Best Grants for Teachers Continuing Education in Oklahoma

The Sam Noble Scholarship Program offers financial support to students from southern Oklahoma pursuing degrees in technology and agriculture. Undergraduate students receive $3,000 per semester, while graduate students receive $3,600. Eligible candidates must reside in specified counties and can be at any academic level. The scholarship is available for various disciplines, including agribusiness and technology certifications, with a total award cap of $24,000 for Bachelor’s degrees.

The Southern SARE: Producer Grant supports farmers in conducting their own research projects to develop sustainable agricultural practices. Established in 1994, the program aims to enhance farmer profitability, promote responsible land use, and improve community quality of life. By focusing on areas like organic agriculture, sustainable marketing, and alternative crops, the grant empowers farmers to address production challenges and share valuable insights with others in the farming community, fostering a culture of sustainability and innovation.

The Dunkin' Joyful Spaces Grant supports children's hospitals and community health centers in creating joyful environments for pediatric patients. Launched in 2022, this initiative helps fund play areas, healing gardens, and other kid-friendly spaces, enhancing the hospital experience. Grants typically range from $25,000 to $65,000 annually, with a maximum of $150,000 over three years. This opportunity encourages creativity in designing spaces that provide comfort and joy to children and their families during hospital stays.

The Dogs for Joy Grant, funded by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, supports the integration of trained facility dogs in pediatric hospitals. These dogs provide emotional support, help children cope with medical procedures, and enhance overall well-being. The program aims to increase the presence of in-residence dogs, as research highlights their positive impact on reducing anxiety and improving patient outcomes. Grants typically cover multi-year funding, promoting innovative animal-assisted therapy approaches in healthcare settings.

Greater Salina Community Foundation

Our mission is to build permanent endowment funds and meet charitable community needs. The Foundation achieves its mission by:

• Enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires
• Increasing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to fulfill their individual missions
• Facilitating prudent management and care of funds
• Promoting community philanthropy through education
• Providing affiliate services to neighboring communities
• Meeting needs through grants, scholarships, and pass-through funds

Scholarship Program

The community foundation offers a wide variety of scholarships for students, provided by the generosity of local donors. Whether you are a high school senior, a current college student, or a non-traditional student we work with donors to help you take the next step in your education.

Kurt Budke Scholarship

For students entering their sophomore year or above in college who plan on attending Louisiana Tech University, Oklahoma State University, Washburn University, or Wichita State University.

Renewals

• This award is not renewable.

District Attorneys Council

The primary function of the District Attorneys Council is to provide a professional organization for the education, training and coordination of technical efforts of all District Attorneys of the State. The DAC assists local District Attorneys by providing financial, personnel, and other administrative services upon request. The Council is the administrative agency for the Crime Victims Compensation Board and the state administrative agency for several federal grants.

It is important to note that the DAC does not have control over individual District Attorneys. Its functions are advisory and administrative support only. The DAC does not have the power to investigate, stop, or otherwise prevent a District Attorney from prosecuting an individual or group.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. Directed by the 93 United States Attorneys throughout the country, Project Safe Neighborhoods is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun crime in America. The District Attorneys Council, Federal Grants Division serves as the fiscal agent for the U.S. Attorneys in the Western, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma.

District Attorneys Council

The primary function of the District Attorneys Council is to provide a professional organization for the education, training and coordination of technical efforts of all District Attorneys of the State. The DAC assists local District Attorneys by providing financial, personnel, and other administrative services upon request. The Council is the administrative agency for the Crime Victims Compensation Board and the state administrative agency for several federal grants.

It is important to note that the DAC does not have control over individual District Attorneys. Its functions are advisory and administrative support only. The DAC does not have the power to investigate, stop, or otherwise prevent a District Attorney from prosecuting an individual or group.

Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) is a federal criminal justice grant that helps states/territories, tribal nations and local governments meet identified needs and improve the administration of justice.

AG awards are for 24 months.

