Women football players in uniforms warming up on a field before a game.

San Diego Nonprofit · Ages 12–18 · Boys & Girls

Where Opportunity Builds Leaders.

Athletics is the entry point. Leadership is the destination.

Opportunity Academy is a year-round program for student-athletes from 8th grade through their first year of college. Through athletics-based mentorship, financial literacy, career readiness, social-emotional learning, and service, we help young people build confidence, relationships, and real-world skills for life beyond the game.

Opportunity Academy student-athletes lining up on the field during a game
Year-roundMentorship & programming
17student-athletes in our first cohort
11 of 17on full or partial financial assistance
235+hours of programming this season
5pillars that build the whole person
Discover more about OA

WHERE OPPORTUNITY BUILDS LEADERS.

Athletics is the entry point. Confidence, leadership, mentorship, and life readiness are the mission.

What Is Opportunity Academy?

Opportunity Academy is a San Diego nonprofit building confident, capable young leaders, ages 12 to 18, through athletics, mentorship, and real-world life skills. Athletics gets students in the door. What happens next is the real program.

One Program, Five Pillars

Every OA student moves through the same five-pillar model: Financial Literacy, Athletics-Based Mentorship, Career Readiness, Social-Emotional Learning, and Service. It runs year-round: not a single season, not a single sport.

The FACSS Model

  • Financial Literacy icon

    Financial Literacy

    Budgeting, saving, real-world money skills

  • Athletics-Based Mentorship icon

    Athletics-Based Mentorship

    Discipline, confidence, teamwork

  • Career Readiness icon

    Career Readiness

    Exposure, mentors, real opportunities

  • Social-Emotional Learning icon

    Social-Emotional Learning

    Confidence, resilience, support

  • Service icon

    Service

    Leadership through community action

Our Pilot Year, In Real Numbers

We’re in our first full program year, proving the model with a lean, founder-supported budget before we scale. Real numbers, not projections:

  • A cohort of student-athletes training and learning together year-round

  • Five FACSS pillars delivered every week, not just during the season

  • Financial Assistance available to every family who needs it

We’re building this the right way: small, intentional, and sustainable, before we grow.

Built for Every Student-Athlete

OA serves boys and girls ages 12 to 18, from 8th grade through their first year of college, across San Diego County, with intentional focus on girls and young women, first-generation students, foster and transitional youth, and families facing real barriers to access.

And through our Always OA program, we stay with our graduates throughout all four years — whether college, trade school, or any continued education path.

Two Ways to Start

Student-athlete or parent? Join OA to explore enrollment options and apply for Financial Assistance. Ready to support OA? Give, partner, or sponsor a cohort.

Talent Is Everywhere. Opportunity Should Be Too.

Your gift funds real access: tournaments, mentorship, Financial Assistance, and the everyday cost of showing up for a kid who’s ready to lead.

Follow Along on Instagram

Practices, service projects, and student wins from our first cohort, posted as they happen.