The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools

What The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools does

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools (legal name: Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity founded in 1984 and headquartered at 431 W. Main St. E in Oklahoma City. It exists to advance excellence, advocate for equity, and build community support for Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), a district of approximately 33,000 students of which 92% live at or below the poverty line. The foundation operates four flagship programs: Coat-A-Kid (winter coat distribution, 66,000+ coats since 2016), the Teacher Pipeline Program (paraprofessional-to-teacher pathway, 30+ graduates teaching with 93% retention), ReadOKC On the Go! Book Buses and Reading Buddies (literacy, nearly 90,000 books since July 2021), and a DonorsChoose partnership providing $150 toward each OKCPS teacher's first classroom project. It also runs two signature annual events — the Wall of Fame Dinner & Awards (in its 41st year) and Stars of Education — that serve both fundraising and recognition functions. The foundation does not develop proprietary technology; its assets are programmatic, relational, and reputational.

Name

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools

Legal name

Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation Inc.

Website

https://okckids.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that supports Oklahoma City Public Schools through coat distribution, teacher pipeline, literacy, and educator-recognition programs serving a 33,000-student district.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• Public school fundraising
• Teacher pipeline programs
• Student literacy initiatives
• Corporate education partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The foundation receives donations from individuals and corporate partners through its website, direct mail campaigns, and at events. These donations fund programs like Coat-A-Kid, Teacher Pipeline, and ReadOKC.
2. Event Fundraising: The foundation hosts annual events including the Wall of Fame Dinner & Awards and Stars of Education celebration, which serve as major fundraising vehicles while honoring alumni and educators.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor specific programs and events, with tiered sponsorship opportunities at the Wall of Fame and other initiatives. Partners include Bank of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Complete Health, OnCue, Boeing, Love's, and others.
4. Major Gifts: The foundation receives major gifts from philanthropists, such as the $5 million gift from Pat Potts to establish the OKCPS First Choice Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and delivers community programs supporting the Oklahoma City Public Schools district. Its core offerings include the Coat-A-Kid winter coat distribution program, the Teacher Pipeline Program that helps paraprofessionals earn fully funded teaching degrees, ReadOKC literacy initiatives (traveling Book Buses and Reading Buddies mentorship), a DonorsChoose classroom-funding partnership, and annual recognition events (Wall of Fame Dinner & Awards, Stars of Education). The foundation raises money through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event fundraising, and major philanthropic gifts, and channels those resources directly to OKCPS students, teachers, and schools.

