Applications are now being accepted for the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Grants.
Donor Name: Oklahoma City Community Foundation
State: Oklahoma
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/26/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
The Community Grants support initiatives that strengthen libraries and literacy, arts and culture, health and safety, and economic development in rural communities.
Funding Goals & Priorities
- Arts, Culture & History
- Goal: Preserve, strengthen, and enhance access to arts, culture, and history in rural communities.
- Priorities:
- Education and Access: Initiatives that foster public engagement, expand educational opportunities, and improve access to arts and cultural resources.
- Cultural Heritage and History: Projects that preserve and celebrate the unique cultural and historical legacies of rural communities.
- Health & Safety
- Goal: Enhance health, well-being, and safety for underserved populations in rural areas.
- Priorities:
- Direct Health Services: Programs delivering essential healthcare services, including physical, mental, and dental care.
- Access and Capacity Building: Initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure, expand service availability, and strengthen the public health workforce.
- Community Safety: Support for fire departments, EMS, and law enforcement agencies to ensure community safety and emergency preparedness.
- Libraries & Literacy
- Goal: Promote learning, literacy, and knowledge sharing in rural communities.
- Priorities:
- Rural Library Support: Initiatives that strengthen rural libraries as vital hubs for learning and community engagement.
- Community Literacy Programs: Programs that take place outside the traditional classroom to address literacy gaps. This may include early childhood and family literacy initiatives, adult education (e.g., GED preparation), tutoring, and ESL services.
- Economic Development
- Goal: Foster sustainable growth and build economic resilience in rural communities.
- Priorities:
- Workforce Development: Programs that equip workers with in-demand skills, support job placement, and enhance long-term employability.
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship Support: Projects providing training, mentorship, and resources to sustain and grow small businesses.
- Infrastructure Development: Initiatives to improve critical infrastructure, such as transportation networks, broadband access, and other community needs
Funding Information
Grants Up to $30,000.
Grant Period
10 months is the duration of the grant period.
Geographical Areas
- Proposed projects must serve rural communities within the following Oklahoma counties. Projects benefiting towns with populations under 10,000 will receive priority.
- Adair, Cherokee, Johnston, McCurtain, Atoka, Choctaw, Kiowa, McIntosh, Bryan, Coal, Latimer, Okfuskee, Caddo, Haskell, Marshall, Pushmataha.
Eligibility Criteria
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonexempt entities qualifying for the use of charitable dollars, such as museums, libraries, schools, and state or local government agencies.
- Projects must directly serve communities in one or more of the Service Area counties.
- Returning applicants must be in good standing with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and have met all prior grant requirements.
For more information, visit OCCF.
