Community Development Grants in Oklahoma

About the Foundation

The history of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund is closely aligned with the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. These philanthropies all benefit from the foresight and generosity of John E. and Eleanor B. Kirkpatrick, their daughter Joan E. Kirkpatrick and her son Christian K. Keesee. The Kirkpatrick Family has established a legacy of giving that will continue to benefit future generations in central Oklahoma.

Founders John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick believed that a strong cultural and service community would benefit their hometown for generations to come. The Kirkpatrick family and trustees of the fund continue to honor this vision through their grant programs to support nonprofits that contribute to the cultural landscape, health and well-being of the community.

Program Areas of Interest

The Kirkpatrick Family Fund supports established and promising cultural, civic and social service organizations that value excellence in programming, broad community participation, and quality learning opportunities for youth and adults.

Arts & Humanities: We believe access to fine arts and humanities experiences enriches the quality of life for all members of our community. We support programs that nurture learning, encourage the creative process and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

Children, Youth & Family: It is our belief that healthy families raise healthy children. We support organizations that work to foster a beneficial environment for families through essential services and prevention programs that ensure healthy development for children in vulnerable situations.

Community Development: We believe that social and economic transformation is within the reach of all communities. We support organizations committed to inclusion, impact and innovation in addressing neighborhood and community needs.

Education: An investment in education from early childhood to graduate school is an investment in students, families, teachers and schools. We support educational programs and institutions that help children and youth become confident, caring and contributing adults.

Environment: We believe the appearance and treatment of the built environment reflects the values and priorities of the community. We support projects that stimulate beautification and provide pleasing aesthetics. These projects seek to improve quality of life in the community.

Health: We place a priority on organizations that improve access to health services and promote wellness.

Human Services: We value the desire of individuals and families to achieve self reliance. We support organizations and programs designed to provide a temporary safety net, break dependencies and change family cycles of abuse.

Large Grants (more than $10,000)

These grants are restricted to a specific program or project that provides direct benefit to the organization’s constituents over a period of time to achieve measurable results. Project support grants may be used to pay for any costs directly related to the operation of the project. Requests for individual projects, programs and capital projects will be considered in this category. 

About the Foundation

The history of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund is closely aligned with the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. These philanthropies all benefit from the foresight and generosity of John E. and Eleanor B. Kirkpatrick, their daughter Joan E. Kirkpatrick and her son Christian K. Keesee. The Kirkpatrick Family has established a legacy of giving that will continue to benefit future generations in central Oklahoma.

Founders John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick believed that a strong cultural and service community would benefit their hometown for generations to come. The Kirkpatrick family and trustees of the fund continue to honor this vision through their grant programs to support nonprofits that contribute to the cultural landscape, health and well-being of the community.

Endowment

John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick intended endowment to be foundational in supporting organizational sustainability while encouraging new and broad donor investments to endowment funds at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Preference will be given to organizations that are initiating a public campaign to engage and expand donor participation. Events and/or campaigns that have already been completed will be considered based on broad donor participation. Donations or bequests from only one source must be supplemented with an additional 10% of the original donation, raised from multiple independent donors.

Grant Categories

Qualified organizations may apply in one of two categories:

Established Charitable Organization Endowment Fund

• Organizations with an existing Charitable Organization Endowment at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation may submit a request in which organizations must raise $3 for every $1 contributed by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund.
• Organizations considering submitting a match request greater than $20,000 should contact Kirkpatrick Family Fund staff prior to submission.

New Charitable Organization Endowment Fund

• Organizations who have approval to establish a new Charitable Organization Endowment at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation may, if eligible, request a grant of $15,000 to be matched with $25,000 raised by the organization to establish the fund.

Program Areas of Interest

Arts & Humanities 

We believe access to fine arts and humanities experiences enriches the quality of life for all members of our community. We support programs that nurture learning, encourage the creative process and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.

Children, Youth, & Families

It is our belief that healthy families raise healthy children. We support organizations that work to foster a beneficial environment for families through essential services and prevention programs that ensure healthy development for children in vulnerable situations.

Community Development

We believe that social and economic transformation is within the reach of all communities. We support organizations committed to inclusion, impact and innovation in addressing neighborhood and community needs.

Education

An investment in education from early childhood to graduate school is an investment in students, families, teachers and schools. We support educational programs and institutions that help children and youth become confident, caring and contributing adults.

Environment 

We believe the appearance and treatment of the built environment reflects the values and priorities of the community. We support projects that stimulate beautification and provide pleasing aesthetics. These projects seek to improve quality of life in the community.

Health 

We place a priority on organizations that improve access to health services and promote wellness.

Social Services 

We value the desire of individuals and families to achieve self reliance. We support organizations and programs designed to provide a temporary safety net, break dependencies and change family cycles of abuse.

Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has been empowering employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites- provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Oklahoma City Chapter

At Boeing, community engagement is more than just a corporate commitment. For more than 65 years, Boeing employees have been proud to give back to the communities where they live and work through the Employees Community Fund of The Boeing Company (ECF)—the largest employee owned and managed fund of its kind.

