Bridge OKC Fund
Bridging critical gaps in nonprofit support.
Will You Join Us?
2025 has been uniquely challenging for our nonprofit community and those it serves. Nonprofits in central Oklahoma are facing significant financial pressures from cuts to government and other funding sources, while costs and demand for services for individual, family and community needs continue to increase. In addition, we are hearing from donors that they are uncertain about how their contributions can make the biggest difference. Community foundations are here for our communities year after year. In times of acute need, we stretch to do even more.
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation has opened the Bridge OKC Fund to help bridge the gap and meet our community’s most pressing and widespread needs.
We are committed to doing our part to help sustain vital community programs during this challenging time, and we invite you to join us in that effort. OCCF is investing $1 million to support vetted, data-driven projects designed to make real, lasting progress for our community, and we invite you to join us. This will take time, trust and tenacity, but it is times like these when our community needs us most.
The Goal
We are here for our community and see every day how much is possible together. By partnering with you, our donors, to amplify our collective impact, we aim to award a small number of grants focused on critical community needs.
How Does It Work?
Our team is already working with nonprofits and community partners to identify critical needs and solutions that are vetted and data-driven. Grants will be awarded as we pinpoint programs where our contributions can be a meaningful part of projects that are moving the needle in critical areas.
How Can I Help?
You can help us bridge the gaps by pooling resources to strengthen our community. You can give to the Bridge OKC Fund through the Impact Ready tab in your Fund Portal or at donate.occf.org.
The team at the Community Foundation is working to identify critical community needs. Initial focus areas are likely to include mental health, homelessness and food insecurity.
To Our Nonprofit Partners,
The Bridge OKC Fund is currently an invite-only opportunity. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have questions about the fund and our vision for supporting urgent community needs. OCCF and our donors are committed to investing in our community, and we would be honored to share all the ways we continue to meet the needs of our nonprofit partners through our community grant programs, nonprofit endowments and this fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
As is the case with anything new, we expect you will have questions. We have provided answers to some of our most frequently asked questions below. However, if you would like to know more, we encourage you to reach out to our team.
CLOSE ACCORDIAN
Why is OCCF launching the Bridge OKC Fund now?
Nonprofits in central Oklahoma are facing significant financial pressures from cuts to government and other funding sources, while community needs are increasing. By pooling resources with our donors, we can invest strategically in solutions that help sustain vital programs and strengthen the nonprofit sector during this critical time.
What is the overall goal of the fund, and how is it different from OCCF's other grantmaking?
The Bridge OKC Fund is designed to move faster and act upon immediate pressing needs. While our regular grant cycles support ongoing community priorities, this fund is focused on addressing urgent, large-scale challenges that affect a significant portion of the Oklahoma City area.
What kinds of needs will the fund prioritize?
We will prioritize opportunities where data and community input show the greatest potential for impact. Initial focus areas are likely to include mental health, homelessness and food insecurity.
Can I support this fund directly from my donor-advised fund?
Yes! We want this process to be as simple as possible for you. Similar to our recently rolled out Impact Ready, you can contribute to this fund straight from your donor-advised fund in your Fund Portal. Should you choose to contribute to this fund in other ways (e.g., cash, checks, stock gifts, IRA rollovers), we are also ready to accept those contributions. As always, if you would prefer to reach out to your steward to contribute from your fund, we are happy to assist in your giving.
How will OCCF decide which nonprofits or initiatives receive funding?
Our approach is guided by data and collaboration. We rely on input from nonprofit coalitions and partners, as well as OCCF’s deep local expertise. Our goal is to utilize this funding to bolster and complement existing initiatives within our community. We will prioritize investments that are evidence-based, scalable and community-informed.
Will I receive updates about where my dollars go?
Absolutely. OCCF is committed to full transparency. Donors will receive updates on:
- How funds are being deployed
- What priorities are being addressed
- What outcomes and impacts are achieved
How long will the fund stay open to contributions?
The fund will remain as long as support continues to come in. We will continue to respond to the urgent needs and strategic opportunities within our community through this fund. We will continually assess progress and communicate with donors about the timeline for contributions and investments.
