How to Apply for Council Funding

• The Council does not provide grants. Funding is provided through a contract in which an organization agrees to perform specific duties as agreed upon. Funding is provided by reimbursement only, meaning there is no funding provided to the organization in advance. The Council can approve to fund up to 75% of a total budget cost with matching funds required. Matching funds cannot be from federal sources and expected to be at least 25% of the total budget. 
• Required match funding may be in the form of cash, direct expenditures, indirect expenditures, volunteer hours, or in-kind contributions, but may not include any direct or indirect federal funds. An exception to this rule is made for projects specifically serving a designated poverty area. In those situations, the Council can approve to fund up to 90% of the total budget cost, with at least 10% matching funds from the organization making up the rest of the total budget costs. Other exceptions to the 10% or 25% match requirement may be negotiated but are rarely approved.
  
• Federal law prohibits the Council from investing in real property, building enhancements, vehicles, or vehicle enhancements. Generally, any equipment purchased via a Council contract should be an item that could be returned to the Council in the event of contract cancellation.
  
• The Council does not consider applications that would provide any item solely for the use of a single individual – such as a wheelchair or other personalized assistive technology.  

• Project funding requests less than $5,000 can be approved by the Executive Committee. Applications should be received a minimum of 12 weeks before the next the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting. 
• Applicant(s) will be notified by email within 5 business days of meeting of a decision or request for more information.  
• A resulting contract will have an effective start date of no less than 90 days from the approval date.  
• Per Oklahoma Statute, no funding can or will be reimbursed for any good or service purchased before the effective start date of a contract.

• Project funding requests must be received a minimum of 6 months in advance of a July 1 start date.
• Applicant(s) will be notified by email within 5 business days of meeting of a decision or request for more information.  
• A resulting contract will have an effective start date of no less than 90 days from the approval date.  
• Per Oklahoma Statute, no funding can or will be reimbursed for any good or service purchased before the effective start date of a contract.

• Project funding requests must be received a minimum of 6 months in advance of a July 1 start date.
• If applicant is a non-governmental entity, project funding requests are limited to no more than $25,000. 
  • Non-governmental organizations include, but are not limited to, not-for-profit corporations and for-profit corporations. Individual persons are also non-governmental organizations for this purpose.  
  • Governmental entities include state agencies, local government agencies, tribal governments, public school districts, or public colleges and universities.

• Applicant(s) will be notified by email within 5 business days of meeting of a decision or request for more information.  
• A resulting contract will have an effective start date of no less than 90 days from the approval date.  
• Per Oklahoma Statute, no funding can or will be reimbursed for any good or service purchased before the effective start date of a contract.

Note about the Invitation to Bid / Competitive Bidding process:

• Any entity can apply for funding through an invitation to bid process with no restrictions as to funding amount. However, all invitation to bid applications are done through the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). This application is NOT an invitation to bid. You can learn about the statewide competitive bidding process at this website: https://oklahoma.gov/omes/divisions/central-purchasing.html. All questions regarding this process, statewide purchasing, and/or competitive contracting should be directed to OMES. 
  

• The Council is not allowed to have any contact with persons, groups, or organizations submitting proposals that are subject to competitive bidding. If you or your organization are submitting a response for a competitive contract or is part of any other organization’s proposal for a contract, please DO NOT discuss or disclose any information about your proposal with any DDCO member or staff.    

Funding decisions can take time for the Council to discuss. Please allow time for feedback on your proposal and possible revision of your proposal or providing more information. We want to be a partner and are happy to work with you as you complete an application. Please ask questions.  If approved for funding, contract dates depend on when the proposal was received, length of review by Council committee, and contract negotiations.

For a proposal requesting funding for a full year, contracts will typically follow the state fiscal year: July 1 through June 30.

Proposals received are evaluated by a Council Committee, and if approved, a recommendation is made to the full Council for a decision. If approved by the full Council, we will make every effort for contracts to be effective as early as possible, typically by July 1.  Applicants will be notified by email within 5 business days of the full Council’s decision.

IMPORTANT: Do not begin work until a fully executed contract and purchase order (PO) is in hand. Per Oklahoma Statute, no funding can or will be reimbursed for any goods or service prior to the effective date of a contract.

If you have any questions, email our Planning & Grants Director, Jennifer Robinson: Jennifer.Robinson@okdhs.org.