The Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF) sends this information as posted below:
Oklahoma City – Cultural experiences have the power to bring members of a community together around interests that connect them. That is why the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is excited to award $442,000 to 31 programs across the metro area through our Culture and Community grant program.
The Culture & Community Grant Program 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.
Since 2022, OCCF and its generous donors have provided $1.4 million to programs supporting Oklahoma’s unique culture through this grant program.
“These outstanding organizations create and elevate unique cultural experiences, while also actively engaging people from all walks of life,” said Trisha Finnegan, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. “We are committed to listening to the needs of the nonprofit community, and supporting organizations that increase connection, expand knowledge, spark innovation and improve quality of life.”
These awards have been specifically designed to be flexible for nonprofits seeking innovative solutions to funding operational challenges and to strengthen their ability to offer unique services to our community.
Grant recipients include:
- 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.
- Bring Back the Music, Ltd | $15,000 to expand performing arts programming to people of all ages with developmental disabilities.
- 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.
- 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.
- Culture Hub Inc. | $15,000 for inclusive programming that elevates Native and Indigenous arts, culture, and community storytelling.
- 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 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 Visual Arts Coalition | $20,000 for programs that nurture artists, provide financial and professional development, and bring accessible art experiences to the broader community.
- Open Design Collective Inc. | $20,000 for strategic planning and organizational capacity-building that sustains efforts to revitalize historic neighborhoods, prevent displacement, and ensure future development aligns with resident-led visions.
- 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.
- 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 to 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Oklahoma Baroque Orchestra | $5,000 to support the 2025–26 season, Past Made Present — a two-concert series featuring six performances that highlight early music from the Renaissance to the early Romantic period.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
A contribution to one of OCCF’s Community Grant Programs allows you to support local nonprofits that are meeting needs and elevating our community. If you’d like to support more organizations doing this work, contact the Oklahoma City Community Foundation at occf.org/giving/community.
About the Oklahoma City Community Foundation:
Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) public charity that works with individuals, families and organizations to benefit our community now and in the future. Together, we strive to make the greatest impact in our community. To join us or learn more about our work to maximize charitable funds, visit occf.org.
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