Culture & Community Grant Program

Culture & Community Grant Program is sponsored by Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Supports and expands access to initiatives that celebrate, share, and preserve the diverse array of local cultures, traditions, arts, social practices, and historical achievements that make up Oklahoma's unique cultural fabric.

Culture & Community | OCCF FY25 and FY26 Grantee Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma Cultural experiences have the power to enrich lives, broaden understanding, foster collaboration and bring communities together around shared interests.

The Culture & Community Grant supports and expands access to initiatives that celebrate, share and preserve the diverse traditions, arts and social practices that make up Oklahoma’s unique cultural fabric. View All Community Grants Projects must support one or more of the following: Preserve & Promote Oklahoma’s Cultural Fabric Expand Access to Cultural Programming & Education Awards are made up to $30,000.

The FY27 Grant Guidelines have changed significantly. Please review and download for full details. This grant cycle will focus exclusively on project-based requests.

All projects proposed must align with the published Grant Guidelines. Eligibility requirements and application process instructions are also included in the Grant Guidelines.

May 12, 2026 – Grant Application Opens May 19, 2026 – Grant Information Meeting (Optional) ▹ Register for the Virtual Grant Info Meeting June 11, 2026 – Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline June 25, 2026 – Grant Application Deadline End of August 2026 – Decision Notification All deadlines are firm. No exceptions. Applications are submitted online via the Grant Portal.

Submit a Letter of Intent(LOI) through the online Grant Portal. ▹ Application instructions are available in the Grant Guidelines. If the LOI is approved, submit a full application through the Grant Portal.

To see our list of recent grantees , please click here . To view the generous donors who have supported this grant, please click here . If my organization received a Culture & Community Grant last year, am I eligible to apply again this year?

Organizations that have previously received a grant may apply again if: All awarded grant funds have been fully expended. The organization is up-to-date on all required follow-up reports. When will I be notified of a funding decision?

All applicants will be notified of a decision by the end of August following the quarterly Oklahoma City Community Foundation Trustee Meeting. What is the timeline to implement my project/expend the awarded grant funds? If awarded, you may start your grant-associated activities once you have submitted your signed grant agreement.

If you choose to align your timeline with our grant cycle, you will have approximately 10 months to utilize the funds and submit a final report. Aligning your timeline with our grant cycle is optional. Culture & Community Grant Cycle: May – July: Application submissions.

July – August: Application evaluation process. Mid-August: OCCF Trustee Meeting and grant approvals. End of August: Funding decision notifications.

September – July: Grant Implementation. RACE Dance Collective – Culture & Community FY24 Recipient. Asian District Cultural Association – $5,000 – To preserve and celebrate the cultural richness of Oklahoma’s Asian American community through events, beautification, education and outreach.

Beta Omicron Sigma Inc., Brothers of Stomp – $10,000 – To support leadership and mentorship programming, including essential training for additional mentors and specialized sessions in mental health, conflict resolution and career readiness. Bring Back the Music Ltd. – $15,000 – To expand performing arts programming to people of all ages with developmental disabilities.

Culture Hub Inc. – $15,000 – For inclusive programming that elevates Native and Indigenous arts, culture and community storytelling. deadCenter Film – $15,000 – To support a new staff position to sustain and grow year-round film programming, education and community partnerships.

El Sistema Oklahoma – $15,000 – For the daily after-school orchestra program, providing underserved students with instruments, transportation and comprehensive arts education. Friends of the Oklahoma History Center for Traveling Education Trunks – $10,000 – For the development of educational trunks that bring hands-on history into K-12 classrooms and libraries.

Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation – $15,000 – For Emprendedoras Rising Start, a bilingual entry-level training program that prepares women to succeed in core entrepreneurial programs through digital literacy and technical skills.

