Best Grants for Autism Programs in Oklahoma

Dick & Judy Hoyt Inclusion Grant

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism is excited to collaborate with the Hoyt Foundation for the Dick and Judy Hoyt Grant for Inclusion. Our joint effort is driven by a shared vision of fostering a society where individuals with autism and other disabilities are embraced and valued within their communities. In tribute to the pioneering spirit of Dick and Judy Hoyt, we will be distributing $50,000 through this community grant to support people with autism and other disabilities. Successful ways grant funds can be used: 

• Side-by-side participation with non-disabled peers in a swim program, the grant provides a private lifeguard to allow individualized support to ensure an inclusive experience.
• Grant provides the purchase of a racing chair to allow an individual with a disability to run in races with non-disabled peers.
• Competitive horseback riding supported by the grant to purchase specialized equipment to allow a rider to compete against non-disabled peers.
• Grant provides the purchase of an adaptive ski prosthetic to allow an individual to participate side by side with non-disabled peers on their high school ski teams.
• Participation in dance training and competitions to allow a student with a disability to compete in a dance competition with non-disabled peers, grant lessons, and staff to assist in dance training.
• Grant provides a mobile stand to allow a student with a disability to participate side by side with non-disabled peers in the college marching band. 

The Vineyard Family Foundation

The Vineyard Family Foundation is the product of decades of work across three generations and five states. Having enjoyed the benefits of our hard work and community patronage, the Vineyard family has chosen to provide to others what so many have graciously provided to us. 

What Sets Us Apart

The Vineyard family has always been committed to its communities. Whether supporting Boys & Girls Clubs, pediatric hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House, arts organizations, or youth recreation leagues, the family has taken a great interest in the care, health, and education of children and the families that nurture them. We take great pride in personally administering our Foundation’s charitable giving, resulting in fewer expenses and more funding for those organizations aligned with the Foundation’s purpose.

Grants

• Supporting Our Communities and Their Families
• Working Towards the Health, Education, and Overall Well-Being of Parents and Their Children

You are steps away from creating an opportunity to receive full or partial funding of your charitable organization. So that you use your time wisely, we offer the following advice for your efforts:

• As a family foundation, we are prohibited from funding individuals or any entity that is not an IRS-recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity or a Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3) support organization. Thus, while we cannot award a scholarship to an individual, we can fund a 501(c)(3) charity that provides such scholarships.

• If you qualify as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a support organization pursuant to Section 509(a)(1-3), we will need the IRS Determination Letter confirming as much, as well as a statement signed by your organization’s President or Chief Executive Officer verifying that your organization’s purposes, structure, and operations have not changed substantially since the date of the IRS’s Determination Letter.

• If you are a “supporting organization” under IRS Code section 509(a)(1-3), please provide a list of the public charities that you support. Please also advise whether you are a Type I, Type II, or Type III supporting organization. If you are a Type III supporting organization, please advise whether you are “functionally integrated” with your supported public charity and provide an explanation of that relationship.

Supported Charities

The Vineyard family has historically provided funding for family-related charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, pediatric hospitals, autism-related organizations, and youth recreational leagues. The Foundation looks forward to continuing this support and extending itself to educational, research, and cultural experiences that focus on the needs of children and their parents.

Oklahoma autism research institutions and clinical organizations can access funding through the US DOD for clinical trials that advance treatment or management of autism. This award supports trials from early proof-of-concept through large-scale efficacy studies across the U.S. territories, up to US $1,500,000, and requires meaningful collaboration with autistic individuals, caregivers, or community-based partners.

Research institutions and teams conducting innovative autism studies, including those in Oklahoma, can apply for the DoW Autism Idea Development Award from US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command. This high-risk, high-reward program offers up to US $750,000 to advance impactful autism research, including collaborative projects with partnering principal investigators.

Early-career and transitioning independent investigators conducting innovative autism research, including early-phase clinical trials, can apply for funding from US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command, including those based in Oklahoma. This Autism Research Program Career Development Award offers up to US $750,000 and requires collaboration with at least one community partner throughout the project.

Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis in Oklahoma seeking higher education or job training can apply for this scholarship supporting post-secondary study. With a mission to encourage autistic individuals’ educational and vocational goals, Erie Community Foundation gives preference to applicants who are current Autism Society Northwestern Pennsylvania members.

Autism research institutions and multisite investigator teams in Oklahoma and other U.S. locations can seek R01 support for large, collaborative Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Network projects. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help advance cutting-edge autism science through multi-site R01 applications with sub-awards to collaborating sites, building on over two decades of ACE research.

Research institutions and investigators conducting autism-focused studies in Oklahoma and other U.S. jurisdictions can access funding through the National Institutes of Health for Autism Centers of Excellence P50 program projects and centers. Grants from NIH support large-scale, collaborative autism research using cutting-edge technologies and methods, which may ultimately benefit autism programs and services.

Autism researchers at eligible institutions conducting studies that prioritize undersampled groups can seek funding for participant incentives in Oklahoma and nationwide. Simons Foundation supports autism research by providing up to US $10,000 in e-gift card incentives for SPARK Research Match studies using online surveys, interviews, focus groups, or other remote methods.

