The O'Donnell Foundation Advanced Placement Arts Incentive Program™ is based on the College Board's nationally respected AP® arts courses which include AP Art History, AP Studio Art (Drawing, 2-D Design, 3-D Design), and AP Music Theory. These rigorous, college level courses prepare students for college and beyond.

In 1994, the O'Donnell Foundation created the AP Arts Incentive Program to motivate high school students' interest and success in AP Studio Art and AP Art History. The AP Music Theory program was added in 1998. Recognizing the need to better prepare students for AP Studio Art courses, the Foundation initiated a Pre-AP training program for vertical teams of studio art teachers in middle, junior high, and senior high school in the fall of 2005. During the fall of 2006, an innovative interdisciplinary program was developed to build horizontal teams of teachers across disciplines (AP English, History, and Foreign Languages) to work cooperatively to better prepare students for AP Art History. 

In 2009, schools participating in the program ranked #1 in Texas in exams passed in AP Music Theory, Art History, Drawing, and 3D Design.  On June 1, 2010, the O’Donnell Foundation began a three year AP Fine Arts Incentive Program in 13 Dallas area senior high schools; selected schools offer all three AP Fine Arts courses: AP Art History, Music Theory, and Studio Art. The program will conclude in June 2013.

In the 2012-2013 school year, more than 1,499 students, 41 AP Studio Art and Art History teachers,13 AP Music Theory teachers, and 49 Pre-AP teachers from 13 Dallas-area senior high schools will participate in the program.

Since 1994 more than 11,000 arts and music students across North Texas and as far west as Abilene have benefited from the O'Donnell Foundation's AP incentive programs.