Educational Outreach Program

Allied Arts of Oklahoma offers a suite of grant programs designed to strengthen and sustain a vibrant cultural community throughout central Oklahoma. One key offering, the Educational Outreach grant, focuses on expanding access to the arts among underserved youth and marginalized populations. The organization emphasizes that its mission includes extending cultural programming to rural students, at-risk youth, communities of color, veterans, developmentally disabled adults, and those who are hospitalized. These grants aim to ensure equitable access to arts education and experiences across diverse community segments. The Educational Outreach grant supports nonprofit arts organizations that are committed to delivering quality arts programming to K–12 students in Oklahoma. Particular emphasis is placed on reaching students and individuals who might otherwise lack access to such opportunities due to economic, geographic, or social barriers. Allied Arts works collaboratively with community supporters and partners to ensure that outreach efforts can impact the broadest audience possible, including bringing teaching artists into schools and facilitating programs at partner organizations working with specific community groups. Organizations are eligible to receive cash grants of up to $5,000. Applications are evaluated competitively, and the submission of a proposal does not guarantee funding. Funds are limited and awarded based on the quality and impact of the proposed programming. Grant recipients are expected to align their proposals with Allied Arts’ mission and demonstrate the effectiveness and need for their outreach efforts. All funding is provided in the form of cash assistance and can be used to support arts education programming directly benefitting the targeted populations. Eligibility for this grant is specific and requires applicants to meet several criteria. Applicants must be nonprofit arts organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. In addition, they must have been established and operational for a minimum of three years, maintain current financial documentation, and have an active volunteer board of directors. They must be headquartered within the central Oklahoma 10-county area—specifically including Oklahoma, Kingfisher, Logan, Lincoln, Seminole, Pottawatomie, Cleveland, McClain, Grady, and Canadian counties. Furthermore, they must be registered as a charitable organization with the State of Oklahoma and self-identify under the “Arts, Culture, and Humanities” category using the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities. The Educational Outreach grant operates on a cyclical timeline. The program has two annual funding cycles: a Fall Cycle with a deadline of August 13, 2025, and a Winter Cycle with a deadline of December 12, 2025. These deadlines determine the final dates by which applications must be submitted for consideration in the respective funding rounds. There is no indication that the grant operates on a rolling basis; instead, it recurs annually on a fixed schedule. Based on the provided cycles, the next expected round after December 2025 would be in August 2026, with a recommended internal check date of July 2026. For additional information or assistance with the grant application process, interested applicants are encouraged to contact Jennifer Bryan at [email protected]. No phone number or additional resources are listed in the materials provided. Applicants are advised to review the eligibility criteria and grant scope closely before preparing their submissions.