Best Medical Equipment Grants in Oklahoma

Nonprofit organizations providing health care access, basic needs, or community safety services in Oklahoma and other BOK Financial markets can apply for charitable contributions to support their programs. BOKF Foundation focuses giving on basic needs, education, economic development, and United Way initiatives that enhance quality of life and economic wellbeing.

About

Our Mission

The mission of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, a nonprofit public charity, is to serve the charitable purposes of its donors and the charitable needs of the Oklahoma City area through the development and administration of endowment and other charitable funds with the goal of preserving capital and enhancing value.

About the Donna Nigh Foundation

In 1985, friends of Donna Nigh formed the Donna Nigh Foundation as a birthday present and in recognition of Mrs. Nigh’s commitment and work on behalf of the state’s developmentally disabled residents, a cause she has championed since 1968. Since its inception, the Donna Nigh Foundation has awarded grants helping thousands of Oklahomans and their families. Many of these grants provide funding for adaptive equipment for individuals in private residences, group homes and schools with the goal of helping these individuals be as self-sufficient as possible.

Grants for Individuals

The Donna Nigh Foundation supports assistance for adaptive equipment (not services) such as:

• Aids for Daily Living
• Mobility Seating/Positioning
• Classroom Learning Cognition & Developmental Equipment
• Environmental Adaptations

One-time grants up to $2,500 will be awarded.

Larger, established 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Oklahoma working on health care access, mental health, or education for underserved groups can seek program expansion or continuation funding, typically US $10,000 - US $75,000. The L B Research and Education Foundation supports research-informed, innovative approaches that address opportunity gaps and disseminate learnings nationally.

Health and human services nonprofits in Oklahoma can seek capital or special project funding to improve health care access and delivery, early childhood education, family services, or environmental conservation. Grants from James M Cox Foundation support 501(c)(3) or eligible government entities in Cox service areas; Oklahoma applicants outside metro Atlanta need a local Cox endorsement letter.

Oklahoma 501(c)(3) nonprofits providing health care, mental health services, housing, food, or other basic needs can seek operating, program, or capital support to serve disadvantaged and vulnerable people. With a mission to lift neighbors out of poverty, Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation prioritizes Tulsa-area social services and may support medical equipment within broader access-to-care projects.

Oklahoma State Department of Health

The Oklahoma State Department of Health protects and improves public health through its system of local health services and strategies focused on preventing disease. Five major service branches - Community Health, Family Health Services, Prevention and Preparedness, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Protective Health Services - provide technical support and guidance to 68 county health departments as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Rural Regional Reorientation (RRR) Program

RRR funding is intended to improve access to critical localized and/or specialized care, quality through meaningful reductions in disease and avoidable hospitalizations, and sustainability through more effective and efficient care in rural Oklahoma. To quickly begin to achieve reorientation objectives, priority will be given to applications that can immediately action on the needs of rural Oklahomans.

RRR will provide grants of up to $4 million to eligible clinical and social service providers, either individually or in partnership with one or more entities.

RRR aims to achieve its goals through an investment in the future of rural health partnerships. OSDH anticipates subsequent years of funding will aim to further these objectives through coordinated and sustained partnerships that require more intensive planning. Participation in year one is not a requirement for participation in years 2-5. More details about years 2-5 RRR funding are expected to be released in the coming months.

Funding can be used for both planning (e.g., technical assistance ahead of implementation) and implementation, though application must explicitly identify any funding intended for planning.  

Focused on health care access and delivery, Oklahoma nonprofits can seek Inasmuch Foundation support for general operating, capital campaigns, or one-time transformational projects. Organizations working in human services, basic needs, and related community programs may be eligible, but are limited to one request every 12 months and must apply within the foundation’s stated focus areas.

Oklahoma medical students seeking support for clinical, basic science, epidemiology, or health services research can apply for the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, awarding US $7,000 plus limited travel reimbursement. Oklahoma health care and medical education programs may benefit when first- or second-year students at schools with active AΩA chapters receive this funding.