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to prevent and control crime. The JAG Program provides the State with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are most needed.

Purpose Areas: There are eight purpose areas under which JAG applications may fall. Each funding year, the Justice Assistance Grant Board prioritizes funding under these purpose areas. The purpose areas are:

• Law Enforcement Programs
• Prosecution and Court Programs
• Prevention and Education Programs
• Corrections and Community Corrections Programs
• Drug Treatment Programs
• Planning, Evaluation, and Technology Improvement Programs
• Crime Prevention and Witness Programs (Other Than Compensation)
• Mental Health Programs and Related Law Enforcement and Corrections Programs, including Behavioral Programs and Crisis Interventions Teams

Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education

For more than 100 years, Oklahoma’s system of career and technology education has focused on improving Oklahoma’s economy by offering individuals the training and skills necessary to be successful in the workplace and providing companies with the workforce necessary to compete globally.

Oklahoma's CareerTech system significantly contributes to the state's economic development and quality of life. Vision: We are securing Oklahoma’s future by developing a world-class workforce. Mission: We prepare Oklahomans to succeed in the workplace, in education and in life.

Competitive Technology Center Lottery Grant

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education requests proposals from technology centers for funding the implementation and/or upgrading of instructional and training technology for the purpose of (1) innovative “cutting edge” hardware and software, (2) curriculum materials, (3) machinery and equipment for new technologies, and/or (4) instructor training.

All proposed expenditures, including instructor training/professional development, must be related directly to the approved proposal. Curriculum materials purchased should support the technology requested in the proposal and could include digitally delivered curriculum and assessments. The request should not supplant current curriculum expenditures. For the purpose of this grant request, technology refers to any use of innovative processes, equipment and software that will enhance and/or advance instructional techniques or an advanced interactive learning environment to provide for the needs of the students and clients of the district, including business and industry.

Any and all technology equipment purchased with these funds will become the sole property of the local school district and will be placed on the local school district inventory. However, technology/equipment purchased with the grant must remain located at the technology center and in the specific Career Tech program to which it is awarded. 

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) emphasizes 5 core principles and beliefs that guide the department's actions and decision-making. These ICARE Values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) set the standard for all our employees. These values are foundational to the way we seek to provide services.

Mission: Dedicated to Excellence in Behavioral Health Services. Vision: Oklahoma sets the standard for behavioral health systems that provide transformative, agile, and quality care. 

Community Safety Investment Funds

Proposed projects/programs shall be an addition of services to the county/counties and shall not supplant existing funds or otherwise fund programs or services which are existing governmental service requirements or funded through other governmental funding sources, i.e., other ODMHSAS funds, Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Grant, or Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office Funding Assistance Grant. All SQ781 funds must be used by a county or multi-county government partnership from a previous fiscal year before current fiscal year dollars are expended. 

Projects/programs shall include the development and implementation of evidence-based programs within one or more areas:

• Mental health and substance abuse treatment programs or other health care programs provided in the community.
• Pretrial diversion programs, including intake substance use and mental health screenings or jail reentry programs.
• Employment programs.
• Education programs; or
• Housing programs. 

The Victims Assistance Grant (VOCA) in Oklahoma, established by the Victims of Crime Act, provides essential funding to support services for crime victims. Managed by the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council, this grant prioritizes support for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and underserved populations. Annually awarded on a competitive basis, VOCA grants aim to enhance victim services across the state, ensuring a minimum allocation for each critical area of need.

About the Oklahoma Historical Society

The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people.

The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) was founded on May 27, 1893, by members of the Territorial Press Association to preserve newspapers. Over the years the OHS has developed numerous collections, programs, research centers, museums, historic homes, and military sites across the state. The OHS is an agency of the State of Oklahoma and a private membership organization governed by a Board of Directors.