ECF Focus 

Grants will be considered for 501(c)3 Health and Human Service agencies in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

The Oklahoma Chapter of the ECF uses CharityNavigator definitions of health and human services programs to assist in determining eligibility. Health and human services programs may include, but are not limited to:

• Children & Families Services: child care, adoption, foster care, family counseling, parenting education and other child welfare services
• Youth Development, Shelter & Crisis Services: group homes, shelters, camps and youth ranches, recreation services and other programs that develop and nurture youth
• Food Banks & Food Distribution: hunger relief programs
• Multipurpose Human Service Organizations: organizations that promote volunteerism and provide a broad range of services, including YMCAs, YWCAs, Salvation Army, Red Cross and others
• Homeless Services: assistance to homeless individuals and families
• Social Services: programs addressing the needs of the disadvantaged, underemployed, the elderly and disabled.
• Diseases, Disorders and Disciplines: programs that provide direct services for patients of particular diseases and disorders and their families
• Treatment & Prevention Services: programs providing direct medical services and educating the public on ways to prevent diseases and reduce health risks.

Committed to Community

Each year, Boeing and our employees work to build better communities around the world. We have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to be a positive force for change in the places we call home. It’s part of who we are.

We believe that in order to remain a sustainable, dynamic and global company, it’s imperative that we invest time, talent and resources where our employees live and work — contributing to efforts that build and enhance our communities for generations to come.

Here, we showcase the evolution of our philanthropic journey — one that is fueled by purpose, driven by innovation, and dedicated to building a world where positive change is our commitment.

Grant Pillars

Our Future

Prepare and inspire the next generation

Boeing is committed to preparing and inspiring the next generation of innovators and explorers. Through a close collaboration with schools, community organizations and industry partners, we support STEM education and workforce development programs that are tailored to the needs of the communities where our employees live and work.

Our Heroes

Empowering veterans in their next mission

Boeing is committed to improving the quality of life for transitioning service members, veterans, and their families, as well as communities typically underserved in the military-veteran ecosystem. Through our veteran engagement, we're helping ensure veterans and their families have the support they need to thrive long after service.

Our Homes

Strengthening our communities

Boeing is committed to strengthening communities around the world by investing in the areas most needed in the communities where we live and work. Boeing places a special emphasis on programs that promote environmental stewardship, advance economic mobility for underserved groups, support community well-being, uplift diverse communities, drive active civic engagement, and help break the cycle of incarceration.

Boeing’s Focus in Oklahoma

Boeing is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities where our employees and their families live and work. Boeing has been an important partner in Oklahoma since 1953, and today, we are proud to lead the state’s second-largest industry: aerospace and defense. In Oklahoma, we support Boeing’s community investment strategies and develop a site-specific plan tailored to the particular needs of our state.

Overview

The Parks & Public Space Initiative supports the beautification, development and activation of neighborhood/community parks, school parks, trails and other public lands. This initiative grew out of the Margaret Annis Boys Trust, which was established through a gift from Miss Boys’ estate in 1991 to support and encourage landscaping and beautification projects in parks, medians and other public lands in Oklahoma City. Grant awards will vary depending on the size and complexity of the project. In addition to funding, Oklahoma City Community Foundation staff will provide project expertise.

Grant Funding Goals

• Encourage landscaping and beautification projects in public community spaces including neighborhood/community parks, school parks, trails, public medians and other public lands in central Oklahoma.
• Items eligible for funding include plant material such as trees, shrubs and perennials, soil amendments, mulch and irrigation. Landscape amenities such as shade structures, benches and information signage may be eligible. Master plans and tree canopy studies for public spaces with collaborative partners will be considered.
• Increase utilization of public spaces that are open and accessible to citizens for recreation, cultural and health improvement.
• Engage community groups, neighborhoods, businesses, and other nonprofit organizations to improve our public community spaces.
• Increase community awareness, involvement, and stewardship of our public community spaces.

Our History

Inasmuch Foundation was established in 1982 by Edith Kinney Gaylord for charitable, scientific and educational purposes.

Edith Kinney Gaylord was known as Oklahoma’s quiet philanthropist, Ms. Gaylord often made anonymous donations to help those in need. After a lifetime of giving, she formally created two foundations that allowed her contributions to do the most good, for the most people. Recently, these two foundations merged to become one. In doing so, Ms. Gaylord created foundations that would stand the test of time and continue giving long after her death in 2001.

