General Requirements
An applicant must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and, further, must be classified as a public entity rather than a private foundation as defined by section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Alternatively, the applicant must have a qualified fiscal sponsor (a sponsoring organization that is tax-exempt).
An applicant must have submitted required evaluation reports for all prior grants from the foundation.
An applicant generally may submit only one Community Grant application per year. An exception may be made when an applicant from a smaller community serves as the "umbrella" for multiple programs where acquiring separate 501(c)(3) status for each would be impractical. (Please contact OCF staff if you believe your organization may be such an exception.)
Preference may be given to applicants who have not received a Community Grant in the previous year, unless reapplication was specifically invited by OCF. If you have questions about your eligibility to apply, please contact the foundation.
Activities Not Eligible for Funding
- Annual fund appeals
- Sponsorship of one-time events or performances
- Sponsorship of regular events or performances (e.g., a "season")
- Projects in individual schools
- Grants to scholarship programs
- Subsidies to allow individuals to participate in conferences
- Capital projects that will not clearly benefit the community
- Purchases or activities that occur prior to grant decisions
- Deficit funding
- Replacement of government funding
- Lobbying to influence legislation
- Scientific research
- Religious activities
- Operating support, except where a grant may have strategic impact on the long-term viability of programs of high priority to OCF