Oklahoma Humanities is offering funding for oral history projects aimed at preserving cultural heritage and community experiences through documentation and collection efforts. These grants provide outright funding of up to $10,000 for community-based initiatives that safeguard cultural resources through oral history collection. The primary objective of this funding category is to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of primary resources within the humanities field. Projects funded under this grant contribute to research, education, and public programming by making important cultural heritage resources available.

Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, accredited public and private institutions of higher education with 501(c)(3) status, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Applicants must adhere to best practices in ethical information gathering and privacy, especially for projects involving oral histories and language preservation. The Oklahoma Oral History Research Project at Oklahoma State University is available to provide additional assistance with technological and methodological approaches.

To apply for this grant, applicants must create an account and submit their proposal through the Oklahoma Humanities online grants portal. Specific funding guidelines and requirements are provided throughout the application process. As of now, the grant program is marked as temporarily unavailable, and applicants are encouraged to check back for updates on when funding opportunities will resume.

Grantees should ensure that their projects align with the purpose of the grant, which is to make cultural heritage materials widely accessible for educational and research purposes. Any oral history or interview-based project must follow best practices to ensure ethical handling of information.

For further inquiries, applicants can contact Oklahoma Humanities at their office located at 424 Colcord Dr., Suite E, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. The organization can be reached by phone at 405-235-0280. Additional details about upcoming events and resources are available on the Oklahoma Humanities website.