Focus Areas Inasmuch Foundation administers an open request cycle each spring and fall for all focus areas: Community & Civic Engagement, Education, Human Services, and Journalism. The following grants will be considered:

• Human Services - Inasmuch Foundation strengthens individuals, families, and the Oklahoma City community by increasing access to social services and basic human needs.
• Community Enhancement - Inasmuch Foundation improves quality of life in Oklahoma City by promoting cultural experiences, the arts, and community engagement.
• Education  - Inasmuch Foundation increases access to high quality educational experiences in Oklahoma City, that provide learners with the ability to become engaged, informed, and productive members of the community.
• Journalism - Inasmuch Foundation improves news and information ecosystems through direct support to nonprofit newsrooms and collaborative organizations committed to strengthening communities through an engaged citizenry.
• Colorado Springs - Improving the Quality of Life in Colorado Springs

Grant Requests

General Operating Support Grants:

• To increase transparency and consistency for the Foundation’s General Operating Support grants, organizations will be able to apply for one of two levels:
  • $50,000
  • $100,000
• The level of General Operating funding granted will be based on several factors:
  • Alignment with the Foundation’s funding priorities
  • Organization size, scope, and financial stability
  • Inasmuch Foundation Board and Staff discretion
• Organizations should not apply for more than 10% of the annual operating budget.
  • Only organizations with an annual operating budget greater than $1,000,000 will be eligible to receive $100,000 in General Operating Support.
  • Investigative Journalism organizations should apply for $50,000.
• Inasmuch Foundation will fund General Operating up to five consecutive years.
  • Grant decisions are still made on an annual basis, and organizations are not guaranteed five consecutive years of funding.
  • If funded for five years, all organizations are required to take at least a one-year funding hiatus.

One-time Funding Grants:

• Organizations applying for a specific project that will be transformational to the organization should apply for a One-time Funding Grant.
• There are no standardized amounts for One-time Funding Grant requests.
• Organizations interested in applying for one of these grants are encouraged to speak with a Program Officer about the specifics of the request.

Capital Campaign Grants:

• The Foundation will review a capital campaign request once 50-75% of the total campaign goal has been raised.

Sponsorships

• ALL sponsorship requests MUST be submitted via the online grants portal.
  • Sponsorship information received through any other means (traditional mail, email, etc.) will be discarded.
• Requests should be submitted a minimum of three months in advance of the event.
• Once the request is submitted, it typically takes two to four weeks for the review process to be completed.
• Please note:
• Sponsorship requests and grant requests must be submitted via separate applications through the online grants portal.
• Organizations are eligible to submit one sponsorship request per year.
• The Foundation has a limited sponsorship budget and is thus unable to fund all sponsorship requests.

Valero Energy Foundation 

Valero, its employees and the Valero Energy Foundation are committed to improving the quality of life in communities where we work and live, fulfilling a mission that was set from the beginning. We set the standard for corporate citizenship and promotes prosperity in our communities. 

The Valero Energy Foundation -- a public charity and Valero's philanthropic arm -- funds nonprofit agencies that serve predominantly disadvantaged children and families. In 2019, the Foundation contributed appoximately $40 million in assistance in the communities where Valero has major operations.

Four Pillars of Support

Our funding focuses on our four pillars of giving in communities where we have major operations.

• Basic Needs:  Valero gives assistance to agencies that provide basic needs of life, including shelter, food and clothing necessary for the development of a strong and safe community. 
• Health Care: We invest in the development of strategic community health resources and facilities that will support the needs of all members of our nearby communities, with major gifts going to children’s hospitals, university medical centers and service providers that offer specialized health care services and programs.
• Education: Valero is a strong advocate of education as it creates a necessary foundation for all children to thrive and for adults to lead productive lives. 
• Civic: We support civic and environmental initiatives directly related to the success of the communities where we live and work.

DEQ’s Environmental Education Program is responsible for the development of educational programs and materials. The program is tasked with disseminating environmental education resources throughout the state and training educators on how to implement those resources into their classrooms.

Free presentations and information are available for schools, neighborhood associations, and community groups regarding air quality, land protection, water quality, and general environmental issues. We can have a booth, a hands-on activity, presentation, or bring publications to classrooms, community events, Natural Resources Day, Career Day, STEM Day or celebrations such as America Recycles Day, Earth Day, and more.

The DEQ Environmental Education Program is committed to educate all Oklahomans about the environment, their place in it, and what they can do to protect it.

Bringing Power and Purpose to Our Communities

At GRDA we believe in more than just providing power; we are committed to building strong, thriving communities. Our Community Engagement initiative is at the heart of our mission to help the communities we serve as they empower not only homes and businesses but also the lives of the people who call these areas home.

Through a dynamic blend of support, outreach, and collaboration, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of our customers, employees, and neighbors. This page is your gateway to discovering the myriad of ways in which we are actively engaged in your community. From supporting community enrichment efforts to promoting sustainable practices, fostering education, and being a reliable community partner, we’re dedicated to sparking positive change.

Explore our Community Engagement efforts, join us in these efforts, and be a part of the energy that’s making a real difference in the world around us.

Look no further than Main Street in GRDA customer communities to see the proof of the public power success that comes from working hard and working together. GRDA’s mission statement includes a pledge to assist in area economic development and to help communities adapt to changes in their business environments. 

