The Kirkpatrick Foundation’s Hidden Agenda: From Oklahoma Philanthropy to Animal Extremism

A version of this article was previously published. Most of the information provided still holds true today. Western Justice is sharing to help reveal the manner in which extremist groups operate, their ties to and cooperation with other extremist groups, and the continued threat they pose to our lifestyles and livelihoods.

Introduction

For decades, the Kirkpatrick Foundation was a pillar of generosity in Oklahoma, a name familiar through its philanthropy, oil and gas ventures, and financial institutions. Founded in 1955 by John E. and Eleanor B. Kirkpatrick, the foundation gave millions to strengthen communities, expand arts and culture, and support educational institutions. Its reputation was built on civic pride and a vision of improving life for Oklahomans.

But behind the glossy brochures and carefully worded mission statements, the Kirkpatrick Foundation has shifted dramatically. Under current leadership, the foundation has aligned itself with radical animal rights and environmental groups whose agendas threaten Oklahoma agriculture, hunting, animal ownership, and even the state’s cultural traditions.

From Civic Good Works to Animal Rights Activism

The foundation’s early years were marked by straightforward philanthropy. It funded museums, invested in schools, and contributed to the Oklahoma City Zoo. In fact, the Zoo’s veterinary hospital bears the name of Joan Kirkpatrick, the second-generation leader who directed major resources toward animal welfare.

Yet with Christian Keesee, grandson of the founders, at the helm, the foundation’s mission has taken a hard turn. Keesee has sat on the National Council of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), recently rebranded as Humane World for Animals (HWA), an organization notorious for pushing legislation to weaken or eliminate animal agriculture, pet breeding, hunting, and livestock ownership. HSUS leaders, including former CEO Wayne Pacelle (a PETA veteran), openly write about ending animal agriculture. Its current president, Kitty Block, also came from PETA.

This influence has cascaded into the Kirkpatrick Foundation’s initiatives and donations. The foundation has poured over $150,000 into HSUS and supported even more aggressive groups like Mercy for Animals and the Good Food Institute — organizations whose stated mission is to end animal farming altogether.

The “Safe & Humane” Initiative: Brochure Promises, Hidden Motives

Central to this shift is the foundation’s 20-year “Safe & Humane” initiative, unveiled in its Safe & Humane Vision 2012–2020 brochure. Framed as a noble effort to make Oklahoma “the safest and most humane place for animals by 2032,” the campaign is couched in reassuring themes:

- Safe Communities – encouraging “compassionate policies” and updated legislation.

- Compassionate Care – promoting “humane education” and expanding definitions of animal welfare.

- Ending Cruelty – supporting stricter regulation of farming, hunting, breeding, and ownership practices.

- Working Together – building coalitions with national groups like HWA, ASPCA, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

On the surface, the brochure’s imagery — smiling children, peaceful landscapes, and healthy pets — suggests a grassroots vision of kindness. But a closer look shows the recommendations mirror the animal-rights agenda: phasing out modern livestock systems like gestation crates and battery cages, banning tail docking in cattle, discouraging large-scale farms, restricting hunting methods, and promoting school curricula designed by PETA and HWA.

What the brochure sells as “humane” is in reality a systematic campaign to dismantle Oklahoma agriculture, hunting, and animal ownership.

The ANIMAL Conference: Veganism and Extremism in Disguise

The foundation’s triennial ANIMAL Conference provides another window into its agenda. Marketed as a celebration of people who “love animals,” the event consistently features leaders from PETA, HWA, Mercy for Animals, and the Good Food Institute. Speakers like Bruce Friedrich — a former PETA activist and co-founder of GFI — make no secret of their mission to eliminate meat, dairy, and egg farming.

At the 2018 conference, breakout sessions included fundraising strategies for extremist organizations, panels attacking animal breeding, and talks portraying Oklahoma agriculture as inherently cruel. The conference even served exclusively vegan meals, a symbolic but telling move that signals its rejection of mainstream animal agriculture.

The earlier 2015 conference featured similar voices, including Jonathan Balcombe, who worked for PETA, HWA, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine — groups united by their opposition to animal ownership and food production.

Research and Studies: Biased by Design

In 2016, the Kirkpatrick Foundation published its nearly 200-page Oklahoma Animal Study, claiming to map the “complex human-animal relationship.” Advisory council members included HWA’s Cynthia Armstrong and Tim Harrison of Outreach for Animals — both tied to animal-rights activism. Interviewees included attorneys from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and directors of extremist advocacy groups.

The report’s recommendations read like a national activist playbook: discouraging modern farming methods, calling for bans on horse processing, pushing legislation modeled on ALDF drafts from California and Oregon, and urging “non-consumptive” wildlife management — code for eliminating hunting and trapping.

By relying heavily on sources from HWA, ASPCA, and Born Free USA, the study elevated ideology over science and dismissed the expertise of agricultural veterinarians, producers, and wildlife managers.

What Is at Stake for Oklahoma

Agriculture contributes more than $6 billion annually to Oklahoma’s economy. The horse industry adds $1.6 billion, and hunting and fishing bring in another $1.8 billion. These aren’t abstract numbers — they represent livelihoods, family legacies, and rural communities.

By aligning itself with HWA and its network, the Kirkpatrick Foundation is working against the very backbone of Oklahoma’s economy and culture. Its “Safe & Humane” initiative is not about improving animal welfare — it is about reshaping society to fit a radical worldview where farming, hunting, and even pet ownership are treated as forms of cruelty.

Conclusion: From Jewel to Agenda

For decades, the Kirkpatrick Foundation was a jewel of Oklahoma philanthropy, embodying the spirit of generosity. But its current direction tells another story. Behind the language of compassion and safety lies a well-funded campaign to erode agriculture, hunting, and animal ownership in Oklahoma.

The people of Oklahoma deserve to know what is happening in their own backyard. The Kirkpatrick Foundation’s legacy of civic pride has been overshadowed by its embrace of animal extremist ideology — a shift that threatens not only farmers and ranchers but also the cultural fabric of the state itself.