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Capacity Building Grant Criteria

Requests may be for equipment, consulting services, training opportunities or other items consistent with the program goals described above.

1. All requests must be clearly related to the organization’s current long-range plan or must be part of an effort to develop such a plan.

2. Grant awards will be between $500 and $5,000 and are provided for equipment, consulting services, training opportunities or other items consistent with the program goals on a onetime basis.

3. Grant awards for new or expanded programs will be up to $8,000.

   The grant request should be focused on a documented community need or opportunity that has a community-wide impact, primarily in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

   The project should be outside of the normal operating budget and activities of the requesting organization.

   The grant can be used to support program expenses for a new or special program or activity, a significant expansion of an existing program or unique opportunity or need.

4. Only one award will be provided per organization during a 12-month period.

5. Projects that require continued funding or ongoing maintenance and support should have the future sources of this support documented.

6. Organizations should provide some matching commitment to the project through either cash or the dedication of other resources. Normal overhead expenses and staff salaries are not considered as matching resources.

7. Purchase or replacement of equipment for administrative purposes, which is part of the normal requirements for the operation of the organization and not related to the organization’s long-range plan, will not be considered as capacity building.

Priority will be given to agencies that fit one of the following criteria:

1. Annual budget (expenditures) of less than $250,000 and no affiliation with a larger organization (e.g. local chapter of a state or national group) OR

2. Staff of five or fewer full-time employees OR

3. Length of time from incorporation as a not-for-profit of 10 years or less.

Proposals for computer or communications equipment require a technical evaluation of your current equipment and software is required. The Oklahoma City Community Foundation provides this service. Contact Gayle Farley to receive this evaluation. Proposals should address the following points:

1. Describe how the specific equipment requested relates to the goals of the long-range plan.

2. Explain the specifications of the equipment to be purchased and how it relates to the long-range plan and the organization’s program use.

3. Describe any software to be purchased and relate it to the long-range plan’s use.

4. Target prices for equipment will be limited to $1,200 for a fully equipped computer and $300 for a printer. Software will be considered separately. Also, any deviations (which includes additional computers or special equipment) must be justified.

5. Purchase or replacement of equipment for administrative purposes, which is part of the normal requirements for the operation of the organization and not related to the organization’s long-range plan, will not be considered as capacity building.

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