On March 11, the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Grants Committee gathered to review and prayerfully consider this year’s grant applications. The response from our churches and ministries was extraordinary. ODF received 125 applications, a record number and a significant increase from the 89 applications received in 2025.
Churches requested support for feeding programs, youth and mission activities, school partnerships, leadership development, senior engagement, and community outreach. Together, they paint a hopeful picture of congregations responding faithfully to the needs around them.
During the five-hour meeting, the committee (made up of volunteer Disciple church members from all areas of Oklahoma) allocated $240,675.01 in grant funding, making 2026 a record year for total distributions through the ODF Grants Program. Of the applications received, 40 were fully funded, 28 met their minimum request, 43 received partial funding, and 14 were not able to be funded this year. All requests were deserving of funding. Several permanent endowments provide specific directions for funding a majority of the annual grants program; therefore, applications not funded either didn’t meet an endowment’s exact criteria or funds were limited in the area of the request. Letters to applicants and checks for grant recipients will be sent out next week.
This year’s grants were strengthened by an important partnership. The legacy of the Disciples Retirement Community of Oklahoma continues to bless ministry through funds now stewarded by the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation. A major contribution of $101,808.68 from DRCO funds, combined with distributions from several other senior ministry endowment funds, allowed the Foundation to fully fund every senior ministry grant application received this year.
The work of the Grants Committee is both careful and inspiring. Board President A.L. Hutson, who attended the committee meeting, reflected on the experience afterward, noting that the grant process offers a powerful glimpse into how churches serve God in their communities. He also reminded us that the success of this program rests on the faithful generosity of donors, the dedication of the committee members, and the daily work of the Foundation’s staff.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the ODF Grants Program. Over the past decade, the Foundation has distributed more than $1 million to Disciples congregations and ministries through this initiative. Each grant represents more than financial support; it represents trust in local churches and the creative ways they live out their calling.
We are deeply grateful for the donors whose generosity makes this work possible, for the Grants Committee members who devote their time and discernment to this process, and for the churches whose ministries continue to share God’s love in tangible ways.