As a member of 22 chambers of commerce, and local economic development associations, GRDA is active in Oklahoma communities and aware of the needs and challenges each face. Our hands-on approach creates solid relationships but also raises awareness and appreciation of the unique characteristics of each community we serve. Working side by side with city leaders and community volunteers, GRDA is proud to participate in the promotion and celebration of each.


Policy

GRDA supports and assists activities, organizations, and causes which advance both governmental public purposes, as well as corporate purpose of GRDA by promoting community and economic development, tourism and recreational activities, and conservation and development of natural resources in the communities and industrial areas it serves. This support and assistance will be in compliance with state laws governing GRDA’s activities including marketing, consumer education, community relations and customer service functions which it performs.

About Communities Foundation of Oklahoma

At the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, we believe in the power of connecting individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and communities. Because when passionate people are paired with purposes they care about most, the communities in Oklahoma will prosper. We aim to strategically distribute charitable funds, maximize our donors’ impact, and strengthen their communities through stewardship and commitment to sustainable change.

About TCF

Tahlequah Community Fund has been dedicated to connecting donors to the charitable needs of Tahlequah. Through TCF, individuals, families and organizations have a funding vehicle to support and grow charitable programs and projects that can preserve and enhance Tahlequah’s unique quality of life for many years to come.

Founded in 1999, the TCF is supported by a local advisory board that is comprised of seven local volunteers. TCF funds are managed by Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, an organization that manages community funds throughout the state of Oklahoma.

Our grant emphasis is on:

• program benefitting arts, education, culture, health and wellness,
• community beautification and
• development, leadership,
• conservation and
• human services.

Grants

Each year, TCF accepts grants applications from the community. Application deadline is the last Friday in September. Awards are announced in October and monies dispersed in November. . Currently, grants are limited to $3,500 or less.

Cresap Family Foundation Grant

The Cresap family owned and operated Anheuser-Busch distributorships from 1968 through 2011. The family has a desire to give back to the communities that supported their business for 44 years, resulting in the formation of The Cresap Family Foundation. The intent of the Foundation is to support worthy charities in Central and Northeast Oklahoma.

Mission

The mission of the Cresap Family Foundation is to further the philanthropic legacy of the Cresap Family by improving the quality of life of Oklahoman’s and beyond. The Foundation’s areas of emphasis are youth and families, health and wellness, education, arts and humanities and animal welfare.

Focus Areas

• Arts & Humanities
• Community Development
• Education
• Health & Wellness
• Human Services

Investing in nonprofits that are advancing a new, transformative system of justice with the core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all.

Grants Overview

Public Welfare Foundation awards grants to nonprofits that honor the Foundation’s core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all. The Foundation looks for strategic points where its funds can make a significant difference and improve lives through policy and system reform that results in transformative change.

Our Work

Public Welfare Foundation aims to catalyze a transformative approach to justice that is community-led, restorative, and racially just.

• Adult Criminal Justice
• Youth Justice
• Legacy Initiatives
• Jurisdictions

Working in Communities, With Communities

Public Welfare Foundation believes that the best ideas bubble up from communities so we work to engage deeply in and with the communities we fund.

We work with communities to drive transformation from multiple angles including policy advocacy, organizing, leadership development, and demonstration projects. Public Welfare Foundation is committed to funding innovative solutions and investing in the leadership of those most proximate to the issues facing this nation.

Focusing our efforts on criminal justice and youth justice reforms allows us to achieve greater impact in the overhaul of the systems that were created to marginalize and contain our nation’s most vulnerable populations.

Grants Process

The Public Welfare Foundation has a two-step application process that includes both a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and a full proposal. We invite full proposals after reviewing letters of inquiry. We only consider full proposals we have invited that fit within the program guidelines and available resources.

Current focus areas include:

• Organizations and projects with a focus on structural and systemic changes in the U.S. criminal justice system.
  • The Foundation does not typically fund direct service work (ex. individual support services, case management).
  • However, the Foundation will consider initiatives that aim to further a demonstration project to make the case for non-carceral alternatives and transformative approaches to justice reform.
• Organizations, projects, or special initiatives with a focus on reducing harm and violence using community-centered interventions.
• Reframing the narrative and fostering greater transparency and urgency around the U.S. criminal justice system through storytelling, journalism and other targeted efforts.

Grant Types: How We Fund the Work

General Support Grants

• General support grants are for day-to-day operating costs or to further the work of your organization. These grants are not earmarked for a particular program or project.

Program or Project Support Grants

• Program or project support grants support a specific program or activity of the organization. These are restricted grants and must be used for that program or project.

Special Opportunities Grants

• The Special Opportunities Program supports projects reflecting the Foundation’s mission and underlying values. These are one-time only grants that are especially timely and compelling. At times, this kind of grant serves as a laboratory for new ideas.

Our Mission

The Priddy Foundation is dedicated to the support of programs in human services, education, the arts, and health, which offer significant potential for individual development and community improvement.

Types of Grants

Within the categories listed above, the foundation makes the following types of grants:

Program Grants

The Priddy Foundation has significant interest in requests which create or expand program services. Program requests should deal effectively with identified problems and opportunities. In most cases, programs should be sustainable beyond the grant period and realistically match the requesting organization’s mission and capacity. Organizations should be able to evaluate results against defined standards of measurement.

