Grants for Individuals

State & Local Resources

• Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition 
  A nonprofit organization that supports Oklahoma artists through grant funding.

National Resources

• Americans for the Arts 
  An information clearinghouse that provides material on funding for individuals in all areas of the arts.
• Independent Television Service 
  Funds proposals by independent producers and provides production, promotion, marketing and distribution support.
• National Endowment for the Arts 
  An independent federal agency that offers project grants and limited individual grants.
• PEN America 
  PEN’s programs promote writing and literature at every level and are founded on the belief that free expression is an essential component of every healthy society.

The following organizations offer funding for individual researchers:

• National Endowment for the Humanities 
  An independent federal agency that supports research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.
• National Institutes of Health 
  The National Institutes of Health offers loan repayment programs in addition to research grants for individuals.
• National Science Foundation
  The National Science Foundation offers federal funding for research projects in the fields of science and engineering.
• Social Science Research Council 
  An independent, not-for-profit research organization founded in 1923 that mobilizes researchers, policy makers, professionals, activists, and other experts from the private and public sectors to develop innovative approaches to issues of critical social importance.
• Small Business Administration has the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grants that focus on research and technology.

See these Candid Learning articles and blog posts to learn more about grants for education:

• Where can I find grants to pay for private elementary, middle, or high school tuition?
• Where can I find information about financial aid as an undergraduate student?
• Where can I find information about financial aid as a graduate student?

Are there grants available to help with living, medical, or other personal expenses?

Grants are a special type of funding awarded by charitable foundations or government agencies to nonprofit organizations or individuals working on projects designed to have far-reaching social, scientific, or artistic benefit. While there are some grants available to assist with educational expenses, most grants are reserved for projects that will benefit many people, rather than a single individual.  

Assistance for personal expenses, such general living and medical expenses is available through charitable organizations and some federal agencies. This type of funding is given as charitable assistance, and not through individual grants. For more about the difference between charitable assistance and individual grants, please see the following Candid Learning articles:

• Where can I find funding for personal expenses?
• How can I find funding for seniors, veterans, or people with disabilities?
• How can we raise money for a person or family in need?

Where can I find help with living, medical, or other personal expenses in Tulsa?

There are multiple charitable organizations in Tulsa that offer assistance with personal expenses. Tulsa City-County Library's Tulsa Organizations and Services (TOS) database is an ideal tool for locating charitable organizations that may be able to assist with personal expenses. Customers should contact each charity directly to learn more about its qualifications and requirements for financial assistance.

For assistance using the Tulsa Organizations and Services (TOS) database, contact the Research Center at 918-549-7323.

How can I find funds to start or expand my small business?

Do I qualify for small business grants? 

The Small Business Administration has an outline of the programs that they do and do not give grants to.  You can also search directly on Grants.gov to see for yourself what federal grants are available.

What other grants are available?

Independent grants exist and may be awarded for small businesses, but they are difficult to find and often small amounts.  A search on your favorite search engine might yield surprising results.  You can try searching for banks or credit card companies that have a grant program, companies you are familiar with, or local foundations who have the same ideals as you.

Where else can I find funding?

The Small Business Administration has a useful list of potential funding sources.

Visit TCCL's Business Center for more information on starting and funding your small business.