Capacity-Building Grants

Focus: Helps nonprofit arts and cultural organizations grow stronger to fulfill their missions and better serve constituents. Supports organizational infrastructure, professional development, and technological improvements.

Geographic Scope: Central Oklahoma (10-county area: Oklahoma, Kingfisher, Logan, Lincoln, Seminole, Pottawatomie, Cleveland, McClain, Grady, and Canadian counties)

Types of Funded Projects:

• Organizational training and board development
• Volunteer management
• Strategic planning
• Professional development (priority given to opportunities within Oklahoma and surrounding region)
• Technology enhancements and equipment
• Virtual/remote programming capabilities
• Staff development and hiring
• Marketing and branding initiatives
• Audience development
• Facility modifications for safe indoor programming
• Capital requests for outdoor programming

Special Focus Areas:

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Supporting collaborations between established cultural nonprofits and emerging groups; funding projects addressing racial, social, and gender injustice through the arts; operating expenses for organizations led by people of color and serving communities of color
• COVID Support: Staff hiring, artist employment, virtual/remote equipment, outdoor programming capital, facility modifications

Award Amount: Up to $5,000 with no matching component required. Allied Arts will consider fully funding project requests.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a nonprofit arts organization with current 501(c)(3) status
• Be established and functional for at least 3 years
• Have current financials and active volunteer board of directors
• Have headquarters in central Oklahoma
• Have current registration as charitable organization with State of Oklahoma
• Be self-identified as "Arts, Culture, and Humanities" using National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities system
• Allied Arts member agencies and other nonprofit arts organizations are eligible
• Must have updated profile on Oklahoma City Community Foundation's GiveSmartOKC

Funding Limitations:

• Organizations with annual operating budget of $500,000 or more limited to one request per Allied Arts fiscal year

Important Notes:

• Projects producing more concrete results and impact given priority
• Submission of proposal does not guarantee funding
• Funds are limited
• Corporate partners support the program

Application Process

Required Materials:

• Application form (available on website)
• Evaluation form
• Updated profile on Oklahoma City Community Foundation's GiveSmartOKC

Submission Method: Online application form

Note: Specific narrative questions and detailed application requirements not provided in available documentation.