Kirkpatrick Family Fund provides Oklahoma 501(c)(3) nonprofits with project-based support for time-limited health and human services programs, including initiatives that improve access to care and promote wellness, with awards up to US $15,000. Organizations seeking to enhance medical services or related community health efforts in central Oklahoma may be eligible.

Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation provides Oklahoma health care and human services nonprofits with capital funding to improve facilities and expand services for disadvantaged and vulnerable residents. 501(c)(3) organizations, especially in the Tulsa area, may be eligible for projects that enhance health care access, mental health services, homelessness services, and other basic human needs infrastructure.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Oklahoma seeking to build or grow endowments for health care access and related services can apply for approximately US $15,000 in matching support. Focused on health and human services, Kirkpatrick Family Fund invites central Oklahoma nonprofits with endowments at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to strengthen long-term financial sustainability, which may include medical equipment needs.

Oklahoma 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking more than US $15,000 for time-bound health and human services projects may be eligible for this large grant opportunity, including initiatives improving health care access and delivery. The Kirkpatrick Family Fund prioritizes central Oklahoma organizations and supports projects that achieve measurable results and strengthen community well-being.

The FY 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC) funding aims to enhance health services in underserved communities across the U.S. by providing grants for comprehensive preventive and primary health care. The initiative supports health centers in delivering essential services, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the care they need. Service areas for competition are announced periodically, and additional areas may be added if existing centers are unable to continue their services.

The Building Communities of Recovery program aims to enhance access to long-term recovery support for individuals facing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. By empowering organizations to mobilize community resources, this initiative fosters a collaborative environment that promotes sustained recovery. Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the program emphasizes the importance of community connections in the recovery process, ensuring that individuals receive the support they need to thrive.

The FY 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC) aims to enhance health services in underserved communities across the U.S. and its territories. This funding opportunity supports comprehensive preventive and primary health care delivery. Each SAC announcement details service areas available for competition, with potential additional areas announced throughout the year. This initiative is crucial for ensuring continuous access to quality health care for vulnerable populations.

The FY 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC) funding aims to enhance healthcare access in underserved communities across the U.S. by providing grants for comprehensive primary and preventive health services. This initiative addresses essential health needs through competitive funding opportunities, ensuring that health centers can effectively serve their designated areas. Additional service areas may be announced as needed if current centers are unable to continue their operations, thus maintaining service continuity.

The Telehealth Nutrition Services Network Grant Program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, aims to enhance access to quality health care through innovative telehealth nutrition services. This program focuses on preventing and managing chronic diseases by leveraging telehealth technology, ensuring that individuals receive essential nutrition guidance remotely. With a commitment to improving health outcomes, this initiative will significantly benefit communities seeking better access to healthcare resources.

About the Awards

The late Dr. James F. Fries, formerly professor emeritus of medicine at Stanford University, came up with the idea for the James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health in a 1987 ascent of Nepal’s Makalu—one of the world’s highest peaks—when his party became trapped in a severe snowstorm and was ultimately unable to scale the mountain.

Following that experience, Dr. Fries returned to sea level and set about establishing a foundation to support a Nobel-like prize for health that now annually awards a $100,000 prize to an an outstanding leader judged by an expert panel to have done the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the field of health.

In 1992 the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award was established in honor of Elizabeth Fries, daughter of James and Sarah Fries. The $50,000 prize is awarded annually to an individual judged to have made substantial contributions to their area of health education and health promotion. Sarah Fries remained active in the Fries Awards for Health program until her death in May 2017, and Jim Fries remained active in the awards until his death in November 2021.

The CDC Foundation is honored to partner with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation, which established and funds the award. As of 2016, the CDC Foundation manages and administers the Fries Awards for Health program, which include the James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.

The CDC's NCIPC is seeking research proposals to tackle implementation challenges in providing linkage to care services for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). This initiative encourages partnerships with public health entities and local healthcare champions to create actionable, evidence-based strategies. The goal is to enhance care access and ensure comprehensive overdose prevention services are available in real-world healthcare settings, thereby improving outcomes for those at risk of opioid overdose.