Harrah Historical Society, Kiosk for Community Resources – $3,500 – To purchase a kiosk for the local museum that will provide access to Polish and Native American history, local records and educational resources. Metropolitan School of Dance, 2025 OKC Tap Dance Festival – $6,000 – To support the purchase of tap dance shoes for participating youth.

OKC Black Alumni Coalition Inc. – $20,000 – To support the Black community’s legacy in northeast Oklahoma City through cultural programming, advocacy and community-based engagement. Oklahoma Cowboys Charitable Foundation, Youth Summer Camp 2026 – $15,000 – To support an annual summer camp that teaches underserved youth about Black cowboy history, leadership, wellness and culture through immersive outdoor and equestrian activities.

Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History – $20,000 – To sustain the museum’s operations, staffing and cemetery preservation efforts and expand educational programming that highlights the history and culture of the Black Creeks (Freedmen) of Indian Territory.

Oklahoma Mural Syndicate – $15,000 – For the rotating Plaza Walls mural project and year-round, free cultural programming that engages diverse communities through education and public events. Oklahoma Pride Alliance, 2026 Oklahoma PrideFest – $15,000 – To support the 2026 Oklahoma PrideFest, providing inclusive programming, entertainment and wellness services in downtown OKC for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition – $20,000 – For programs that nurture artists, provide financial and professional development, and bring accessible art experiences to the broader community. Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma – $25,000 – To restore key staff roles and support ongoing music education and artists development programs for veterans and youth.

Paseo Artists Association – $10,000 – To strengthen daily operations, artist development and community arts programs in OKC’s historic Paseo Arts District. Putnam City Schools Foundation – $15,000 – To sustain equity-focused student initiatives promoting cultural awareness, mental health and youth leadership across the district.

RACE Dance Collective – $25,000 – To offset rising costs and maintain accessible dance programming that fosters resilience and inclusivity across OKC. Southern Plains Productions, StoryPop: Free Playworks – $10,000 – To bring free, live theater performances to schools and community spaces, exploring identity and belonging through Latinx-centered storytelling.

The ComeBack Kid Society, Beyond the Block Cultural Exposure for Youth – $20,000 – To launch a year-long program providing system-involved youth with quarterly workshops led by diverse local artists and field trips to culturally significant sites.

The Freedom Center of OKC – $20,000 – To develop a signature curriculum and establish key cultural and educational programs honoring Oklahoma’s Civil Rights legacy, and support their successful implementation and long-term sustainability.

The Foundation for Liberating Minds – $15,000 – To support the Foundation for Liberating Minds’ education and community-based initiatives that address the root causes of marginalization through transformative education. Thick Descriptions, Oklahoma Black Towns steAm in Oklahoma County – $15,000 – To support educational programming that introduces youth to Oklahoma Black history through STEM and cultural anthropology.

Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, Celebrate 66 with Art from George Rodrigue – $10,000 – To support an Edmond Public Schools curriculum tied to Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park’s 2026 opening that allows students to explore art, nature and Route 66 history. United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Highland Gathering – $2,500 – For the 25th Scottish Heritage Festival, expanding community engagement with Scottish heritage and traditions.

Untitled Artspace Inc., Native and Latino Empowerment through Art – $15,000 – To expand a bilingual arts mentorship program for Latino and Indigenous students, integrating printmaking, language skills and social-emotional learning Urban Bridge, Bridging Heritage Dreams 2.

0: Beyond the Lens – $20,000 – For a free arts-based, after-school initiative for middle and high school students that equips students with hard skills in creative writing, film production and digital media. NewView Oklahoma – $10,000 – For arts programming, workshops and museum tours to engage individuals with low-vision or who are blind.

OKC Black Alumni Coalition – $20,000 – For the River Bowl Classic, which celebrates OKC’s Black community with through rowing and a premier regatta. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum – $10,000 – For a program that educates fifth through 12th grade students on the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and its cultural impact.

