Oklahoma Arts Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS EXPERIENCES THAT DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL TALENT AND INSPIRE A LIFELONG PASSION FOR THE ARTS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 89
- Highest pay
- $114,412, president &
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $1.3 million spent. THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE (OSAI) IS AN INTENSIVE, TWO-WEEK RESIDENTIAL ACADEMY FOR SERIOUS, DISCIPLINED AND MOTIVATED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGES 14 TO 18. EVERY YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 230 STUDENTS ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE, STATEWIDE AUDITION PROCESS TO STUDY WITH NATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS IN THE FIELDS OF ACTING, CREATIVE WRITING, DANCE, ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, DRAWING AND PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND FILM AND VIDEO. THE PROGRAM'S MULTI-DISIPLINARY STRUCTURE SETS OSAI APART FROM OTHER ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. IN ADDITION TO STUDYING A CHOSEN FIELD FOR AT LEAST SIX HOURS A DAY, STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO A RICH VARIETY OF ART FORMS AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS AND FACULTY ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN PERFORMANCES, FACULTY LECTURES, GALLERY OPENINGS, POETRY READINGS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE TALENT AND CREATIVITY OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY, COMBINED WITH THE MYSTIQUE OF THE QUARTZ MOUNTAIN AREA IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA, CREATE A POWERFUL SYNERGY. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF OSAI INCLUDE: 1) DURING THE TWO WEEKS, STUDENTS WILL FOCUS INTENSIVELY ON THEIR OWN ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE WHILE GAINING A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF AND APPRECIATION FOR OTHER ART FORMS; 2) SMALL CLASS SIZES WILL ENSURE A TRUE MENTOR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS AND WORLD-RENOWNED FACULTY ARTISTS WITH WHOM THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE CHANCE TO WORK; 3) STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP CONNECTIONS THAT RESULT IN LONG-TERM FRIENDSHIPS AND A NATIONWIDE NETWORK; 4) STUDENTS WILL SHOW IMPROVED CONFIDENCE AFTER THE PROGRAM AND A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISCIPLINE REQUIRED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR CHOSEN ART FORM; 5) STUDENTS WILL BECOME FUTURE AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTS, AND THEY WILL GAIN AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF ALL ART FORMS; 6) BY PROVIDING PERFORMANCES, LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, OSAI WILL PROMOTE AWARENESS OF AND INTEREST IN THE ARTS BY ALL OKLAHOMANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RESIDING IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA. OAI IS COMMITTED TO RAISING FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL OSAI STUDENTS. TOUR DE QUARTZ IS A STATEWIDE OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT SERVES LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE ENTIRE STATE BY SHOWCASING STUDENT ARTWORK PRODUCED DURING OSAI. TOUR DE QUARTZ CELEBRATES OKLAHOMA'S ARTISTIC TALENT, RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT OAI AND ITS PROGRAMS, AND HELPS DEVELOP ARTS AUDIENCES IN MANY COMMUNITIES. THE OKLAHOMA SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE (OSAI) IS AN INTENSIVE, TWO-WEEK RESIDENTIAL ACADEMY FOR SERIOUS, DISCIPLINED AND MOTIVATED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGES 14 TO 18. EVERY YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 230 STUDENTS ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE, STATEWIDE AUDITION PROCESS TO STUDY WITH NATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS IN THE FIELDS OF ACTING, CREATIVE WRITING, DANCE, ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, DRAWING AND PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND FILM AND VIDEO. THE PROGRAM'S MULTI-DISIPLINARY STRUCTURE SETS OSAI APART FROM OTHER ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. IN ADDITION TO STUDYING A CHOSEN FIELD FOR AT LEAST SIX HOURS A DAY, STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO A RICH VARIETY OF ART FORMS AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS AND FACULTY ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN PERFORMANCES, FACULTY LECTURES, GALLERY OPENINGS, POETRY READINGS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE TALENT AND CREATIVITY OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY, COMBINED WITH THE MYSTIQUE OF THE QUARTZ MOUNTAIN AREA IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA, CREATE A POWERFUL SYNERGY. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF OSAI INCLUDE: 1) DURING THE TWO WEEKS, STUDENTS WILL FOCUS INTENSIVELY ON THEIR OWN ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE WHILE GAINING A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF AND APPRECIATION FOR OTHER ART FORMS; 2) SMALL CLASS SIZES WILL ENSURE A TRUE MENTOR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS AND WORLD-RENOWNED FACULTY ARTISTS WITH WHOM THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE CHANCE TO WORK; 3) STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP CONNECTIONS THAT RESULT IN LONG-TERM FRIENDSHIPS AND A NATIONWIDE NETWORK; 4) STUDENTS WILL SHOW IMPROVED CONFIDENCE AFTER THE PROGRAM AND A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISCIPLINE REQUIRED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR CHOSEN ART FORM; 5) STUDENTS WILL BECOME FUTURE AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTS, AND THEY WILL GAIN AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF ALL ART FORMS; 6) BY PROVIDING PERFORMANCES, LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, OSAI WILL PROMOTE AWARENESS OF AND INTEREST IN THE ARTS BY ALL OKLAHOMANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RESIDING IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA. OAI IS COMMITTED TO RAISING FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL OSAI STUDENTS. TOUR DE QUARTZ IS A STATEWIDE OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT SERVES LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE ENTIRE STATE BY SHOWCASING STUDENT ARTWORK PRODUCED DURING OSAI. TOUR DE QUARTZ CELEBRATES OKLAHOMA'S ARTISTIC TALENT, RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT OAI AND ITS PROGRAMS, AND HELPS DEVELOP ARTS AUDIENCES IN MANY COMMUNITIES.
