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

Tour deCatur 2025

March 15, 2025 Tour deCatur is back for its 23rd year and will include the 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run, the adorable Tot Trot (for the 4 and under crowd), and the NEW "None-Run" for supporters who would prefer to not get out their running shoes!…

Step Up Circle

For more than 20 years, the Decatur community has come together through DEF to help our kids and teens overcome obstacles in their path of learning. DEF’s Step Up Circle represents the commitment of a special group of supporters – a group that is the…

Let’s Talk About Suicide

Through Joe's Fund (Decatur Education Foundation's Behavioral Health Fund), we are offering a community-wide event on Suicide Prevention on Monday, Feb. 24th from 6-7:30pm at the Decatur High School Media Center (the entrance is near the bus loop on Commerce Drive). Speakers will include Erin…

DEF awards 14 Teacher Innovation Grants

This spring, DEF awarded 14 Teacher Innovation Grants totaling $10,000! These grants include: College Heights Back to the Classics: Refreshing Beloved Children's Picture Books - Leslie Joiner Westchester Elementary Bringing Stories to Live - the Yoto Mini Experience - Brooke Nation and Sarah Chandler Winnona…

LATEST IMPACT STORY

students from Talley Street Upper Elementary School posing with the books they chose at the true book fair.

Talley’s “True” Book Fair Ensures Equity AND Fosters Positive Reading Culture for ALL

“My heart is SOARING! My mom NEVER lets me get books from the book fair!"* While they are anticipated events…

Mentoring

Mentoring for me is akin to what Newton claimed about achievement: ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ Being a mentor has allowed me to pass along what I have seen. Each person has seen different perspectives in life, and we each have a moment to share experiences that can change the life of one or many.

Volunteer Decatur Education Foundation

Academic Support

I am thankful for the work that the Decatur Education Foundation puts into making the City Schools of Decatur a better place for teachers and students.

Band Director, Decatur High School City Schools of Decatur

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!

Counselor at the Decatur High School Student Center City Schools of Decatur

Behavioral Health

The pressures and stresses faced by high school students these days are unprecedented. Fortunately, in Decatur, much-needed mental health services and addiction counseling are now being provided to our students by the Decatur Education Foundation and the City Schools of Decatur.

Community Member City 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

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.