TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Helping ALL Youth Thrive in Decatur

The mission of the Decatur Education Foundation is to enable the full potential of our young people. We believe that every child deserves equal access to quality education and the opportunity to thrive.

More About What We Do

NEWS AND EVENTS

DEF Scholarship Applications are now open!

ATTENTION: graduating DHS Seniors and parents/guardians of graduating DHS Seniors: Applications for DEF's 4-year renewable scholarships are now open. All application materials are due by April 15th. Please email info@decatureducationfoundation.org if you have any questions. Application can be found here

Learning Grows in the F.AVE Garden!

Fifth grade teacher Ms. Wise of F.AVE Upper Elementary was awarded a DEF Teacher Innovation Grant recently to reinvigorate the school garden. Ms. Wise manages the school garden and has already begun fall garden planting with her students. Over the last few weeks, they have planted…

No Ordinary Joe

A Coffeehouse Music Series Benefiting Joe's Fund In support of DEF's behavioral health initiative Joe's Fund, we invite you to our next No Ordinary Joe event on Thursday, May 2nd at 7pm at Waller's Coffee House. The evening of live music will feature students from…

STEP UP CIRCLE for CORPORATE & BUSINESS PARTNERS

Visionary Level — $20,000+

Innovator Level — $10,000 to $19,999

Scholar Level — $5,000 to $9,999

Mentor Level — $2,500 to $4,999

Join the Decatur Education Foundation‘s prestigious Step Up Circle and make a direct impact on the lives of Decatur’s students. Check out our complete listing of our Step Up Circle partners!

Join the Step Up Circle Today!

LATEST IMPACT STORY

DHS Best Buddies Club Focuses on Fostering New Friendships

Last school year, Decatur High School students founded a chapter of Best Buddies International as an expansion of the existing…

Mentoring

Most of us think we don’t have that much to give, but that’s not what’s most important. You don’t have to be a fount of wisdom; you just have to show up.

Mentor, Decatur Housing Authority Decatur Education Foundation

Essential Needs

The Decatur Education Foundation's Lighten the Load program and other initiatives have been essential to supporting social work in the City Schools of Decatur. Our partnership has allowed us to reach families in need, remove barriers, and support school success for many of our students.

District Lead Social Worker City Schools of Decatur

Arts-Infusion Grants

At Winnona Park, DEF's Arts-Infusion Grant allowed us to delve into a musical journey with Elise Witt, an internationally known performer, songwriter, and linguist. Students studied insects commonly found in the Winnona Park school garden and composed songs about the insects with verses in English and Spanish. And the first-graders composed songs about chimney swifts. Winnona Park was blessed to have benefitted from DEF's Arts-Infusion Grant!

Teacher, Winnona Park Elementary School City Schools of Decatur

Scholarships

While in college, changing my major three times was not an issue because I had the support of the DEF scholarship! It's always been a backbone throughout my college life because I would have been stuck majoring in an unfulfilling field without it.

Scholarship Recipient, Patrick Family Foundation Decatur Education Foundation

Mentoring

Every Monday afternoon, I hurry to the DHA Community Resource Center to meet with my mentee Tamiya. We discuss serious and silly issues, try unique snacks from around the world, swap school horror stories, offer solicited advice, study, listen, laugh often and freely, and daydream endlessly.

Mentor, Decatur Housing Authority Decatur Education Foundation

View All Testimonials

The Decatur Education Foundation has supported the arts in our school through the Arts-Infusion Grants by providing us with a set of steel drums and a set of ukuleles so that all of our students can learn to play a musical instrument. DEF is always there supporting our work!

Principal, Westchester Elementary School

City Schools of Decatur

Decatur Education Foundation provides resources for families in need and hope, joy, and encouragement for everyone they serve.

McKinney-Vento Liaison

City Schools of Decatur

I am incredibly thankful to the Decatur Education Foundation for their response to emergency requests when there are no other options for support. DEF’s response is always, “How can we help, and when is it needed?”

McKinney-Vento Liaison

City Schools of Decatur

Arts-Infusion Grants

Classroom Support, Teacher Innovation Grant

Essential Needs

Lighten the Load

Decatur Education Foundation provides resources for families in need and hope, joy, and encouragement for everyone they serve.

Essential Needs

Lighten the Load

Scholarships

As a journalism major with a concentration in public relations and a minor in communication, I now have the opportunity to be part of many different occupational fields. And that’s just the start of it! I hope to further my education and attain a social work or counseling degree.

Scholarships

I want to use my bachelor’s degree in journalism and minor in communications to help immigrants and refugees in the U.S. assimilate and prosper. As an immigrant, I want to use my knowledge and experiences to help those in the same circumstances as I was 16 years ago.

Essential Needs

Behavioral Health, Lighten the Load

You have no idea how much this has helped our students. Today we were able to provide breakfast for students who hadn’t eaten. DEF and Mr. Goode are saving the day and school year!

Innovation in Education

Classroom Support

Getting this Teacher Innovation Grant from DEF to create a Game Center has been so impactful on meaningful play in our school community.

Innovation in Education

Classroom Support, Teacher Innovation Grant

Decatur Education Foundation supports special projects that make our schools stand apart from the rest. They allow teachers to imagine and implement innovative and creative projects that inspire students. Teachers with access to resources are more likely to ask, “What is possible?” Thanks to the DEF, our teachers don’t ask “whether” but “how?”

Principal, Westchester Elementary School

City Schools of Decatur

Decatur Education Foundation provides resources for families in need and hope, joy, and encouragement for everyone they serve.

McKinney-Vento Liaison

City Schools of Decatur

McKinney-Vento Liaison

City Schools of Decatur

Arts-Infusion Grants

Essential Needs

Decatur Education Foundation provides resources for families in need and hope, joy, and encouragement for everyone they serve.

Essential Needs

Scholarships

Essential Needs

You have no idea how much this has helped our students. Today we were able to provide breakfast for students who hadn’t eaten. DEF and Mr. Goode are saving the day and school year!

Innovation in Education

Getting this Teacher Innovation Grant from DEF to create a Game Center has been so impactful on meaningful play in our school community.

Innovation in Education

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Help every child thrive in Decatur – donate your talent and your time, offer your expertise, and support us financially. Thank you!

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Help us connect the dots – donate your talent and your time, offer your expertise, and support us financially.