In this impact spotlight, we’re shining a light on three more of our partners who excel in providing services and fostering transformative change in their respective focus areas.  

Revolving Loan Fund 

The Revolving Loan Fund is an initiative of Northeast Oklahoma City Renaissance (NEOKCR) that provides capital access to small businesses and entrepreneurs within northeast Oklahoma City.

Arnall Family Foundation worked with NEOKCR to develop a plan to expand their Revolving Loan Fund capacity and gain certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Newly added board members experienced in accounting, banking, CDFI operations, underwriting and real-estate investment helped the organization refine their certification plan. They have strengthened processes for thoughtfully evaluating loans and are already deploying capital. 

In the past year and a half, NEOKCR issued loans totaling $327,000 to 8 different small businesses with the potential for high impact on the east side of Oklahoma City and broader Ward 7. AfroPop is one of the Revolving Loan Fund’s current recipients and is Oklahoma’s only black-owned soda maker. The brand has seen tremendous growth within the last year and has been included in several Oklahoma retailers as a low-sugar content alternative to legacy brands. Check out other loan recipients in NEOKCR’s social media post.  

SHRED the Stigma 

SHRED the Stigma is a harm reduction initiative that aims to end overdose and other drug-related harm by distributing kits that include Narcan, fentanyl test trips, and sterilizing equipment for syringes.  

Over the past year, the organization has endured a loss in federal funding and the resignation of its founder and former executive director. Even through these changes, the organization met and even exceeded projected goals.  

Through a $30,000 award from the Arnall Family Foundation, SHRED the Stigma provided 17,180 kits to people who use drugs, which is 6,780 more kits than was projected in their grant request. They were also able to reimburse drivers for gas mileage after delivering kits to those who need them in several different zip codes throughout Oklahoma City. 

SHRED The Stigma is on the lookout for volunteers. If you’d like to help, reach out to shredthestigma@gmail.com.  

honestly 

Honestly works to reduce the teen birth rate in Oklahoma County and improve sexual health outcomes for youth. The organization is comprised of a county-wide network of services and nonprofits known as the Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration. 

They facilitate training, host listening sessions and provide tools and other resources to empower youth and their caregivers to have age-appropriate and medically accurate conversations around relationships and sexual health. In 2023-2024, honestly successfully navigated significant cuts to their federal funding. Through local grant partnerships, they provided services to 571 unique clients, 171 more than their projections for 2024.  

Not only did they exceed their goal for unique clients served, but also their fundraising goal with support from the Arnall Community Funds at Oklahoma City Community Foundation.