Funding For Byways

 

Achieving Oklahoma State Byway designation makes your program eligible to compete for a number of funding sources. Federal Transportation funding (e.g. Scenic Byways and Transportation Enhancements) may be used to assist with route improvements such as scenic overlooks, rest areas, landscaping land acquisition, interpretive materials, recreational accesses, renovations of historical sites, bike trails and other enhancements.

 

Program applicants need to understand that Federal Scenic Byway funds are provided on a reimbursement basis. A solid case must be established on why the funding is needed. This includes a plan involving personnel training, needed improvements, projected costs and the steps needed for implementation of your program. Federal Transportation funding programs are competitive and require a 20% local match.

 

Matching Funds Requirements

 

The law guiding implementation of the National Scenic Byways Program is in Section 162, Title 23 of the United States Code; 23 U.S.C. 162.

 

Grants and Corporate Giving

 

Grant makers typically fund nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Their income cannot benefit private individuals, and their influence on legislation or political campaigns is restricted.

 

A grant making public charity (sometimes referred to as a public foundation) derives its support from various members of the public.

 

A private foundation is a nonprofit corporation or a charitable trust, with a principal purpose of making grants to unrelated organizations or institutions or to individuals for scientific, educational, cultural, religious, or other charitable purposes. Private foundations derive their money from a family, an individual, or a corporation.

 

Foundations have very, specific funding guidelines. They include the times of year funding is offered, nature of the funding, amount of funding, and measurement data that you will have to supply to verify that the money you received in the past was well-spent and had the desired outcome.

 

Foundations and grant makers usually seek evidence that an organization or project matches the funding organization’s interests. They will also seek evidence that the organization is well known in the community and that it is addressing an existing need. Sound fiscal management, a strong involved board, committed volunteers, qualified staff, and a realistic budget are all very important. Especially in today’s economy, grant makers will look for evidence of financial sustainability beyond the period of the grant. Funding organizations do not want grant recipients entirely dependent on them for an indefinite period of time.

 

There are millions of people and thousands of foundations & corporations that give money away. The trick is to locate the ones whose philanthropic interests match your project. People usually give money to projects that match their program interests.

 

The last thing to remember about funding is that it works best if it’s personal. Find out if there is a way you can further the funding organization’s philanthropy through the project. You should have a story about your mission, tell it. Make them WANT to give. Emphasize the qualities you are trying to protect with the project, be it archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic. The ideal grantor/recipient relationship is one of mutual cooperation between a foundation and a non profit hoping to accomplish the same goals.

 

Additional Resources

 

The National Park Service administers a number of federal historic preservation funding programs.

These are located through: www.cr.nps.gov

 

Grantsmart is a foundation whose purpose is to facilitate communications between grant makers and grant seekers by making public records filed by grant makers available for public view. www.GrantSmart.org

 

Listing of a few foundations:

 

www.grantmakersofoklahoma.com

*This list has many Oklahoma Foundations. All are very specific on the types of activities they fund and which cities, counties or regions in Oklahoma they support.

 

www.foundationmanagementinc.com/default.asp?active_page_id=16

*This link will take you to the Merrick Foundation which is the only foundation listed on this site which funds activities in Oklahoma.

 

www.hillefoundation.org/guideline.asp

*They only fund 501(c)(3) organizations for projects in the Tulsa geographical area. Past funding shows activity with the Nature Conservancy. Oklahoma has several established areas in the state where they work with the Nature Conservancy.

 

www.inasmuchfoundation.org

*Edith Gaylord established this organization in Oklahoma City several years ago. This is a well known foundation that funds a wide variety of projects.