Product overview

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools operates as a nonprofit organization offering community-focused programs rather than a technology product. The foundation's portfolio includes Coat-A-Kid (winter coat distribution), Teacher Pipeline Program (teacher recruitment and retention), ReadOKC On the Go! Book Buses and Reading Buddies (literacy initiatives), a DonorsChoose partnership (classroom funding), and annual events including Wall of Fame Dinner & Awards and Stars of Education. These programs work together to support student achievement, empower educators, and build long-term success across OKCPS schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coat-A-Kid Annual winter coat distribution program providing brand-new winter coats to OKCPS students in need. Since 2016, has distributed more than 66,000 coats across the district to remove barriers to learning and boost student confidence, comfort, and attendance. Donations of $25 fund one coat.
• Teacher Pipeline Program (TPP) Program providing paraprofessionals with the opportunity to obtain a fully funded teaching degree, personalized 1:1 support, and continued employment with OKCPS while pursuing education. Has over 30 graduates teaching across OKCPS with a 93% retention rate, in partnership with University of Central Oklahoma, OSU-OKC, and Oklahoma City Community College.
• ReadOKC On the Go! Book Buses ADA-compliant traveling book buses that visit all OKCPS elementary, middle, and high schools each school year, allowing students to select books from various genres to add to their home libraries. Book buses named Stella and Percy. Nearly 90,000 books have been distributed since July 2021.
• ReadOKC Reading Buddies Volunteer program offering opportunities for positive role models to engage with small groups of students on a weekly basis, providing reading support and mentorship in OKCPS schools.
• DonorsChoose Partnership Partnership with DonorsChoose.org enabling community members to fund teacher projects. The foundation provides $150 toward each OKCPS teacher's first project of the school year through the First Donation initiative.
• Wall of Fame Dinner & Awards Annual awards ceremony celebrating distinguished OKCPS alumni, recognizing exceptional educators, and honoring community advocates. Now in its 41st year (2025), the event also raises vital support for Foundation programs and includes tiered sponsorship opportunities.
• Stars of Education Annual celebration recognizing OKCPS District Teacher of the Year finalists, outstanding principals, and support staff who make a lasting impact on students and schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coat-A-Kid has distributed more than 66,000 brand-new winter coats to OKCPS students since 2016
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bank of OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Bank of Oklahoma serves as the presenting sponsor for the Coat-A-Kid campaign and has expanded the initiative through the 'Warm Hands. Bright Futures.' glove drive. The partnership includes collecting new gloves at 15 Metro Bank of Oklahoma branch locations and Bank of Oklahoma employees volunteering at coat distribution events.
• OnCuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025OnCue has partnered with the foundation since 2022, purchasing more than 800 brand-new winter coats for students at four OKCPS elementary schools. OnCue also runs the Support Oklahoma Schools campaign where reusable cup sales generate 50-cent donations to local school districts.
• Oklahoma Complete HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Oklahoma Complete Health provided a $5,000 sponsorship that helped fund more than 500 new coats for students at Martin Luther King Elementary as part of the Coat-A-Kid initiative.
• Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Oklahoma Natural Gas sponsors the Wall of Fame event and provides $2,500 cash awards to outstanding OKCPS STEM educators along with the OKCPS Foundation.
• Love's Travel StopscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Love's partnered with the foundation on a Volunteer Day to restock the ReadOKC On the Go! Book Buses (Stella and Percy), organizing and preparing thousands of new books for distribution to students.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Boeing partners on the annual Liftoff for Learning volunteer day, with over 50 Boeing employee volunteers organizing and restocking the ReadOKC Book Buses. Boeing donated 126 book sets (hundreds of books) and over $21,000 to support ReadOKC's literacy efforts.
• University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025UCO is a key strategic partner in the Teacher Pipeline Program, providing pathways for paraprofessionals to obtain teaching degrees and certification while remaining employed with OKCPS.
• OSU-OKCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025OSU-OKC partners with the Teacher Pipeline Program to provide educational pathways for aspiring educators in the OKCPS district.
• Oklahoma City Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Oklahoma City Community College collaborates with the Teacher Pipeline Program to help paraprofessionals earn teaching degrees and certifications.
• Aces for EducationsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025Aces for Education hosts an annual Disc Golf Tournament that raised over $10,000 for the OKCPS Foundation, with proceeds supporting foundation programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nashville Public Education Foundation: Direct peer — MNPS-aligned foundation running teacher pipeline, literacy, and corporate-partnered student support programs in an urban district context.
• Dallas Education Foundation: Direct peer — K-12 district education foundation supporting Dallas ISD with comparable teacher pipeline, classroom grants, and signature fundraising events.
• Memphis Education Foundation: Direct peer — supports Memphis-Shelby County Schools with high-poverty student focus, teacher pipeline, and basic-needs programs structurally similar to OKCPS.
• Denver Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — urban K-12 district foundation running teacher recruitment, literacy, and basic-needs programs with similar corporate partner fundraising models.
• Tulsa Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — Oklahoma-based K-12 public school district foundation supporting Tulsa Public Schools with analogous teacher pipeline, literacy, and basic-needs programs in the same state.
• Pittsburgh Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — K-12 district foundation with classroom grants, teacher support, and signature fundraising events analogous to OKCPS Foundation programs.
• San Antonio Education Foundation: Direct peer — K-12 district foundation supporting San Antonio ISD with teacher pipeline, classroom funding, and signature annual gala events comparable in structure to Wall of Fame.
• Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — urban K-12 district foundation supporting IPS with teacher pipeline, literacy initiatives, and student basic-needs programs (coats/supplies).
• Foundation for OKCPS (sister-OKC analog) — n/a (same entity): Omitted; subject company itself.

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: Partial overlap — national nonprofit classroom-funding platform that the OKCPS Foundation already partners with; comparable in mission but operates at multi-district scale and serves as both collaborator and adjacent competitor for teacher-grant funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foundation-for-oklahoma-city-public-schools

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools