06 Oct 2025

Match & Multiply: Arnold Ventures & Oklahoma's $10 Million Matching Initiative for Youth

Why Evidence-Based Youth Funding Is Rising in 2025

For decades, U.S. children and youth—especially those in low-income families have faced barriers to stability, education, and opportunity. Nonprofits and schools often struggled to expand because funding covered only part of their needs. That's beginning to change.

In March 2025, Arnold Ventures partnered with the State of Oklahoma to launch a $10 million matching grant program that doubles investment in proven youth programs. For every dollar committed by state or local government, Arnold Ventures will match dollar-for-dollar, expanding resources for initiatives with a strong evidence base. The initiative is hosted within Oklahoma's Be A Neighbor program, operated by the Department of Human Services.

This isn't just funding, it's a force multiplier that scales programs delivering measurable improvements in student success and family stability.

Grant Success Stories

Breaking Down the Arnold Ventures & Oklahoma Matching Grant

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

  • Public school districts and state/local agencies.
  • Nonprofits running evidence-based programs with proven outcomes for youth.
  • Organizations focused on tutoring, adoption/foster care recruitment, community college success, or similar interventions.

Priority Focus Areas

  • High-dosage tutoring (e.g., math tutoring for low-income high school students).
  • Adoption and foster care recruitment (e.g., Wendy's Wonderful Kids).
  • Community college student support and Success Initiatives.
  • Other proven, evidence-based programs that improve academic achievement, readiness, or youth outcomes.
  • Potential additional focus areas include youth-related criminal justice reform and reentry programs.

Grant Size & Duration

  • Dollar-for-dollar match of state/local government investment.
  • Arnold Ventures' contribution: up to $10 million over a four-year period.
  • Total potential investment: up to $20 million.
  • Subgrant size/duration determined collaboratively based on project scope and state priorities.

Learning from Similar Initiatives

Although this matching grant is new, Oklahoma has seen success scaling programs through evidence-driven funding. For example, state-supported efforts in early childhood readiness and foster care reform have highlighted the importance of:

  • Strong outcome tracking (literacy, graduation rates, permanency in foster care).
  • Cross-sector partnerships (schools, nonprofits, government).
  • Targeted funding for interventions with measurable results.

These lessons apply directly to the new Arnold Ventures initiative.

Action Steps for Your Organization

To strengthen your chances of participation:

  • Anchor in Evidence : Show how data and proven impact back your program.
  • Identify Matching Capacity : Collaborate with local agencies or schools that can leverage government investment.
  • Set Measurable Targets : Track concrete outcomes like test score improvement, foster care placements, or reduced reentry rates.
  • Build Partnerships : Collaborate with schools, colleges, or state agencies to scale impact.
  • Be Compliance-Ready : Ensure financial systems, audits, and reporting meet funder expectations.
  • Pair Data with Storytelling : Combine hard metrics with real success stories from students and families.

How to Apply for the Matching Grant

  • There is currently no public application portal available.
  • Interested organizations should contact Brian Bobek, Director of the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, to discuss eligibility.
  • Check the Oklahoma Office of Management & Enterprise Services (OMES) for funding updates.
  • Sign up for Arnold Ventures' youth and family grant alerts for notifications.

Timeline

  • Announced: March 2025.
  • Duration: Four years of funding.
  • Application rounds or deadlines have not been publicly announced.
  • Emphasis is on relationship-building and targeted invitations rather than open calls.

Your Grant-Readiness Checklist

  • 3–5 year program plan aligned with youth/student outcomes.
  • Matching partner(s) identified (school districts, state/local agencies).
  • Proven metrics (tutoring results, foster care adoptions, graduation rates).
  • Compliance-ready audit and reporting systems.
  • Compelling case studies or stories that demonstrate impact.

Where Pillar by SocialRoots.ai Fits In

Winning matching grants requires data integrity and transparent reporting. Pillar by SocialRoots.ai helps nonprofits:

  • Track youth outcomes (e.g., test scores, school readiness, permanency in foster care).
  • Automate compliance-ready reports aligned with Arnold Ventures and state requirements.
  • Centralize data across schools, agencies, and nonprofits.
  • Build dashboards that show scalability and measurable success to funders.

Arnold Ventures prioritizes evidence-based programs and platforms, such as Pillar, that help nonprofits deliver the evidence funders demand.

Conclusion: Multiply Your Impact

The Arnold Ventures & Oklahoma $10M Matching Grant offers a rare opportunity: to double funding while scaling programs with proven impact for youth. By combining a strong vision with reliable data and transparent reporting, nonprofits can not only apply but win and maximize every dollar invested.

With tools like Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, organizations can enhance their readiness, foster trust with funders, and ensure long-term sustainability.

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