State lawmakers have the unenviable responsibility of creating next year’s budget and deciding how Oklahoma’s resources will be allocated. Although the numbers in the headlines – numbers with the word “billions” behind them – appear enormous at the onset, when the legislature puts pen to paper, they quickly realize their constraints. Finding places to stretch funding while providing critical services is imperative, and no sector is more adept at that than nonprofits. Education receives the largest portion of the state’s budget, receiving nearly half of last year’s $11.8 billion budget. While the majority is allocated to public schools, some is funneled into educational programming carried out by nonprofits through things like the Oklahoma Early Childhood Program (OECP). The state-funded initiative improves the quality of early education by partnering with 53 schools in urban and rural locations. Including related services, the nonprofits involved with OECP touched the lives of nearly 9,000 Oklahomans last year. The state-funding for the program also brings increased opportunities for federal funding through the ability to leverage the money in grants that require local investments. By braiding this state and federal funding together, our lawmakers and nonprofits can serve more Oklahomans. After education, health and social services ranks second as the leading recipient of state funding. As caregivers, service providers and distribution houses, nonprofits have a major impact through state-funded programs. Nonprofit organizations deliver most of the mental health services offered by the state. State Medicare and Medicaid benefits come from nonprofit hospitals. Housing and food are just two of the other state assistance programs that the government contracts nonprofits to carry out. Our state government and nonprofits work hand-in-hand to help make Oklahoma a better place to live for all of us, and the sector has proven to be a solid partner in these efforts. As lawmakers negotiate next year’s budget, nonprofits should not be overlooked. The sector stands ready to help the state assist Oklahomans. Funding nonprofit programs that directly impact those in need is not only a good investment, it can also open opportunities for more federal dollars to flow into our state. We know the needs are great in our communities, but with our state government, generous funding community and tenacious nonprofit sector, addressing them is possible.