The Oklahoma City branding agency Nominee Design awarded Oklahoma-based nonprofit Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference Center with over $50,000 in pro-bono brand and marketing services.
Nominee Design recently announced Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference Center as the 2023 winner of The Impact Grant, a social good branding grant that awards a deserving Oklahoma nonprofit focused on areas of social justice and/or sustainable living with pro-bono branding services.
As this year’s winner, Central Oklahoma Camp will receive a new strategic brand identity and brand rollout valued at more than $50,000.
Central Oklahoma Camp is an Oklahoma nonprofit based in Guthrie that focuses on making the outdoors accessible and welcoming to all people. The nonprofit, founded in 1955, provides Oklahoma’s outdoor recreation program for individuals with disabilities, including 315 acres of accessible cabins and ADA accessible activities such as archery boating, ax throwing, ropes course and swimming.
“At Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference Center, we believe that the outdoors and summer camp should be accessible to all people, and we’re passionate about finding innovative ways to be inclusive of communities who have traditionally been excluded from those spaces,” said Jon Cunningham, the executive director at Central Oklahoma Camp. “We are honored to accept The Impact Grant and excited to explore new opportunities to reach even more people. We look forward to using this grant to continue our work of enriching lives through inclusive outdoor experiences.”
Located on 300 wooded acres, Central Oklahoma Camp and Conference sees nearly 10,000 visitors annually. In addition to its programs for those with disabilities, the camp can be rented out throughout the year by other groups looking for a place to experience the outdoors. In 2023, Central Oklahoma Camp launched Camp Prism, a camp for LGBTQ+ youth. Central Oklahoma Camp hopes to continue building outdoor communities across diverse populations.
Nominee’s founder and CEO Matt Stansberry said his team was motivated and inspired by Central Oklahoma Camp’s unique and long-standing impact in Oklahoma.
“Reading through the impact grant’s applications for this year, Central Oklahoma Camp’s application quickly stood out. Providing outdoor recreation for those without access to the traditional camp experience gives underserved populations an opportunity to grow in confidence, learn life skills and enjoy the world around them,” said Stansberry. “From its programs for those with disabilities to its partnerships with nonprofits supporting all people, Central Oklahoma Camp is a standout organization with a mission centered on inclusivity and recreation. We are thrilled to begin working on its brand and helping further its positive impact.”
One key program at Central Oklahoma Camp & Conference Center is Make Promises Happen, a program dedicated to providing recreational opportunities for individuals of all ages with intellectual and physical disabilities. This program seeks to improve six areas: self-confidence, independent living skills, self-determination, communication skills, cooperation skills and relational skills. In 2022, 100% of participants reported they “maintained or improved” status in all six areas. The same year alone, Make Promises Happen served nearly 700 campers and provided 32,000 hours of respite for caregivers of its campers.
In addition, Central Oklahoma Camp partners with more than 30 different nonprofits and community organizations, businesses and individuals to impact the lives of more than 10,000 Oklahoma residents who visit annually. Central Oklahoma Camp hosts campers of all ages, beliefs and ethnicity, including youth and adults.
Nominee, a renowned strategic branding firm that has built brands around the country, has a deep-rooted passion for giving back to the community. Last year, She Brews Coffee & Transition program, a nonprofit focused on the rehabilitation of women re-entering society following incarceration, was the third recipient of this grant. The organization received a new brand strategy, messaging, visual identity and website, which will launch fall 2023.
To learn more about The Impact Grant, visit nominee.co/impact.
