About Us

Who We Are

Oklahoma Partners in Academics (OPA) Scholarship Fund (legal name: OPA Scholarship Fund) is an Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a single, clear purpose: expanding educational opportunity for Oklahoma kids whose families need it most.

Our Purpose

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To provide scholarships to income-qualifying Oklahoma students to attend accredited private elementary and secondary schools, empowering families to choose the education that best fits their child — regardless of financial circumstance.

Our Vision

A future where every Oklahoma family has access to a quality education aligned with their values, and where Oklahoma donors know their tax dollars are making a measurable, lasting difference in a kid's life.

Our Story

Why We Were Founded

OPA Scholarship Fund started with one school's community in Owasso, Oklahoma, with the belief that a family's finances should not determine the quality of a kid's education. Oklahoma's Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act created a powerful mechanism for change — allowing donors to redirect state tax dollars into private school scholarships — but that mechanism only works when trusted organizations are in place to administer it well.

We received our IRS 501(c)(3) determination on May 4, 2026, and were approved by the Oklahoma Tax Commission as a Scholarship Granting Organization on July 28, 2026. We operate under a formal set of bylaws, financial controls, and a non-donor-directed scholarship policy that protects both donors and students.

We're rebranding as Oklahoma Partners in Academics because we believe our mission shouldn't stop at one school's gates — we're building partnerships with schools across Oklahoma so more kids can benefit, with at least 90% of our scholarship dollars directed to students in the lowest income tier.

A student smiling at a classroom whiteboard

Leadership

Board of Directors

OPA Scholarship Fund is governed by a board of directors that oversees all scholarship operations, financial controls, and compliance with state and federal requirements.

Tiffany Rinas

President

Addie Decker

Secretary

Ryan Myers

Treasurer

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Stewardship

We treat every donation as a sacred trust. At least 90% of all contributions are awarded as scholarships within 24 months — donors can be confident their dollars reach students, not overhead.

Integrity

We operate with full transparency: our financial controls, bylaws, and non-donor-directed policy ensure that scholarships are awarded based on merit and need — never on donor preference for a specific student.

Access

We prioritize the families who need us most. The majority of our scholarship dollars are directed to students from the lowest-income qualifying households, ensuring our resources reach those with the greatest need.

Partnership

We're building relationships with schools across Oklahoma, not just one. Our name reflects it: Oklahoma Partners in Academics exists to grow access, school by school, kid by kid.

Official Status

Approvals & Compliance

OPA Scholarship Fund meets all statutory requirements to operate as an Oklahoma Scholarship Granting Organization and issue tax credit certificates to donors.

Oklahoma SGO Compliance Certifications

90% Rule — At least 90% of all contributions received in any calendar year will be awarded as scholarships within 24 months of receipt.

Non-Donor-Directed — Donors may designate a qualifying school, but not an individual student recipient. All scholarship awards are made by the board based on eligibility criteria.

Direct Payment to Schools — All scholarship funds are paid directly to participating accredited private schools on behalf of recipients. No funds are paid directly to students or parents.

Income Verification — Student household income eligibility is verified prior to each award, and documentation is maintained in compliance with OTC requirements.

Annual Reporting — We comply with all OTC annual reporting requirements, including contribution reports and scholarship activity reports.