Operating Grants  

The Priddy Foundation considers general operating requests, but is wary of fostering annual budget dependency. Operating grants typically require a grantee organization to present a practicable plan to achieve self-sufficiency and may require the organization to enter into a formal consulting arrangement with a Nonprofit Management Service Organization (MSO) to improve organizational capacity.

Capital Grants 

The Priddy Foundation considers capital projects for buildings and major items of equipment. Approval is more likely if the project has existing, broad support from organizations and individuals. Rarely will The Priddy Foundation’s contribution exceed 20% of the total project budget; often it will be much less. Organizations must attain their project fundraising goal and document that raised funds are sufficient to complete the project as presented in the grant application before a capital grant is funded.

Organizational Development Support Grants

The Priddy Foundation has an interest in increasing the capacity of an organization to serve more effectively in a complex and changing world. Requests for leadership development/capacity of board and staff, planning initiatives, technical assistance, and technology enhancements are considered. Organizational development grants must include a comprehensive plan supported by the organization’s board, outside professional assistance, if appropriate, and linkage between the leadership development plan and the ability of the organization to achieve and sustain its mission more effectively.

Opportunities for Children

The Opportunities for Children Community Grant was designed to support organizations that provide enrichment opportunities for children who may otherwise be unable to participate.

Project Priorities & Populations of Focus:

Proposed projects must be designed to address the specialized needs of the population of focus.

• School Readiness, ages 0-5: Programs or services to prepare children for school. Examples include language and literacy development, cognition and general knowledge, approaches toward learning, physical well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development.
• Foster Care, ages 0-14: Programs and services supporting children living in foster care. Examples include mentoring, resources for providing basic needs, and recreational, social, or cultural experiences.
• Enrichment Opportunities, ages 0-14: Programs or services that provide specialized enrichment opportunities for children with developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions, adverse childhood experiences, or receiving behavioral health services.

The Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation was established in 1995 by Carolyn Watson, the CEO and chairman of Shamrock Bank N.A. To date, the foundation has distributed more than $3 million to support nonprofit organizations in their efforts to enhance the quality of life in rural Oklahoma communities. The foundation’s grant programs are administered by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

Focus Areas

Examples of the types of projects/programs we seek to support are provided under each focus area below.

Arts/Culture/History

• Projects that enhance or preserve a community’s culture, history and heritage. Examples include public exhibitions, educational programming and historic preservation planning.
• Public art projects that enhance public spaces for community use and interaction.
• Educational programming that increases public access to arts/culture/history.

Libraries/Literacy

• Projects that seek to strengthen the role of rural libraries as a community resource and public knowledge center.
• Programming designed to increase public access to libraries and other literary services for citizens. This can include increasing access for specific target groups such as citizens with disabilities or ESL students.
• Projects designed to improve literacy skills including basic reading, writing, math, GED preparation, and workplace literacy.
• Programs that promote early literacy and reading activities to families, parents and childcare providers.

Health & Safety

• Programs that provide direct services to underserved and/or uninsured citizens in their local communities. Preference will be given to programs delivering services that are not covered by general health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.
• Programs that improve the safety and security of community members.

Economic Development

• Projects that contribute to a community’s economic growth and stability.
• Projects that provide access to resources that can stimulate employment opportunities.

Globe Life and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, with help from Bally Sports Southwest, partner annually to provide grants to nonprofit baseball and softball programs across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Arkansas.

The Rangers and Rangers Foundation are committed to supporting the growth of baseball and softball and making sure that every child is afforded the opportunity to experience joy and community through sports. This grant program is designed to continue to build baseball and softball by providing funding for field renovations, equipment needs, uniforms, and league development for teams throughout the five-state territory.

Since its inception in 2012, the Globe Life Baseball and Softball Grant Program has donated over $1,000,000 to more than 150 organizations helping countless communities in need.

Charitable Contributions

Our goal with financial contributions from BOK Financial and the BOKF Foundation is to enhance the quality of life and economic wellbeing in the communities where BOK Financial operates and where our employees work and live including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Our charitable contributions are focused on four pillars of giving: United Way, economic development, education and basic needs

Our long-term strategic plan guides all contributions to assure maximum impact in the community and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with our nonprofit partner agencies. BOK financial contributions are budgeted on an annual calendar basis. We accept online charitable contribution/grant applications throughout the year.

Pillars of giving

Basic Needs

We provide volunteer and financial support to organizations serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Our efforts largely focus on organizations providing direct services addressing such issues as poverty, hunger, healthcare, housing and safety.

Education

An equitable, robust educational system drives long-term community growth. We support local nonprofits whose primary mission is promoting basic education, including public school foundations, early childhood education, financial literacy, and institutions of higher education.