National Register of Historic Places

Nomination Grant Application Instructions and Qualifications

The Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) receives an annual allocation from the US Department of the Interior's Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) for conduct of the National Register Programs. The SHPO has set aside $12,000 from the HPF award for matching grants for preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations. This special grant program is designed to encourage nomination of individual properties to the National Register increasing the number of Oklahoma's valuable archaeological and historic resources that can benefit from this special designation.

Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Our job is to bring jobs, investment, and economic prosperity to the state of Oklahoma. Through dynamic partnerships and innovative collaborations with companies, universities, not-for-profit organizations, and government leaders, we are building a business environment that supports business growth and shared community prosperity.

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program is a component of the State’s Continuum of Care system designed to alleviate homelessness in Oklahoma. ESG programs enable homeless individuals and families to move toward independent living by providing emergency housing, supportive services, eviction prevention and housing assistance. ESG funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on an annual basis and administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce provides ESG grants to nonprofits that provide direct services in their communities in rural Oklahoma and does not provide direct homeless services from our office.

The general goals of this funding are consistent with those established by HUD and are intended to benefit people with low to moderate income:

• Provide decent housing
• Provide a suitable living environment
• Expand economic opportunities

Sponsored: Private nonprofits seeking ESG funds for the first time, that do not have a yearly independent audit, and/or that have not received Oklahoma Department of Commerce ESG funds within two (2) grant cycles, must apply with a sponsor.

Sponsorships may be obtained from a unit of general local government, a Community Action Agency operating in that jurisdiction or a private nonprofit with prior experience complying with federal requirements and serving as an umbrella organization.

Unsponsored: Private nonprofits that have a yearly independent audit and have received ESG funds within two (2) grant cycles may apply directly for an ESG grant without sponsorship.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - Oklahoma

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials.

The Donald W. and Glennis A. Kaufman Research Award supports ecological research in the Great Plains and Canada Prairie Provinces, focusing on native mammals, especially rodents and shrews. Offered by the American Society of Mammalogists, this annual $2,500 award is available to graduate students (master's or Ph.D.) from any nationality. Applications are open to those enrolled in relevant programs, promoting vital research in these unique ecosystems.

The Sumners Foundation Grant aims to engage and educate the public about self-government through various programs, including civic education, democracy reform, and teacher training. Grants are available to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations primarily in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, supporting activities that foster civic engagement and understanding of democratic principles. The Foundation emphasizes direct involvement in the political process and does not fund political activities or provide individual grants.

Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE), Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Division acts as the pass-through agency for the Adult Education Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) grants. The AEFLA, a federal law, can be found in Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Part of the AEFLA’s stated purpose is to assist adults with becoming literate, obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency, and obtaining the skills necessary to lead to sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities of their family. In addition, to the federal grants provided under the AEFLA, ODCTE's AEFL team also administers adult education allocations supported with state funds. 

Adult Education & Family Literacy Grant

The Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education's Adult Education & Family Literacy federal programs division requests proposals for funding to implement AEFL programs. The purpose of this grant proposal is to fund programs that:

• Assist adults to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency.
• Assist adults who are parents or family members to obtain the education and skills that (1) are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children; (2) lead to sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family.
• Assist adults in attaining a secondary school diploma and in transitioning to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways.
• Assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners in: (1) improving their (a) reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills in English and (b) mathematics skills; (2) acquiring an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom, and the responsibilities of citizenship (AEFLA Section 202).

The Joan Neustadt Weil Scholarship, offered by the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, awards two $4,350 scholarships to undergraduate students at the University of Oklahoma. Established in honor of Joan Neustadt Weil, this scholarship aims to support students in achieving their academic aspirations. The DJCF is committed to strengthening the Greater Dallas Jewish community through philanthropic initiatives, providing financial support for education, and fostering a culture of generosity and community engagement.

Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security

The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security serves as the representing office for the State of Oklahoma in developing and implementing a comprehensive statewide homeland security strategy; planning and implementing a statewide response system; administering the homeland security advisory system; coordinating, applying for and distributing federal homeland security grant funds, and the implementation of national homeland security plans. 

