Share Your Idea With Us
Do you have an innovative new idea that could make a significant difference for our community? Have you given this idea some thought? Some research? United Way of Central Oklahoma is eager to learn about your idea/project. Funds, available per project, fall in the range of $10,000 to $250,000.
Access to the Letter of Intent is closed and will open Spring of 2027.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Informational session located at United Way of Central Oklahoma: May 13, 2026 at 10am. RSVP to Liliana Macias via email (WayFinder@unitedwayokc.org)
- Submit the letter of intent: June 4, 2026.
- Selected agencies will be given access to the formal application on June 26, 2026. Agencies will have until July 16, 2026 to submit their formal applications.
- Agencies who are accepted for the review panel will be notified by July 31, 2026 and assigned a timeslot for the presentation date August 18, 2026 to give a 10 minute “Elevator Pitch” to the grant review panel comprised of community volunteers and other funders, with 10 minutes for Q&A with the panel.
- Funding awards will be announced on at out Kickoff Reception in September.
- Dollars must be spent within the grant period of October 1, 2026 through September 29, 2028.
- If awarded, grantee organization would be required to publicize selection as a grant winner by United Way of Central Oklahoma.
- Submit a progress report every six months through the two-year grant period, including an end of grant report upon completion of the project. Awarded organizations will be invited back to give a presentation at the end of the grant cycle.
Award Criteria
Innovative idea that would meet a genuine community need – Does not yet exist in central Oklahoma and cannot already exist within your organization.
Project falls within the realm of support by United Way. United Way of Central Oklahoma supports social service, health and human service needs programs.
- Agency has a plan for measurement of outcomes in the project over the grant cycle, and beyond.
- Recipient is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation as defined under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
- Agency is located within the service area of United Way of Central Oklahoma (Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma counties).
- Agency has an annual audit or annual review from an independent auditor.
- Projects that include collaborative approaches are encouraged.
- Applicant must demonstrate capacity to execute the program.
- Programs should serve diverse groups in the community, be open and not restricted by residency or membership.
- Programs should show opportunity for sustainability or continuation after the grant funds are expended.
- Grant range is $10,000-$250,000.
- WayFinder Innovation grants are to be considered one-time funding.
Typically, United Way does not support:
- Grants to Individuals
- Art/Cultural/Literary organizations
- Animal Services
- Capital Needs
- Environmental Concerns
2026 WayFinder Innovation Grant Recipients
Congratulations to Alpha Community Foundation of Oklahoma and City Rescue Mission in partnership with City Care!
Alpha Community Foundation of Oklahoma $35,000
Alpha Community Foundation of Oklahoma received $35,000 for a one-year planning and infrastructure initiative to establish Oklahoma City's first coordinated My Brother's Keeper community framework which will convene boys and young men of color, identify priority gaps, map community assets, and produce a Community Action Framework. It will operate from the Garden Oaks Community Center and include families, schools, nonprofits, employers, public agencies, philanthropy, and neighborhood leaders. The proposed program will build the backbone, data, communication, resident-engagement, and collaborative planning infrastructure needed to connect effective programs and improve education, mentoring, postsecondary, workforce, safety, and second-chance outcomes.
City Rescue Mission in partnership with City Care $185,000
City Rescue Mission in partnership with City Care received $185,000 for a coordinated access system designed to simplify how families experiencing homelessness enter and navigate services across the Oklahoma City metro through one phone number, one online form, and one physical location operating 24 hours a day. Families would be assessed immediately and connected to the right next step. For some, that may mean diversion services that prevent shelter entry altogether. For others, it may mean placement in the family shelter best suited to their needs. For this project, “family” includes households with children birth to 18. This project builds on strong collaborations and partnerships with City Care, Homeless Alliance, Positive Tomorrows, Sunbeam Family Services, YWCA Oklahoma City, Pivot, Sisu, Salvation Army and Palomar while incorporating lessons learned from Family Gateway in Dallas.
To learn more about the WayFinder Innovation Grant, please contact:
Liliana Macias
Director of Community Impact
wayfinder@unitedwayokc.org