Capacity-Building Grants

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

Status: Closed for FY 2026 (as of April 2026)

Contact: jennifer.bryan@alliedartsokc.com

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