2026 Veterans and Nature Grant

Supporting the health, well-being, and community connection of America's veterans

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is pleased to announce grant funding supported by the American Medical Association (AMA) to expand access to nature-based experiences that support the health, well-being, and community connection of America's veterans. AMA has partnered with NEEF to bring an evidence-based health perspective to this effort, underscoring the growing body of research linking time in nature to improved physical and mental health outcomes.

Background

A Pew Research Center survey found that roughly one in four veterans say the transition back to civilian life was at least somewhat difficult. This is especially true for those who return home with stress or trauma. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates 11-20% of veterans are believed to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year.

Nature offers profound restorative benefits for veterans navigating the challenges of post-service life. Time spent outdoors — whether hiking, fishing, camping, or simply sitting among trees — has been shown by numerous studies to reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, conditions that affect veterans at disproportionately high rates.

Quieting hypervigilance, allowing space for reflection, fostering camaraderie, and reducing isolation are all mental and physical benefits that be found through outdoor recreation. Using America’s public lands to do so provides a powerful and accessible path forward.

Overview

Through the 2026 Veterans and Nature grant, NEEF aims to expand access to nature-based experiences that support veteran health, well-being, and community connection by

• Providing opportunities for outdoor activities on public land that improve the physical and mental health of veterans
• Increasing veterans’ understanding of the physical and mental health benefits of time in nature

The grant will provide up to $10,000 per grantee for projects on federal, state, local, or nonprofit public lands that address physical and mental health in veteran communities.

Examples of project types include outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, climbing, or fishing; wellness activities, such as forest bathing or meditation; environmental education, such as community science; adaptive programming; and conservation volunteering. Projects are not limited to those listed here.

Building Capacity for Communicating Impact Learning Community RFA

Learn how to communicate about Public Health Infrastructure Grant impact through a new community of practice! Through peer learning, technical assistance, and practical tools, participating teams will build strategic leadership and communications skills to more effectively translate public health achievements into compelling messages for key audiences. All directly funded PHIG recipients (big-city, county, state/territory-level governmental public health professionals) are eligible to apply.

Accreditation Sustainability Learning Community RFA

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), is currently accepting applications for participation in a learning lab that will foster health department capacity to build a sustainable public health accreditation culture within their agencies. This opportunity is open to applicants from direct PHIG awardees at the state-, big city-, and county-level.

Healthcare Assistance Grant

The MS Focus Healthcare Assistance Grant assists uninsured individuals with the cost of visiting their MS specialist as well as dental assistance. The grant, which can pay for one visit and one follow-up, is designed to assist those already diagnosed with MS who may need a visit to their treating physician to renew a prescription or handle other important needs. 

Applicants give MS Focus staff authorization to negotiate costs directly with the provider, and the fee is paid directly to the doctor. 

The nccPA Health Foundation's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - PAs STEP Up Grant aims to empower PAs and PA students to create initiatives that enhance diversity and foster inclusive practices within the PA profession. With funding up to $2,500, this grant encourages projects that raise awareness of the PA profession among underrepresented groups, ultimately striving to reduce health disparities and promote equity. Applications are accepted year-round, providing ongoing support for impactful community-driven efforts.

The FY 2027 State and Regional Primary Care Association (PCA) Cooperative Agreements aim to enhance the technical assistance provided to Health Center Program award recipients and look-alikes. This initiative focuses on improving access to preventive and primary health care, managing chronic diseases, and ensuring a capable health center workforce. By implementing value-based care strategies and leveraging data for operational improvements, the program seeks to support the health of vulnerable communities effectively.

The Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program enhances rural healthcare access by establishing sustainable residency programs for physicians. Focused on training in accredited rural settings, the program addresses physician shortages by providing start-up funding for various medical specialties, including family medicine and psychiatry. This initiative aims to ensure long-term sustainability through stable funding sources like Medicare and Medicaid, ultimately preparing physicians to serve rural communities effectively.

The Hypercholesterolemia Grant by the Patient Advocate Foundation offers financial assistance to individuals diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, helping cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs such as medication copays and insurance premiums. This nonprofit aims to improve patient access to necessary care while supporting over 3.8 million patients since its inception. Eligible applicants must have health insurance and meet specific income requirements to receive assistance in managing their healthcare expenses effectively.