OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has awarded $24,000 in grants to 13 mentoring programs that serve students in grades K-12. The grants are expected to impact more than 900 students across Oklahoma.
The 2026 grant recipients are Alpha Community Foundation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City; Center for Children and Families, Inc., Norman; Granville Community Music School, Oklahoma City; Jubilee Partners, Oklahoma City; Kingfisher Education Foundation SWARM (Students With a Role Model), Kingfisher; Link One Mentoring Program, One True Light, Duncan; Pansy Kidd Middle School Mentoring Program, Poteau; Pursuit of Prosperity Strategies, Tulsa; Putnam City Schools Foundation Mentor Program, Oklahoma City; Taloga School P.A.N.T.H.E.R.S. (Partners And Neighbors of Taloga Helping Empower and Reach Students) Mentoring Program, Taloga; The Dream Center Mentoring Program, Oklahoma City; Things Happening Youth Program Inc, Tulsa; and Yukon Public Schools Miller Mentors, Yukon.
“These grants provide us an incredible opportunity to positively impact Oklahoma students and communities,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “We’re thrilled to support the growth and development of these high-quality mentoring programs.”
To be eligible for OFE’s grants, programs must serve K-12 age children in Oklahoma. Programs must conduct background checks on all mentors and agree to report quantitative and qualitative outcomes. They must also 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.
OFE is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit that recognizes and encourages excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. The foundation elevates public education through esteemed honors, mentoring grants, support for public school foundations and partnerships that provide exceptional professional development to educators. To learn more, visit OFE.org.
More Information on the Grant Recipients
Alpha Community Foundation of Oklahoma
This organization fosters community empowerment through educational outreach, health and wellness, civic engagement, and community service, primarily through programs hosted at the Garden Oaks Community Center in Northeast Oklahoma City. Its Youth Forward Alliance will use grant funds to build and sustain a volunteer network providing tutoring, mentorship circles and career coaching for high school students of color.
“This support will help Alpha Community Foundation convene youth development partners and launch a youth job fair that connects young people with mentorship, education pathways and workforce opportunities across Oklahoma City,” said Brandon T. Denton, Alpha Community Foundation’s executive director.
Center for Children and Families, Inc.
This trauma-informed agency is committed to preventing and healing child abuse and neglect while strengthening families in the Norman community. Since 2015, CCFI has operated the Boys & Girls Club of Norman, Cleveland County’s only Boys & Girls Club. The grant funds will be used to cover background check fees, training expenses and programming supplies that support mentors in fostering academic success.
Granville Community Music School
This Oklahoma City-based school is a program of the Oklahoma Opry, a nonprofit that provides quality music education and artist development while expanding the music industry and tourism in Oklahoma.
“This support will allow our Granville Community Music School to purchase new curriculum for our music programs,” said education director Randy Goodnight. “This will allow our mentors to better serve our mentees through high quality music education.”
The new curriculum will help the school standardize and organize students by playing level so that mentors can provide appropriate levels of support.
Jubilee Partners
This Oklahoma City-based nonprofit is dedicated to the support of youth by providing them with opportunities to further their education, build healthy relationships and develop life skills. It partners with schools in Carney, Oklahoma City and Wellston to offer after-school, summer and school-break programs. Funds will be used to purchase supplies that will allow mentors to teach essential academic and life skills.
Kingfisher Education Foundation SWARM (Students With a Role Model)
The SWARM program matches an adult volunteer with a student or lower elementary classroom to provide mentorship, reinforcing academic success, social skills, school connectedness, resilience and career paths.
“With the support of the OFE grant funding, the Kingfisher Educational Foundation SWARM program hopes to strengthen mentor/student relationships through shared experiences that encourage connection and trust,” said Kathy Kadavy, the foundation’s SWARM coordinator. “Mentors and students will have opportunities to share meals together, creating a space for conversation and connection. The grant funds will also provide games, arts and crafts supplies, books, and puzzles to encourage interaction and meaningful engagement.”
Link One Mentoring Program
This program of Duncan-based nonprofit One True Light provides opportunities for Duncan Public School students to build meaningful bonds with caring community members.
