Introduction
To obtain a grant for the intended proposal, it will be crucial for me to explain how my initiative can benefit the target population. Indicating the program’s goals, scope, and period makes it a more alluring prospect for philanthropic organizations. Such entities provide funds only to those who can prove the presence of an overarching subject affecting a particular group of individuals and see a solution. Thus, by creating a concise needs statement, one can quickly realize their intended plans.
The Needs Statement
Oklahoma is a U.S. state located north of Texas, and a worrying trend must be addressed. Despite its relatively small number of inhabitants, it has the highest rate of imprisonment or probation among women, 993 per 100,000 residents, with approximately 53,000 people currently being imprisoned (“Oklahoma profile,” n.d.). Women currently detained or recently released from serving jail time will be the focus of my program. It aims to provide legal assistance in better prison conditions and erase criminal records for those already served. The root cause of the unreasonable incarceration rate is the lobbying in private jails and gerrymandering by politicians (“Oklahoma profile,” n.d.). Thus, the resolution calls for an attempt to balance the scales.
While some organizations strive to alleviate the problem, it remains essential to cover the underdeveloped areas. ReMerge and Still She Rises to fight against this worrisome trend, although they do not cover all necessary points due to their limited scope. There are failures in the current system that need to be addressed. There is an opportunity to expand the legal assistance provided to the target population, as the funds for many individuals in such a situation are lacking. Furthermore, the racial profile of women covered by the proposed intervention must be addressed by ensuring their sufficient representation among individuals receiving assistance (“Oklahoma profile,” n.d.). In summary, the initiative will connect threatened groups of people with the legal services they require to defend their human rights and reintegrate into society after release.
Suitable Funding Sources
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
The first organization I see as a funding source is the Schusterman Family Philanthropies, which can significantly impact the area they already focus on. It asks for a nonprofit adapted to change, comprehends U.S. policies, and shows promising solutions (“Our approach,” n.d.). The grantees are expected to input a significant effort into their work to match the foundation’s values. While the website does not state the exact sums provided to their partners, the Schusterman Family Philanthropies claim they cover multi-year operational expenses (“Our approach,” n.d.). Thus, this company may be interested in my proposal and have sufficient resources to fund it.
The drive for change within this organization focuses on the desire for justice for all. An identified need with a reasonable scope ensures that beneficiaries can perceive a grant idea and leaves little room for uncertainties that could take the attention away from the main subject (Karsh & Fox, 2019). Furthermore, since this issue is localized in the state where this organization resides, it has already been identified as a critical weak point in the justice system of Oklahoma. Thus, I believe this entity is expected to select my program for funding, as the intervention resolves a state-wide problem that already has the public’s attention.
The Arnall Family Foundation
This philanthropic organization focuses on community projects that improve the lives of Oklahomans. Among its areas of impact, the justice system is listed as one of the main weak points that need additional attention, for which the Arnall Family Foundation expends more than $10 million yearly (“Areas of focus,” n.d.; “Arnall Community Funds,” n.d.). Thus, this entity already has an apparent investment in this type of project. Furthermore, it realizes that job opportunities need to be expanded to stabilize people’s lives in difficult situations and claims that its mission is to help them (“Areas of focus,” n.d.). To receive the grant, one needs to conduct a meeting to present their ideas, await its review, and await the application’s assessment.
This organization may provide funding for my program due to its focus on justice-centered interventions, which I intend to pursue. They may decide to choose my initiative because they recognize the existing issue within the state’s prison system. Therefore, the Arnall Family Foundation will likely agree with my view regarding changing the situation and providing the necessary funding.
The Cresap Family Foundation
This organization is less focused on ensuring justice, yet it promises to improve the well-being of Oklahomans. Its mission lies in assisting families within the state, which can be done by alleviating the problems that mothers experience after receiving a criminal record (“Grants & giving,” 2023). The grant application process is outlined on the website, and there is a clear path to receive an interview.
A grantee must create a document summarizing the project for further review and await contact from the foundation’s representative (“Grants & giving,” 2023). I can utilize the statistics to create a convincing argument for my proposal. This entity spends approximately $1 million annually to support its grantees, providing sufficient resources for my idea (“Grants & giving,” 2023). This source may be smaller than others, yet it remains a possible option due to the scope of my program.
I believe that I can convince this foundation to fund my project because it intends to support families in Oklahoma. Preserving a family unit that has been divided due to incarceration is an essential part of my intervention. It is feasible to outline how this state-wide issue falls under the causes that the Cresap Family Foundation seeks to affect. Therefore, I can formulate my objective to align with this entity’s desires.
The Inasmuch Foundation
The final choice among the potential beneficiaries for my program is the Inasmuch Foundation, which covers a broad range of essential areas that affect the quality of life of Oklahoman communities. Among the social services, the company intends to change the current sentencing policies that lead to adverse outcomes for women (“Human services,” n.d.). It is interested in decreasing racial disparity, which is visible in Oklahoma’s prison statistics.
The organization has an online form for grant requests that requires a short overview of the proposal, although it states that the request period is limited (“Requests,” n.d.). However, it shows promising results, as nonprofits that align their vision with that of the company are likely to be accepted. Several grades of funding are provided, although I can only apply for $25,000, which is sufficient to kickstart my idea (“Requests,” n.d.). Therefore, this firm can choose my program to receive this sum until I can grow it further.
Its members may be convinced of the necessity to fund this intervention due to their perceptions of social justice and racial disparity. As I outlined above, the justice system appears to target non-White individuals by law, leading to an increased percentage of incarcerations and probations among African-American residents. Thus, these statistics can be a major pushing point for my program, as they align with the foundation’s views. Furthermore, the focus on family preservation may add value to my proposal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the listed organizations can support my proposition financially due to their focus on inclusivity and equality. The issue that I attempt to address reveals significant challenges in the State of Oklahoma that disproportionately affect women who have encounters with the judicial system. The goal of the intervention is to expand legal services provided to these individuals, although it requires a funding source that shares the values of my vision. The philanthropic entities are selected based on location, familiarity with the problem, or an apparent focus on the targeted population. Each company has the potential to affect the issue, making it essential to present a clear vision of the program to its decision-makers.
References
Areas of focus. (n.d.). Arnall Family Foundation. Web.
Arnall Community Funds. (n.d.). Arnall Family Foundation. Web.
Grants & giving. (2023). Cresap Family Foundation. Web.
Human services. (n.d.). Inasmuch Foundation. Web.
Karsh, E., & Fox, A. S. (2019). The only grant-writing book you’ll ever need (5th ed.). Basic Books.
Oklahoma profile. (n.d.). Prison Policy Initiative. Web.
Our approach. (n.d.). Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Web.
Our mission and values. (n.d.). Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Web.
Requests. (n.d.). Inasmuch Foundation. Web.