The City of Muskogee Foundation primary focus grant areas include:
Grant committees from each focus area have established unique missions as well as general and specific types of funding. However, funding priority for all focus areas will be given to organizations primarily serving the citizens of Muskogee, Oklahoma.
The grant application procedure is a two-step online process starting with a letter of inquiry. While there is no limit on the amount requested, the request should remain within the spending policy set each December by the Board of Directors. In 2010, a total of $3.5 million has been allocated for grantmaking.
To better serve the organizations applying for 2011 summer programs, there will be a second grant cycle during the fall of 2010, exclusively for 2011 summer grants (meaning programs/projects in which the grant money will be spent between May and September of 2011.) These 2011 Summer grants will be awarded in January of 2011, with the initial LOI deadline of September 1, 2010. (Please see the attached grants calendar below.) As always, if you have any questions about the grants calendar, please feel free to call.
Deadlines for 2011 SUMMER Grant Cycle:
- Letter of Inquiry - September 1, 2010
- Application (requires Foundation invitation) - November 1, 2010
- Grant decisions - December City of Muskogee Foundation Board meeting
- Grant funds distributed - January 2011
All other Grant Requests must go through the regular grant cycle which will open in January of 2011. Those deadlines are as follows:
- Letter of Inquiry - March 1, 2011
- Application (requires Foundation invitation) - May 1, 2011
- Grant decisions - June City of Muskogee Foundation Board meeting
- Grant funds distributed - July 2011
Click here to download the Grants Calendar.
Step 1 - Letter of Inquiry
The entire grant process will be coordinated electronically beginning with the Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The LOI gathers basic information about the applicant, a short description of the purpose of the program or project, and amount requested. This letter should be compelling enough to capture the attention of the grant committee while being brief and clear. Letters of Inquiry are due on March 1. If accepted by the grants committees, the applicant will be notified via e-mail with a link to access the application.
Click here for the Letter of Inquiry and Grant Application process.
Step 2 - Grant application
Following the approval of the letter of inquiry, the applicant will be sent a link via e-mail to access the grant application for their designated focus area (economic development, education, health and wellness, opportunities). The formal application process is also coordinated electronically allowing the applicant to complete the actual application and attach all required documents. Applications are due on May 1.
Please contact Lynsie Laughlin, Grants Administrator, with any questions regarding the letter of inquiry and application or if you have questions about the electronic process.
Lynsie Laughlin, City of Muskogee Foundation Grants Administrator
Main phone: (918) 577-6562
lynsie@cityofmuskogeefoundation.org
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It is our opinion that any organization receiving funds from the City of Muskogee Foundation will be subject to the Open Meeting and Open Records Acts as they pertain to the funds received for the term of the grant.
To learn more about the Open Meeting and Open Records Acts, organizations may purchase the Open Meetings & Open Records book from the Oklahoma Press Association.