K-12 public schools, districts, libraries, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Oklahoma can receive US $500 - US $10,000 to run autism peer education and awareness activities using Kit for Kids materials. Organization for Autism Research welcomes applications from teachers, administrators, parents, youth organizers, and autism professionals, especially those serving low-income communities and school district-wide projects.

Community organizations and stakeholders creating practical autism resources in the U.S., including Oklahoma, can apply for Organization For Autism Research’s Community Grant, awarding US $1,000 - US $15,000. Funding supports development and dissemination of noncommercial tools that improve autistic individuals’ physical health, adult services, and overall quality of life.

Oklahoma nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status running autism programs can apply for Anderson Foundation for Autism grants to improve quality of life for people with autism. This U.S.-wide opportunity offers up to US $50,000 per organization and may benefit Oklahoma autism service, education, and support programs.

Families in Oklahoma facing an immediate, safety-related need for autism treatment or support may be eligible for emergency assistance that funds effective autism therapies and services. Focused on urgent autism needs, Autism Care Today invites applicants with household incomes below $45,000 who have not received support from them in the past 12 months.

Families of children with autism in Oklahoma can apply for Autism Care Today’s national grant program, which funds treatment products and services. Grants pay providers or vendors directly for needs like ABA therapy, assistive technologies, safety equipment, social skills programs, summer school, medical testing, and related supports for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Autistic students seeking funds for educational or recreational opportunities in Oklahoma and across the U.S. can apply for the Varghese Summersett Autism Scholarship, which awards US $500. With a mission to support autistic youth, Varghese Summersett provides help for camps, tutoring, schooling, or other tools that foster growth and quality of life.

Families of individuals with autism needing help with medical, nutritional, personal, or enrichment expenses may be eligible for this need-based support, including in Oklahoma. Focused on autism-related needs, MyGOAL invites first-time applicants to seek help with non-reimbursable costs that are not covered by schools, insurance, or other funders.

Young adults and adults with autism or other developmental differences in Oklahoma can apply for Music Movement’s Independent Living Initiatives, awarding US $1,500 - US $5,000 for independent living or housing programs, camps and retreats, and continued education or therapy. Legal guardians or parents must submit applications, and funding is available across the U.S.

Parents or legal guardians of children and young adults with autism or other learning differences in the U.S., including Oklahoma, can seek in-kind instrument support to foster self-expression and growth. Grants from Music Movement help cover requested instruments and accessories, typically ranging from US $500 - US $1,500 in value.

Nonprofit or clinical programs offering music therapy for children and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities in Oklahoma can receive US $1,500 - US $2,500 to support qualified local or online therapists. Music Movement supports autism-focused music therapy across the U.S., helping relieve families’ financial burden for weekly sessions and ongoing care.

Predoctoral students conducting autism-related research that includes cardiovascular and brain health can apply for Autism Speaks and American Heart Association fellowships, including work impacting Oklahoma. With a mission to advance autism research, Autism Speaks provides US $80,000 to address health equity, knowledge gaps, and real-world outcomes using implementation science approaches.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations or those with a fiscal sponsor serving autistic adults in work, home, social, or health programs can seek funding from Next for Autism. Focused on autism services, this program offers up to US $25,000 and prioritizes low-income, underserved, and rural communities, which may benefit Oklahoma autism initiatives.

Nonprofits and community organizations supporting health, education, Native arts and culture, environmental protection, or Native rights in Oklahoma and across the U.S. may be eligible for this funding. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation supports programs like Autism Speaks, so autism-focused services and advocacy efforts may fit within its priorities.

The Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology, offered by the Simons Foundation, aim to support early-career researchers pursuing fundamental studies in plant biology. Candidates with diverse backgrounds, including engineering and computational modeling, are encouraged to apply. This flexible program enables collaborations between disciplines, fostering innovative approaches to plant science. Eligible applicants should have obtained their Ph.D. within the last three years and may include both U.S. citizens and foreign researchers. Awards will be granted to nonprofit research institutions.

The J.W. Couch Foundation Grant focuses on supporting Wildlife Conservation nonprofit organizations that align with their mission of community betterment and environmental protection. The foundation seeks partnerships with organizations that promote animal wellbeing, early childhood education, teacher support, and outdoor activities. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)3 nonprofits or for-profit entities aligned with their charitable programs. This grant emphasizes collaboration and community engagement to create lasting impacts.

Ameriprise Community Grants focus on supporting nonprofits that enhance community vitality and meet basic needs. With over 120 years of commitment to philanthropy, Ameriprise Financial engages employees in volunteerism and grantmaking. Key giving areas include hunger relief, housing stability, and community development. Priority is given to organizations with active volunteer engagement from Ameriprise advisors and employees, creating a meaningful impact on financial independence and community resilience.

The Semnani Family Foundation, established in 1993, is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities worldwide through health, education, and disaster relief initiatives. Founded by Khosrow and Ghazaleh Semnani, it began by funding an orphanage in Romania. The foundation also operates locally, providing free healthcare through the Maliheh Free Clinic in Utah. Its commitment to human welfare drives impactful partnerships in countries such as Afghanistan, India, and South Africa, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

The Saw Island Foundation offers grants focusing on education, science, and health, primarily targeting nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their education grants support scholarships and program partnerships, while science and health grants aim to enhance life experiences through improved health outcomes. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, and the foundation emphasizes innovative collaborations that demonstrate measurable impact in their communities.