Economic Development

Actions that raise the standard of living and economic health of our communities make them better places to live and work. We provide support to local chambers of commerce; nonprofits focused on workforce development, job training, etc.; and public/private partnerships investing in our communities.

United Way

Our focus on strategically investing in the community aligns perfectly with United Way’s approach to achieving its mission of mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good.

Guidelines

Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector.

A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

What does this program do?

This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

What kind of event can qualify as an emergency?

• Drought or flood
• Earthquake
• Tornado or hurricane
• Disease outbreak
• Chemical spill, leak or seepage
• Other disasters

How may the funds be used?

• Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply
• Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant)

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps prevent damage or restore households and business' access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.

Grants

Oklahoma Humanities accepts funding requests for projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life. Projects should engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history. Oklahoma Humanities funding supports projects in three program categories: Public Programs, Preservation and Access Projects, and Education Projects.

Grants for Public Humanities Projects

The Public Humanities Projects category supports projects that bring the ideas of the humanities to life for general audiences through public programming. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history. Awards support projects that are intended to reach broad and diverse public audiences in non-classroom settings in Oklahoma. Projects should engage with ideas that are accessible to the general public and employ appealing interpretive formats. We likewise welcome humanities projects tailored to particular groups, such as tribal communities, seniors, veterans, and underserved communities.

Grants for Exhibits:

The Exhibits category supports the creation, development, or implementation of a permanent, temporary, or traveling exhibit.

Grants for Humanities Discussions:

The Humanities Discussions category supports living history programs, conferences, community conversations, symposia, lectures or lecture series, reading and discussion programs, analytical discussions of museum collections or theater/musical performances.

Grants for Cultural Experiences:

The Cultural Experiences category supports formats that explore local history or cultural heritage such as historic walking tours, cultural trips, festivals, guided tours, or Chautauquas.

Grants for Media Projects:

The Media Projects category supports the development and production of radio programs, podcasts, print and digital publications, educational video(s), or other digital projects that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways.

Grants for Preservation and Access Projects

The Preservation and Access category supports projects that focus on ensuring the long-term and wide availability of primary resources in the humanities. Projects preserve and create access to collections and cultural heritage resources of importance for research, education, and public programming in the humanities. Project formats include language revitalization and preservation, oral history projects, and the digitization of collections.

Grants for Language Preservation

The Language Preservation category supports the preservation of endangered human languages.

Grants for Oral History Projects

The Oral History category supports community-based efforts to safeguard cultural resources through identifying, documenting, and/or collecting cultural heritage and community experiences through oral histories.

Grants for Preservation or Digitization of Collections

The Collections Preservation or Digitization category supports the digitization, maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing humanities collections.

Grants for Education Projects

The Education Projects category supports humanities education through educational experiences, curriculum development, and professional development opportunities for either public K-12 students or Humanities Educators.

Grants for Educator-Serving Projects

Projects for full- or part-time K-12 educators who teach in Oklahoma public schools. Projects may include teacher institutes or workshops, the creation and dissemination of curriculum guides, or other educator-serving projects.

Grants for Student-Serving Projects

Projects for K-12 Oklahoma public school students. Projects may include in-person learning events or field trips, virtual learning events or online programs, or hybrid virtual learning experiences.

Summer Grant

With a mission to make a real difference, the City of Muskogee Foundation was established in 2008 for the purpose of effectively developing, supporting, promoting, and improving programs and facilities relating to education, arts, culture, community revitalization and beautification, social services, health care, economic development, infrastructure, housing, and recreation for the City of Muskogee and surrounding areas and to improve the quality of life of residents of Muskogee.

Grants

Mission

The City of Muskogee Foundation’s mission is to make Make a Real Difference in Muskogee through grants to nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and the City of Muskogee.

Economic Development

Mission

The mission of the Economic Development Committee is to provide support for programs and initiatives that enhance and increase innovation, productivity, growth and prosperity for Muskogee.

Types of Funding

Consideration will be given for multiple types of funding such as capital, incentives and infrastructure.

Future Funding

Acquiring funding in future years will be contingent upon measured outcomes and other qualitative information as evidenced in the evaluation reports. All multi-year grants will be contingent upon measured outcomes that meet or exceed expectations.

Out of Cycle Grant

Any grant for out of cycle consideration must have legitimate time sensitive need, as approved by the Chairman of the Board of City of Muskogee Foundation and Economic Development Committee Chair. Proposals that include job creation, business expansion or new business location that fall outside of the SIP incentive program will be considered.

Education & Empowerment

Mission

The mission of the Education & Empowerment Grants Committee is to enhance foundational learning in our community by funding educational experiences that are responsive to changing community needs and maximize the learning potential of every resident from pre-K through career, preparing them to succeed in the 21st century.

Types of Funding

Consideration will be given for multiple types of funding designed to meet the priority considerations of this committee.

Future Funding

Funding in future years will be contingent upon measured outcomes as evidenced in the evaluation report. All multi-year grants will be contingent upon measured outcomes that meet or exceed expectations.

