about us

Every child has a dream. The Petaluma Educational Foundation creates community partnerships to fulfill these dreams. PEF Grant and Scholarship programs enhance and enrich the academic experience of more than 12,000 students in Petaluma’s 38 Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 12th-grade public, charter, and not-for-profit private schools. We believe in them. We empower them. Together, we invest in their future. PEF receives no public funding. The Foundation raises funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations. In addition, PEF manages Alphabet Soup Thrift Stores with two locations in downtown Petaluma. All proceeds from Alphabet Soup benefit the mission of PEF. The Petaluma Educational Foundation is designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID is #94-2847212. Grants for Schools: Since 1983, PEF has granted more than $3,583,182 to teachers, administrators and parents to fund projects not covered in the school budget. The purpose of our Grant Program is to reward innovative academic programs and foster excellence in education for all Petaluma area students. In 2019, PEF awarded $200,614 to fund over 21 individual grants at our local schools. Scholarships for High School Graduates: The Petaluma Educational Foundation is honored to manage 65 Scholarship Programs for donors who provide the Foundation with clear criteria for selecting recipients. In 2019, we awarded $219,200 to seniors graduating from all seven Petaluma high schools, bringing the total to $3,576,435 awarded since 1990.