Oklahoma Cowboys Charitable Foundation – $10,000 – For a summer camp that offers a week-long youth enrichment program focusing on health, equestrianism, teamwork and Black cowboy history. Red Earth – $20,000 – For a partnership program with pow-wow dancers to educate students and the public on Native American regalia, cultural appreciation and pow-wow etiquette.

University of Oklahoma Foundation – $15,000 – For “Frankoma: Coming Home” featuring workshops, demonstrations, outreach projects and an online resource on creating clay vessels with Cherokee alphabet engravings. Untitled Artspace – $20,000 – For a mentorship program providing students with bilingual art lessons, printmaking instruction and participation in art events.

Council on American-Islamic Relations, Oklahoma – $20,000 – For a video series highlighting the diverse Oklahoma Muslim community, their integration challenges and successes with a focus on recent Afghan resettlement in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center – $25,000 – For a major retrospective of Edgar Heap of Birds artwork spanning four decades, highlighting the artist’s impact on Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship.

Oklahoma Hall of Fame – $10,000 – To create exhibitions featuring living Oklahoma artists who represent the state’s diverse population with a special focus on historically underrepresented communities. Oklahoma Mural Syndicate – $20,000 – For Plaza Walls, an exposition featuring more than 40 murals, music and dancing.

Sunny Dayz – $20,000 – For a festival featuring more than 50 global artists creating murals in OKC’s Calle Dos Cinco to celebrate Latino culture and empower artists in their community. Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation – $30,000 – For a women’s entrepreneurship program that provides access to bilingual business counselors, workshops and mentoring.

NE OKC Renaissance – $20,000 – For a conference exploring PlaceKeeping, featuring thought leaders on ethical design, cooperative economics and community stewardship. Theater & Performing Arts Metropolitan School of Dance – $15,000 – To support the OKC Tap Festival and engage youth with dance workshops, hands-on learning and artist lectures.

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre Group – $10,000 – To stage “Rep Rallies” two-minute showcases featuring local artists held before performances and outside the theater to engage the community. Oklahoma Philharmonic Society – $20,000 – To create an original symphony featuring vocal components from six Native languages and in collaboration with tribal experts and local artists.

Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma – $20,000 – For creation of a Youth Mariachi Ensemble in partnership with Mariachi Orguello de América. First Americans Museum and the Endangered Language Fund – $12,000 – For the Algonquian Conference, which convenes academic experts, tribal members and language practitioners to support local Algonquian language revitalization efforts.

Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma – $15,000 – To create a publicly accessible docuseries on naturalization stories, celebrating citizenship and community growth. Oklahoma City University – $15,000 – For the Sovereignty Symposium where 600 experts will discuss tribal sovereignty and governance to promote meaningful discourse and collaboration.

Festivals & Public Events Children’s Health Foundation – $10,000 – For three inclusive heritage celebrations featuring art shows, live performances by artists with disabilities and resource fairs supporting local businesses and organizations serving those with disabilities. City of Spencer, Oklahoma – $5,000 – For their annual Unity Day celebrating cultural diversity and community unity.

Healthy Living Center Norman – $10,000 – For celebrations at the Norman Adult Wellness and Education Center featuring Hispanic, Native American and African American cultures. Oklahoma Pride Alliance – $10,000 – To support Oklahoma PrideFest 2025 celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Theatre Crude – $5,000 – For a theatre festival featuring 13 performing arts productions with nearly 100 artists and 45 live performances.

Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation – $20,000 – To support “Emprendedoras Rising,” an initiative empowering women entrepreneurs in the Greater OKC area. Harding Fine Arts Academy Foundation – $5,000 – To support their Ignite Master Artist Series, which showcases Asian-American and Pacific-Islander art and culture.

Oklahoma Humanities Council – $25,000 – To support “Let’s Talk About It,” a free reading and book discussion program that explores diverse cultural themes. Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma – $20,000 – To support their Transforming Lives Through Music program that provides free and affordable music lessons for veterans and low-income children.

