smith (2019–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Richard Chapman (2022–2023) — Assistant Treasurer
  • Former: Erron Smith (2023) — Assistant Treasurer
  • Former: J. Robert Kelly (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Arvest Foundation

How much does Arvest Foundation give each year?

Arvest Foundation gave $4.3M across 562 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.4M across 539 grants.

What is Arvest Foundation's typical grant size?

Arvest Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,660, across 562 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Arvest Foundation give grants?

Arvest Foundation's top state is Arkansas, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Oklahoma (38%) and Missouri (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (37 grants), Little Rock, AR (29 grants), Kansas City, MO (28 grants) and Oklahoma City, OK (24 grants).

Does Arvest Foundation give general operating support?

Occasionally: 6% of Arvest Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 562) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Arvest Foundation's largest grantees?

Arvest Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Little Rock Chamber Foundation ($75,000), Tulsa Area United Way ($70,000) and Fort Kids ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($64,800), which are not listed by name. Together they received 5% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Arvest Foundation?

Arvest Foundation reported $21.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Arvest Foundation fund?

The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its grants include support for economic development, community programs, arts, nonprofit capacity, scholarships, and construction projects. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Arvest Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Arvest Foundation's EIN?

Arvest Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3700845. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Does Arvest Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 10, 2020)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Arvest Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$594.3M

Grants

1

Total Given

$101.4M

Sarkeys Foundation

Norman, OK

Sarkeys Foundation funds Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) organizations serving the state, with a focus on education, human and social services, and cultural or humanitarian programs—especially direct services for underserved people. Its examples include grants of $25,000–$100,000, but the available information does not establish a typical award size. It accepts online applications through a letter-of-inquiry process; applicants are asked to speak with foundation staff before submitting.

Assets

$126.4M

Grants

1

Total Given

$4.4M

OGE Energy Corp Foundation Inc

Oklahoma City, OK

The foundation funds 501(c)(3) organizations working in STEM education, health and mental health, workforce development, environmental stewardship, human services, arts, and community development. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $1.5 million, with a median of $10,000, and are limited to organizations in the Oklahoma Gas and Electric service area. It accepts applications year-round and has no specific application form; applicants should include their IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter.

Assets

$25.2M

Grants

86

Total Given

$4.3M

Aetna Foundation Inc

Hartford, CT

Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.

Assets

—

Grants

65

Total Given

$7.2M

One Gas Foundation Inc

Tulsa, OK

ONE Gas Foundation supports community enrichment and assistance, education and workforce development (including STEAM and leadership), and community collaboration, with grants benefiting public services, schools, workforce programs, culture, and recreation. Its 2024 grants ranged from $50 to $366,741, with a median of $2,370; most funding went to Oklahoma, followed by Texas and Kansas. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$32.7M

Grants

212

Total Given

$2.6M

El and Thelma Gaylord Foundation

Oklahoma City, OK

The E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation supports arts, education, medical research, children’s issues, and other charitable work, with a preference for the greater Oklahoma City area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,502,000, with a median of $30,000. It accepts requests from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations through an online system, beginning with a letter of inquiry.

Assets

$260.1M

Grants

134

Total Given

$15.6M

More similar funders

More Funders in Arkansas

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Arvest Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arvest-foundation-morg_7c2ea572fa1d4664bb418923aed9f14a

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823700845_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Arvest Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/arvest-foundation-morg_7c2ea572fa1d4664bb418923aed9f14a},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Arvest Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

Arvest Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?