Health & Wellness

Mission

The mission of the Health and Wellness Grants Committee is to provide support for programs and initiatives which focus on the health and wellness of the citizens of Muskogee. Priority consideration will focus on the Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan, Elimination of generational poverty, and collaborative approaches to teen pregnancy prevention.

Types of Funding

Consideration will be given for multiple types of funding designed to meet the priority considerations of this committee.

Future Funding

Acquiring funding in future years will be contingent upon measured outcomes and other information as evidenced in the evaluation reports. All multi-year grants will be contingent upon measured outcomes that meet or exceed expectations.

Quality of Life

Mission

The mission of the Quality of Life Grants Committee is to provide support for programs and initiatives that improve and develop opportunities to enhance “live, work and play” for residents and guests of the Muskogee community.

Types of Funding

Consideration will be given for multiple types of funding designed to meet the priority considerations of this committee.

Future Funding

Acquiring funding in future years will be based on measured outcomes and other information as evidenced in the evaluation reports. All multi-year grants will be contingent upon measured outcomes that meet or exceed expectations.

Ms. Foundation for Women

The mission of the Ms. Foundation for Women is to build women’s collective power in the U.S. to advance equity and justice for all. We achieve our mission by investing in, and strengthening, the capacity of women-led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural and economic change in the lives of women.

Birth Justice Initiative

In 2022, Ms. Foundation for Women launched our first national, open call request for proposals for our Birth Justice Initiative to support Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities in addressing racial based health disparities in birth experiences and birth outcomes. Through this initiative, Ms. will mobilize funding and capacity building resources nationally to organizations implementing birth justice strategies rooted in movement building and organizing.

The Birth Justice Initiative will build upon our decades of experience supporting grassroots leaders fighting for reproductive justice. The overall goals of our initiative are to:

• Build power within the birth justice movement
• Increase connectivity and collaboration between Birth Justice Organizations and movement leaders.
• Provide philanthropic advocacy, thought partnership, and thought leadership, to influence the movement of more resources to the Birth Justice movement.

We are committed to deepening our investment in grassroots Black, Indigenous and WGOC-led organizations working toward achieving birth justice. In our first round of grant making, we will invest over $1,000,000 in support of birth justice organizations across the spectrum of movement building and organizing, and supporting our communities to advance more equitable birth outcomes.

Telligen Community Initiative (TCI) will continue to provide community-based funding support in 2025. This document outlines our funding approach and application process. Our Board of Directors has elected to move TCI’s resources largely to a more focused Strengthening Families and Communities funding opportunity. Moving forward, our Social Determinants of Health approach will be significantly different and more condensed, based on the last two years of applicant and funding experience. We will focus solely on those philanthropic resources at the intersection of Social Determinants of Health and within the context of work to build resiliency of youth and families. This intentionality will provide a greater focus of our support and narrow the applicant pool. Based on ongoing applicant survey feedback and TCI’s belief that the issues we want to resource need more intense and consistent funding support, TCI is transitioning to two-year funding periods in this call for applicants. We are also tabling our Health Workforce Development funding interest for the time being. We will have two grant deadlines again in 2025, with deadlines for two-state groupings staggered during the year

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) invites applications for Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) awards from investigators at biomedical research institutions that award doctoral degrees in the health sciences or sciences related to health or at independent biomedical research institutes with ongoing biomedical research programs funded by the NIH or other Federal agencies within the IDeA- eligible states. The purpose of the INBRE program is to augment and strengthen the biomedical research capacity of IDeA-eligible states. The INBRE program represents a collaborative effort to sponsor research between research intensive institutions and primarily undergraduate institutions, community colleges, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), as appropriate.

Only institutions located in the following states/commonwealth are eligible to apply for the INBRE: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund

The most enduring highway in our public consciousness, Route 66 represents a unique moment in history that continues to define the nation’s identity: the rise of the automobile and its implications of freedom, mobility, and a quintessential American story. Grants from this fund will help preserve and enhance historic places on or connected to Route 66 for future generations.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund provides financial support to public agencies, tribal governments or nonprofit organizations to preserve and interpret historic places along the Route 66 corridor. The National Trust has a special interest in illuminating the narratives of communities whose places and stories have been historically underrepresented, which may include communities and neighborhoods along the Route 66 corridor associated with People of Color (including but not limited to indigenous peoples, Latinx, Black Americans and others), women, immigrants, LGBTQIA communities, veterans, and economically distressed communities.

Grants made from the Preserve Route 66 Fund will generally range from $2,500 to $10,000.

Butterfield Grant Gateway

Discover opportunities to make a difference through our diverse grant programs. From advancing healthcare access to supporting spiritual care initiatives, our grants empower Christian organizations to serve communities locally and globally. Explore our funding focus areas and learn how you can join us in transforming lives through compassionate care and impactful projects.

Butterfield Memorial Foundation Grant 

Thank you for considering the Butterfield Foundation as a potential funding partner for your work.

We have three grantmaking cycles per year. Projects aligning with one of our four Funding Focus Areas can be considered in any grant cycle.

