Grant Guidelines

View in-progress applications, submitted applications, and follow-up reports

Submissions must be completed by the deadlines outlined below:

LETTERS OF INQUIRY must be submitted by December 1st for the February 1st grant deadline.

LETTERS OF INQUIRY must be submitted by June 1st for the August 1st grant deadline.

*All submissions must be received by 5pm on the corresponding due dates.

1. Definition

Sarkeys Foundation is a private, charitable foundation, incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma and operated exclusively for providing support through gifts and grants to charitable, scientific, and educational institutions which are qualified under section 501(c)(3) and which are not private foundations within the meaning of section 509(a) if the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1954 or comparable sections of the Internal Revenue Service Code added at a later date.

2. Governing Body

The Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director.

3. Meetings

The Trustees meet quarterly in January, April, July and October. Grant proposals are considered at the April and October meetings.

4. Response to Inquiries

A response to each request or inquiry will be made by the Foundation within a reasonable time.

5. Proposals

The Trustees invite proposals and applications from qualified charitable institutions. To qualify, a 501(c)(3) agency must be headquartered and provide services in Oklahoma. A careful evaluation of each request will be made. Nonprofit representatives are urged not to wait until the final deadline.

A major area of support by the Sarkeys Foundation include:

  • Education;

  • Social service and human service needs;

  • Cultural and humanitarian programs of State significance

Needs normally outside the range of support by the Sarkeys Foundation

  • Local programs appropriately financed within the community;

  • Direct mail solicitations and annual campaigns;

  • Out of state institutions;

  • Hospitals;

  • Purchase of vehicles;

  • Grants to individuals;

  • Responsibility for permanent financing of a program;

  • Programs whose ultimate intent is to be profit making;

  • Start-up funding for new organizations;

  • Feasibility studies;

  • Grants which trigger expenditure responsibility by Sarkeys Foundation;

  • Direct support to government agencies;

  • Individual public or private elementary or secondary schools, unless they are serving the needs of a special population which are not being met elsewhere; and

  • Religious institutions and their subsidiaries

6. Letter of Inquiry

Organizations are required to submit a Letter of Inquiry to determine whether they meet the criteria and priorities for funding. Representatives are required to speak with a program officer for more information, to ask any questions about the process and for a pre-grant interview.

The Letter of Inquiry is a fillable form, accessible here or via the button at the top right of the screen. Deadlines for LOI submissions are:

5 pm, December 1st for the February 1st Grant Deadline;

OR

5 pm, June 1st for the August 1st Grant Deadline.

Successful applicants will be notified approximately two weeks after the Letter of Inquiry deadline and will receive information to complete an online application. There are no exceptions made for applications or parts of applications submitted after the deadline.

The Letter of Inquiry form will require the following information:

  • Organizations Name

  • Contact Name, Address, Email and Phone Number

  • Description of the Organization

  • Description of the Project

  • Requested Amount

  • Total Project Cost

  • Federal Tax ID Number

7. Application Frequency

Organizations are limited to one application per calendar year or twelve month period. Organizations with a current grant from Sarkeys Foundation are prohibited from applying for additional funding until final payment has been received and expended.

8. Content of Proposals

Successful applicants will be notified approximately two to three weeks after the Letter of Inquiry deadline and will be given information to complete an online application. Sarkeys accepts proposals exclusively through an online process. Sarkeys Foundation does not accept faxed or e-mailed proposals.

Below are primary components of the application:

  • Executive Summary

  • Financial and Endowment Information

  • Board and Employee Information

  • Description of the Organization

  • Description of the Project

  • Collaborative Efforts in Your Community

  • Line-item Budget for the Request

  • List of Secured Funds and Pledges, Outstanding Requests and Other Potential Source of Funding

  • Audit required for organizations with assets in excess of $500,000

  • A letter from an auditor stating that no material weakness were discovered

9. Challenge Grants

The board, at its discretion, may determine to award a grant contingent upon certain conditions and/or the fulfillment an institution’s additional fundraising obligation for the project in question within a specified time period.

10. Proposal Format

The Letter of Inquiry and the grant application must be completed online. If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions, please contact the foundation directly for assistance.

11. Follow Up Protocol

Once awarded a grant from Sarkeys, organizations are required to submit a follow-up report. Typically, you will be asked to fill out a report six months after reception of grant dollars and again once all money has been expended. If awarded a multi-year grant, reports will be due annually until full expenditure. You will receive an email notification to the account the grant was submitted from with at least two weeks’ notice. All submissions and follow-up requirements are accessible here or via the “grant database” button at the bottom of the page.