Mentoring Grants

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence awards grants to support strategic needs of new and existing K-12 mentoring organizations in Oklahoma. 

The program’s focus is to promote the growth and development of quality youth mentoring programs statewide. It grew out of David and Molly Shi Boren’s own commitment to mentoring and the proven impact that mentoring can make on a student’s success in and out of the classroom.

For the 2026 grant cycle, grants of up to $3,000 will be made available through a selection process.

Organizations can use the funds for programming, training, materials, start-up costs or other expenses that advance excellence in mentoring.

To qualify for a grant, mentoring organizations MUST:

• Serve K-12 age children in Oklahoma.
• Conduct background checks on all mentors.
• Agree to report qualitative and quantitative outcomes to the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.
• Provide proof of 501(c)(3) status or proof of an agreement with a local public school district or other qualified 501(c)(3) umbrella organization. 
• Organizations who recieved awards in fiscal year 2025 will not be eligible to reapply in this grant cycle.

For more information, contact Lauren Dow at 405-236-0006, Ext. 13 (office) or ldow@ofe.org.