Funding Focus Areas

Butterfield Foundation has four (4) Funding Focus Areas that define our granting priorities.

• Charitable Whole Person Healthcare:
  • BMF seeks to meet the whole person healthcare needs of underserved individuals by partnering with nonprofit Christian organizations serving their community with priority given to Oklahoma. Projects funded should improve the quality of care offered to each patient, address health issues impacting a large portion of the population, and advance the efforts of charitable care by educating providers.
  • Examples of funding include: construction, renovations, medical equipment, lab equipment, dental equipment, vision equipment, strategic planning, technology upgrades, and training for staff.
• Choose Life Advancement:
  • BMF seeks to partner with nonprofit Christian organizations serving individuals with unintended pregnancies, those in need of post-abortive healing, and those healing from or vulnerable to sex-trafficking. Projects funded should expand outreach, provide training opportunities that enhance client care, or improve service delivery.
  • Examples of funding include: ultrasound machines, building improvements, equipment, technology upgrades, website updates, pregnancy/parenting curriculum, center signage, and training for staff.
• International Whole Person Healthcare:
  • BMF seeks to collaborate with nonprofit Christian organizations serving an international population meeting whole person healthcare needs. Projects funded should increase the number of individuals served, improve health conditions, or create programs for indigenous people to mitigate community health needs.
  • Examples of funding include: construction, renovations, imaging equipment, lab equipment, dental equipment, vision equipment, surgical equipment, strategic planning, water/sanitation, community health training, solar power, technology upgrades, and training for staff.
• Spiritual Care Advancement:
  • BMF seeks to collaborate with nonprofit Christian healthcare organizations to advance spiritual care as a core component of whole person care. Projects funded should create training opportunities to advance understanding and knowledge of spiritual care and improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals.
  • Examples of funding include: curriculum development, spiritual care/chaplaincy trainings, spiritual care internships, and trauma-informed care.

In selecting projects for consideration, the Foundation evaluates alignment with our funding priorities and our values and considers whether we can make a meaningful difference with our impact and our investments.

George Kaiser Family Foundation  Areas of Focus

The Foundation’s mission of providing every child with an equal opportunity is reflected throughout the work that we do in our community. Our four focus areas give us the opportunity to address community issues at a deeper level.

Parent Engagement & Early Education

GKFF supports early childhood education initiatives, as well as continued support for children and families, to ensure each child reaches his or her full potential.

Initiatives

Early Childhood Education

• Children are born learning. What they learn from life’s earliest moments will dramatically impact their later success.

Pre-K - 12 Education

• Students with a strong educational foundation have a greater chance of success throughout their academic career.

Parent Engagement

• To encourage parent-child engagement, we take a holistic approach to providing support and resources to Tulsa families.

Health & Family Well-Being

GKFF works to bridge existing healthcare and service gaps in our community by ensuring that families receive the basic services they need to raise healthy and thriving children.

Initiatives

Community Health

• In a state with some of the country’s worst health outcomes, GKFF has sought best practices to combat Tulsa’s significant health challenges.

Maternal Child Health

• GKFF recognizes that the best way for young children to have a level playing field in school is through a strong and healthy beginning in life.

Cycle of Incarceration

• Oklahoma has the highest rate of female incarceration in the nation. The consequences of incarceration are devastating for both mothers and their children.

Social Services

• In order to sustain a stable safety net, GKFF provides financial support to a wide variety of local nonprofit agencies.

Civic Enhancement

GKFF invests in a culturally vibrant and economically robust Tulsa to ensure a thriving community that affords opportunities for all of its citizens to enjoy a high quality of life.

Initiatives

Arts & Culture

• GKFF’s grant-making and initiatives in the arts support efforts to make Tulsa a creative and interesting place to live and work.

Economic Development

• To create a civic culture that supports equal opportunity for all children, Tulsa must be in a strong state of economic health.

Neighborhood Development

• Focusing neighborhood investments on a few geographic areas enables GKFF to affect and measure progress.

Birth Through Eight Strategy for Tulsa (Best)

The Birth through Eight Strategy for Tulsa (BEST) represents an exciting opportunity for Tulsa. BEST is a comprehensive, continuous, and integrated approach that focuses on families to help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. This strategy knits together programs and services to create a seamless continuum of support. Programs, services, community agencies, and philanthropies are partnering with Tulsa’s families to build a cycle of opportunity.

GKFF Accelerator Grants 

The Accelerator Grant at George Kaiser Family Foundation aims to increase access to funding and ensure historically disadvantaged and underfunded nonprofits have the financial and technical support to fulfill their missions within the Tulsa community.

The Accelerator Grant is designed to empower historically disadvantaged leaders who are proximate to the community with the resources to lead solutions. Eligible grantees will also be aligned with GKFF’s larger mission of creating an environment where every Tulsan, no matter their background, has an opportunity to succeed.

Grants are accepted on a rolling basis, with grant reviews happening quarterly. Grant reviews occur within the following months each year: February, May, August, and November.