2 survey respondents
Location: 530 E Main St, Norman, 73071 OK
EIN: 73-0736496
50%
50%
18 hours
Median
100%
0%
50%
50%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
First step in the process is to have a meeting with a grant officer of the Foundation. We typically go in with descriptions of three to four programs at a time as the Board may like one program one year and then will move away from that focus the very next year. Huge focus of the meeting is to talk about sustainability as Sarkeys does not want to be your end-all, be-all solution for program funding from one year to the next.
Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Oklahoma
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Grant officers respond fairly quickly to emails and voicemails, but are rarely in their office when you call.
Average
It is unclear what the focus of Sarkeys is, as the funded programs do not always align with the description on their website. However, they do provide funding for a plethora of programs, focus areas, causes, and avenues (including capital and programmatic funding).
Please revamp your application system to remove all the unnecessary attachments. If I have already attached my audit/990, you don't need an additional financial form in a completely different format. Likewise, if we've already attached our handbook and strategic plan, you don't need a Sarkeys-specific form laying out our procedures, focuses, and practices again.
In order to make this application worth all the additional work it takes, make a big ask. This is a complete waste of time if you're only going to ask for $5,000 or less. Our asks have always been for $10,000 or above, and even then it seems like a daunting amount of paperwork. Also be sure to build in plenty of sustainability as Sarkeys does not often fund the same organization two years in a row. Although they will likely fund you every other year if you make a good impression with your first grant.
They are very upfront and honest in your in-person meeting about what they will and won't present to the Board as an option. This is why the initial meeting is so important.
8
Reviewer 6099 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Contact them and have a meeting before you take on this long and arduous application process.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues
Oklahoma
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
They are open and engaging about meeting with nonprofits. They offer good advice about outcomes and best practices.
Average
They do an outstanding job funding many of the state's nonprofits. However, they do not seem to truly understand how difficult their application is or how difficult it is for staff to find time to complete it. They are extremely negative about nonprofits using shared services model to help with grants - but make their application so burdensome that few executive directors could manage to find time to do it.
Make the application less daunting or get rid of your prejudice about shared services model using consultants or freelance writers. The only reasons I have heard why you don't like this are: 1) They make mistakes. Most consultants require nonprofit staff to review materials before they are submitted. Often, the mistake is the nonprofit's - not the consultant's. On the other hand, if a consultant is responsible for a critical error, it is easier for the nonprofit to "fire" them than it would be to fire a staff writer. Finally, as much as people try to NOT make mistakes, they are human. I've experienced mistakes by Sarkeys staff, but that doesn't mean they aren't excellent professionals or people. 2) The executive director should do your application "from the heart." This was said by a foundation staffer who has never worked at a services nonprofit organization and clearly doesn't know what they deal with daily. No E.D. of a busy nonprofit has an extra 30 hours to complete a grant.
Although they do a lot of good, Sarkeys falls into the "sadistic" category of funders by requiring too much information, demonstrating a lack of understanding about how thinly stretched nonprofit staff are, and punishing nonprofits who use a shared-services model through consultants.
They have the most thorough application of any funder. Once you complete a Sarkeys grant application, it is easier to do others. They sponsor a bi-annual conference that is pretty good, so they clearly care about improving nonprofits in Oklahoma.
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