Funding partners are particularly interested in supporting: 

• Proposals that solve critical local problems and address critical local needs. 
• Proposals for programs or projects not adequately being served by existing community resources. 
• Proposals which provide leverage for generating other funds and community resources. 
• Proposals which facilitate cooperation and collaboration between organizations. 
• Proposals that increase the capacity of local organizations. 

Eligible organizations 

• Schools 
• Government Units 
• Charitable Organizations with their 501 C3 status. 

Whether you have experience with our online application or this is your first time, our staff is here to help you along the way. We want to hear what matters to you.

New representative 

If this is your first time completing a grant application please register by clicking HERE. If you have any questions please feel free to email Karin Beyer, at [email protected]. Please allow 48 hours for a response during regular business hours. 

Returning representative 

If you have applied on behalf of the same organization in the past and know your login information, log in now. 

Forgotten login information 

If you have forgotten your login information, please contact Karin at [email protected]. Please allow 48 hours for a response during regular business hours. 

Returning representative with different organization 

If you have completed an online application in the past but are now representing a different organization, please email Karin at [email protected] and include the name of the new organization as well as the name of the organization you originally represented. 

Now that you have registered and are related to an organization you can log in at any time to start and complete the application process. Past applicants have reported that the average time to complete the application is two hours. The application has five sections including: 

1. Organization Information* 
2. Organization Background* 
3. Proposal Background 
4. Grant Proposal
5. Personnel 

Note: Please don’t copy and paste any information into the application.

*Generated from your organization snapshot which you can log in and update at any time of the year. If you are with an organization, school, or government that has multiple divisions or units:

1. Please don’t change your organization snapshot without approval
2.  Put your information in the Unit area.

Once you complete all five sections you will be asked to upload the program/project budget before you can submit the application. You will also be able to upload supplemental documents that could include pictures, bids, and letters of recommendation.  Those applying for a school program or project please submit a letter of approval from the administration.

Before the application process is complete please upload the following documents.

• Program/Project Budget (Mandatory)
• Bids for your project (if applicable)
• Letters of support for your proposal (if applicable). This is a great opportunity to highlight collaboration. 
• Any other support documents that will further explain your proposel to funding partners. If you would like to submit a 1-2 minute video that explains your proposal please email the completed video to Karin Beyer, [email protected]

You may prepare and submit a press release to local media regarding your project and the grant; if you have a newsletter that could be a good outlet as well. Please continue to credit “the fund of the OCF” in printed materials and news stories as a supporter of the project. In order to assist both the experienced and first-time grant recipient, we have produced some suggestions in Tips for Publicizing Your Grant.

Our expectations of your project start with the grant proposal that you submitted. What we read about in your grant proposal is what we are expecting to happen unless we hear otherwise from you. We do understand that things can change and some flexibility is important. However, we ask that you please talk to us prior to making any major changes to a project we have funded. In many cases it takes just a simple phone call.

We serve the community through nonprofit organizations. If your tax exempt status changes or is revoked during the course of our grant, please let us know.

Whether your project is complete or in process members of our team including staff, volunteers and donors would love to see your good work in action.  Please contact Karin to schedule this. 

The Final report form available here will provide guidance and if you have any questions please email  [email protected] .Your feedback is essential to our work.

Thank you for your partnership!