- $255,905 spent. THE OKLAHOMA FALL ARTS INSTITUTE (OFAI) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE SAME HIGH CALIBER AS OSAI. OFAI CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF INTENSE, HANDS-ON WEEKEND WORKSHOPS IN THE LITERARY, VISUAL, AND PERFORMING ARTS FOR ADULTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING ARTS INSTRUCTION FOR ALL ABILITY LEVELS, OFAI IS DESIGNED TO OFFER RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS. BASED ON PARTICIPANT EVALUATIONS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ARTS INSTITUTE INDIRECTLY SERVES OVER 50,000 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR TEACHERS' PARTICIPATION IN OFAI. PARTICIPANTS ENHANCE THEIR OWN ARTISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND BROADEN THEIR INTELLECTUAL HORIZONS, PROVIDING A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR THEIR STUDENTS BY ENRICHING THE CLASSROOM LEARNING EXPERIENCE. EVERY YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 300 TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY ARTISTS ATTEND OFAI, INCLUDING OVER 275 PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS FROM 200 SCHOOL SITES STATEWIDE. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF OFAI INCLUDE: 1) PARTICIPANTS WILL ENHANCE THEIR OWN ARTISTIC, INTELLECTUAL, AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD OF STUDY; 2) EDUCATORS WILL RETURN TO THEIR CLASSROOMS EAGER TO SHARE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND PEERS, AND THEY WILL BECOME BETTER EDUCATORS, ARTS ADVOCATES, AND CIVIC LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES; 3) EDUCATORS WILL RECEIVE TAKE-HOME CURRICULUM MATERIALS THAT WILL HELP THEM TO INTEGRATE NEW IDEAS INTO THEIR DAILY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, THUS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OKLAHOMA'S K-12 STUDENTS AT A TIME IN WHICH ARTS FUNDING IN THE SCHOOLS IS SUFFERING; 4) PUBLIC EDUCATORS WILL RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT FOR PARTICIPATING IN OFAI. OAI IS COMMITTED TO RAISING FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS WHO ATTEND OFAI. THE OKLAHOMA FALL ARTS INSTITUTE (OFAI) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE SAME HIGH CALIBER AS OSAI. OFAI CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF INTENSE, HANDS-ON WEEKEND WORKSHOPS IN THE LITERARY, VISUAL, AND PERFORMING ARTS FOR ADULTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING ARTS INSTRUCTION FOR ALL ABILITY LEVELS, OFAI IS DESIGNED TO OFFER RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS. BASED ON PARTICIPANT EVALUATIONS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ARTS INSTITUTE INDIRECTLY SERVES OVER 50,000 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR TEACHERS' PARTICIPATION IN OFAI. PARTICIPANTS ENHANCE THEIR OWN ARTISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND BROADEN THEIR INTELLECTUAL HORIZONS, PROVIDING A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR THEIR STUDENTS BY ENRICHING THE CLASSROOM LEARNING EXPERIENCE. EVERY YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 300 TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY ARTISTS ATTEND OFAI, INCLUDING OVER 275 PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS FROM 200 SCHOOL SITES STATEWIDE. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF OFAI INCLUDE: 1) PARTICIPANTS WILL ENHANCE THEIR OWN ARTISTIC, INTELLECTUAL, AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD OF STUDY; 2) EDUCATORS WILL RETURN TO THEIR CLASSROOMS EAGER TO SHARE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND PEERS, AND THEY WILL BECOME BETTER EDUCATORS, ARTS ADVOCATES, AND CIVIC LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES; 3) EDUCATORS WILL RECEIVE TAKE-HOME CURRICULUM MATERIALS THAT WILL HELP THEM TO INTEGRATE NEW IDEAS INTO THEIR DAILY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, THUS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OKLAHOMA'S K-12 STUDENTS AT A TIME IN WHICH ARTS FUNDING IN THE SCHOOLS IS SUFFERING; 4) PUBLIC EDUCATORS WILL RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT FOR PARTICIPATING IN OFAI. OAI IS COMMITTED TO RAISING FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS WHO ATTEND OFAI.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Oklahoma Blood Institute (Oklahoma City, OK), EIN 73-1008735. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.