Cornerstone Scholarship Fund is an Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a single, clear purpose: expanding educational opportunity for Oklahoma students whose families need it most.
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.
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 child's life.
Cornerstone Scholarship Fund was founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2026 with the belief that a child's zip code and family income should not determine the quality of their 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 were incorporated as an Oklahoma nonprofit corporation on March 30, 2026, received our IRS 501(c)(3) determination, and obtained approval from the Oklahoma Tax Commission as a Scholarship Granting Organization. We operate under a formal set of bylaws, financial controls, and a non-donor-directed scholarship policy that protects both donors and students.
We are headquartered in Tulsa and serve students statewide. Our scholarship program is designed to reach the families who need it most — with 60% or more of our scholarship dollars directed to students in the lowest income tier.
Cornerstone Scholarship Fund is governed by a board of directors that oversees all scholarship operations, financial controls, and compliance with state and federal requirements.
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.
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.
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.
We hold ourselves to the same standard we hope to support. Our scholarship selection process is rigorous and fair — evaluating financial need, academic standing, and personal circumstances.
Cornerstone Scholarship Fund meets all statutory requirements to operate as an Oklahoma Scholarship Granting Organization and issue tax credit certificates to donors.
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.