GKFF®/TCF Employee Relief Fund

Purpose: Designed to provide short-term assistance to employees experiencing severe financial need due to unexpected and unavoidable emergencies.

Eligible Applicants

• Employees of George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF)
• Employees of Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF)
• Employees of entities listed on the program page
• Maximum of one grant per calendar year

Assistance Categories

Home Catastrophe/Natural Disaster – Up to $1,000

• Assistance after natural or localized disaster has destroyed the employee's personal residence
• Residence rendered unlivable or otherwise in need of costly repairs
• Covers repairs in excess of insurance, after the disaster (hurricane, fire, flood, tornado, mudslide, etc.)

Funeral or Emergency Travel for Immediate Family – Up to $1,000

• Assistance for those who have incurred the loss of an immediate family member, if the employee is financially responsible for funeral arrangements and no other resources exist
• For employees who must travel to visit or care for a terminally ill immediate family member
• For escorting a critically ill immediate family member to an out-of-state medical facility

Medical Emergency – Up to $1,000

• For employees who have encountered financial hardships due to medical emergencies in the household
• Covers injury, hospitalization, loss of income during medical emergency, etc.

Personal Emergency – Up to $1,000

• For employees who have encountered financial hardships for unexpected, unavoidable reasons beyond their control
• Examples: spouse's layoff, unexpected loss of income, non-routine vehicle or home repair that restricts ability to care for self and household

Military Deployment – Up to $500

• Available to assist when an employee or employee's spouse is deployed for six (6) months or longer

Immediate Family Definition

Spouse/partner; brother/sister; children; step-children; grandchildren; parents; step-parents; grandparents; mother/father-in-law; son/daughter-in-law only.

Important Notes

• Not all emergencies will warrant maximum assistance
• Documentation will be requested from each applicant
• Employment details are verified with TCF HR staff

Situations That Will NOT Be Considered

• Elective bills
• Bills related to routine vehicle repairs
• Child support payments by applicant
• Expenses/bills resulting from divorce or separation
• Attorney fees
• Medical expenses not related to medical emergencies
• Situations related to extended family members
• Garnishments of an employee's paycheck due to past debt

Contact Information:

• Tulsa Community Foundation
• (918) 591-2427 (for emergencies requiring immediate action within 24 hours)
• emergency@tulsacf.org
• 7030 South Yale Avenue Suite 600
• Tulsa, OK 74136
• (918) 494-8823

Application Instructions

1. Submit the online application form
2. For immediate assistance needs (24 hours): Submit the online form, then contact TCF at (918) 591-2427 or emergency@tulsacf.org

Required Materials

• Documentation supporting the emergency claim
• Examples of documentation available in the online application

Grant Distribution

• Upon approval, grant recipients are typically mailed a check made payable to the vendor requesting payment (landlord, utility company, contractor, etc.)
• Each situation is considered unique