Thick Descriptions – $10,000 – To help launch steAm Learning Journey, a program preserving the history and stories from historic Black towns in Oklahoma. WestTen District – $5,000 – To fund two historical marker signs as part of the Oklahoma Historical Marker program.

deadCenter Film – $15,000 – To support Continuum, their year-round community outreach program offering free film screenings showcasing filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Oklahoma Hall of Fame – $5,000 – To support their Art in Community exhibitions that emphasize cultural identity, history and unique art practices. Oklahoma Mural Syndicate – $25,000 – To transform blank walls into vibrant art in the Plaza District.

Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition – $15,000 – To support Momentum, a two-day showcase dedicated to Oklahoma artists under the age of 30. Untitled Artspace – $10,000 – To support “Indigenous Alchemy: Perspectives from Oklahoma Printmakers,” an art exhibition focusing on Native American printmakers in Oklahoma.

Urban Bridge – $20,000 – To support Bridging the Past, Present, and Future for Eastside Youth, a collaboration with an African American muralist to create two murals in northeast Oklahoma City. Carpenter Square Theatre – $10,000 – To support Best in Ten, a readers’ theatre program featuring four short, 10-minute plays. Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma – $5,000 – To support OKLAHOMA!

Interactive, a dynamic learning experience with pre-show curriculum and live performances. Oklahoma Children’s Theatre – $15,000 – To support their tour of Oklahoma’s Own, a play highlighting some of Oklahoma’s diverse historical figures. Oklahoma City Ballet – $20,000 – To help fund Spider Brings Fire, a new ballet based on an ancient Chickasaw legend.

Oklahoma City Repertory Theater – $15,000 – To help bring VIETGONE, a comedy about Vietnamese immigrants in an Arkansas refugee camp, to their Spring 2024 season. Prairie Dance Theatre – $8,000 – To support a collaboration with Eterna Primavera to enhance and broaden their educational programming.

RACE Dance Collective – $15,000 – To support their Hip-Hop Nutcracker, which reimagines the traditional story of The Nutcracker with an urban Oklahoma perspective. Festivals & Public Events Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America – $5,000 – To support the 2024 Pakistan Day Celebration.

Black Liberated Arts Center – $10,000 – To support the 2024 Charlie Christian International Music Festival celebrating the city’s musical heritage. Oklahoma City Community College Foundation – $15,000 – To support OCCC’s Fiestas Patrias, a one-day celebration of Hispanic national pride, independence and culture.

Oklahoma City Public Schools – $10,000 – To extend Native American culture knowledge to Oklahoma City residents through four community events. Olde Capitol Hill Council – $20,000 – To support Fiestas De las Americas, a day-long celebration of Latino culture. Plaza District Association – $15,000 – To support two arts and culture initiatives: Calderon Dance Festival and LIVE!

on The Plaza. Rose State College Foundation – $5,000 – To support a community event highlighting the history of Midwest City, Tinker Air Force Base and their ongoing partnership. University of Oklahoma Foundation – $20,000 – To provide students from across Oklahoma the opportunity to showcase their use of Native languages.

Director of Community Programs Community Programs Manager OCCF will be closed in observance of Christmas from Tuesday, Dec. 24 through Wednesday, Dec. 25.

We will reopen at 8:30 a. m. on Thursday, Dec.

26. Happy Holidays from all of us to you! Scholarship applications close soon!

Due to inclement weather, OCCF will be closed Friday, Jan. 23. We will reopen at 8:30 a.

m. on Monday, Jan. 26.

Please remain safe and warm. OCCF will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 20.

We will reopen at 8:30 a. m. on Tuesday, Jan.

21. Best wishes from all of us to you! Scholarship applications open soon!

OCCF will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26. We will reopen at 8:30 a. m.

on Tuesday, May 27. Best wishes from all of us to you! Due to inclement weather, the 2/19 Endowed Nonprofit Training: Leveraging Support has been canceled.

Please stay safe and warm.