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

This grant provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attacks. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.

There are two funding sources appropriated for nonprofit organizations: NSGP - Urban Area (NSGP-UA); and NSGP - State (NSGP-S)

NSGP - State (NSGP-S)

NSGP-S funds nonprofit organizations located outside of a Designated high-risk urban area. Under NSGP-S, each state will receive an allocation for nonprofit organizations in the state located outside of Designated high-risk urban areas.

Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security

The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security serves as the representing office for the State of Oklahoma in developing and implementing a comprehensive statewide homeland security strategy; planning and implementing a statewide response system; administering the homeland security advisory system; coordinating, applying for and distributing federal homeland security grant funds, and the implementation of national homeland security plans. 

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

This grant provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attacks. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.

There are two funding sources appropriated for nonprofit organizations: NSGP - Urban Area (NSGP-UA); and NSGP - State (NSGP-S)

NSGP - Urban Area (NSGP-UA)

NSGP-UA funds nonprofit organizations located within designated high-risk urban areas. Under NSGP-UA, each urban area will receive an allocation for nonprofit organizations within the designated high-risk urban areas.

The Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Grants, offered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, aim to enhance urban forestry initiatives across the state. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, support projects such as public tree inventories, management plans, and educational programs. Organizations are encouraged to propose creative solutions that foster community engagement and sustainable forest management, ultimately improving local green spaces and promoting citizen involvement.

The Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program, managed by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, aims to improve access to healthy foods in low and moderate-income communities. By providing financial support through loans and grants, the program encourages the establishment and renovation of food retailers, ensuring they accept SNAP and WIC benefits. This initiative not only boosts local economies but also promotes healthier food choices, fostering community well-being and sustainability.

The Southern SARE: On-Farm Research Grant supports agricultural professionals in collaborating with farmers to conduct innovative on-farm research projects focused on sustainable agriculture. This initiative emphasizes building strong relationships between researchers and farmers while addressing agricultural production challenges. By fostering new practices in production and marketing, it aims to enhance sustainability in the agricultural sector, thereby benefiting local communities and the environment.

Southern SARE offers Graduate Student Grants to support Master’s and PhD students engaged in sustainable agriculture research. This initiative encourages impactful research across various topics, including production, marketing, and social sciences. By providing funding opportunities, Southern SARE aims to foster the next generation of researchers committed to advancing sustainable agricultural practices throughout the Southern region.

The Francis Grants, established by Catholic Extension, offer funding for significant events in poor mission dioceses, such as the ordination of new Bishops, anniversaries, or papal visits. These grants also support educational endeavors for Bishops. Named in honor of Francis Clement Kelly, Francis Cardinal George OMI, and Pope Francis, the program aims to strengthen the Catholic faith across the U.S. Since 1905, Catholic Extension has invested over $500 million to assist communities in need.

The Oklahoma Bar Foundation's Educational Block Grant supports qualified educational institutions offering court reporting programs. This grant aims to enhance the availability of court reporters in rural areas of Oklahoma, ensuring that funds are utilized for charitable purposes aligned with the foundation's mission. Eligible institutions are encouraged to apply and contribute to addressing the pressing need for court reporting services in underserved communities.

The Mortgage Foreclosure & Community Redevelopment Grant supports nonprofits in Oklahoma that provide essential mortgage foreclosure defense services to underserved communities. This funding aims to revitalize neighborhoods, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary assistance to prevent foreclosure. Grantees must adhere to strict guidelines, including signing Grant Agreements and submitting progress reports to ensure accountability and effective use of resources.

The Oklahoma Bar Foundation's IOLTA Grant aims to enhance access to justice by providing funding for legal services and law-related educational programs. By supporting tax-exempt organizations, the foundation promotes legal knowledge, assists Oklahoma's courts, and ensures that vulnerable populations receive the legal aid they need. This initiative is vital for fostering a fair legal system and empowering future legal professionals through scholarships and educational resources.