“Our program is intentionally designed to create long-term, transformative relationships that strengthen both students and our community,” said Joan Brock, executive director of One True Light. “When mentors and mentees meet consistently over many years, they build trust, accountability and a deep connection that impacts not only the student but their entire family.”
Grant funds will provide funds to purchase journals and conversation starter activities that mentors will use weekly during one-on-one sessions with mentees.
Pansy Kidd Middle School Mentoring Program
This middle school in Poteau is launching a mentoring program designed to support students’ academic achievement, social-emotional development and overall well-being. Funds will be used to recruit mentors, provide mentor background checks, furnish a comfortable mentoring space within the school, and purchase games, activity kits and other tools to encourage positive interactions between mentors and students.
“When students feel seen, heard and valued, they grow not only academically but as confident, mindful individuals,” said school counselor Nikki Perry.
Pursuit of Prosperity Strategies (POPS)
This Tulsa-based nonprofit empowers underserved youth with life skills, mentorship and opportunities to build resilience, responsibility and brighter futures. POPS connects teens to their career goals and provides training in education, careers, finance, relationships, health and life skills.
Grant funds will be used to provide materials and supportive activities, including mentorship sessions, group workshops, and one-on-one engagement opportunities.
“This funding will directly support the expansion of our POPS after-school programs, allowing us to serve more youth with consistent life-skills training, mentorship, and a safe, structured environment,” said Tarell Earl, founder and executive director POPS. “As we grow, the impact will extend beyond the classroom, helping young people build confidence, make better decisions, and create lasting pathways toward success.”
Putnam City Schools Foundation Mentor Program
This Putnam City Schools Foundation program serves K-12 students in the Oklahoma City-area school district.
Funds from the grant will support mentor recruitment and onboarding and allow for the purchase of program materials and resources for meaningful interactions, such as journals and goal-setting tools.
“As a retired teacher, being a volunteer mentor allows me to stay connected to students,” said Judy Mullen Hooper, a mentor and member of the Putnam City Public Schools Board of Education. “The relationships that we build will possibly last a lifetime!”
Taloga School P.A.N.T.H.E.R.S. Mentoring Program
This newly formed program pairs K-12 students with mentors from the Taloga community. Mentors will interact with students for 30 to 45 minutes once a week during school time. Sessions will focus on academic subjects with time for fun and engaging activities to foster the mentor-mentee connection.
Program coordinator Kris Gore says grant funds will be used to furnish the mentoring room and cover background check costs.
“We are quickly approaching our estimated trial-run start date with mentors meeting their mentees for the first time,” Gore said. “We know the connections and relationships that will be built will impact so many lives on so many different levels! We want to extend many thanks of appreciation to OFE for this very generous donation and opportunity to change lives.”
The Dream Center Mentoring Program
The Oklahoma City Dream Center reaches, rescues and restores individuals and families isolated by poverty. The nonprofit will use the grant to expand and strengthen its mentoring initiative for at-risk children ages 6-12. The program provides consistent, caring relationships that help young people build resilience and envision positive futures. Funds will be used to recruit and train mentors, provide experiences for mentees and to purchase program supplies.
Things Happening Youth Program Inc.
This Tulsa-based nonprofit’s mentoring program is designed to empower and equip youth to reach their fullest potential, academically, socially and professionally. It focuses on students in grades 6 through 12.
“The mentoring funds will help expand our outreach to middle school girls through the S.H.I.N.E. program, which focuses on building confidence, leadership and positive life skills,” said Director Tammy Thompson. “Through mentorship, educational resources and meaningful engagement, we aim to empower young girls to recognize their value, strengthen their decision-making and develop the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally. This support will allow us to reach more students and create lasting impact in their lives.”
Yukon Public Schools Miller Mentors
Through this program, caring mentors spend 30 minutes a week during school time with mentees who are in grades pre-K through 12. Miller Mentors reaches 13 school sites, including seven elementaries.
“The Miller Mentor Program is excited to have received this grant!” said Dianna Mann, volunteer programs coordinator. “The funds will be utilized for interactive games, snacks, crafts, art supplies and enjoyable incentives for all 107 of our mentees and their mentors.”
