DSEF School Board Retreat Presentation

 Impact of the Foundation on
      DCSD Schools

Presentation: DCSD School Board Retreat


                  Presenters:

       Mr. Munir Meghjani, Board Chair

   Ms. Kymberlee Estis, Foundation Executive




                                               1
        Foundation Milestones

                                    Defined Focus areas: Literacy,       Grantmaking:
          Received Nonprofit
                                    Teacher Training, Mental Health,     Environmental Field Trips
          Status; Confirmed
                                    and Physical Wellness                & Microgrants in Focus
          Board of Directors
                                                                         Areas


2023- 2024                                                        2025                       2026
                                        2025
               2024- 2025                                                    2025- 2026

School Board                   Launched Two                    Established                 Expanded
Resolution-                    Fundraising Campaigns:          Grantmaking                 Stakeholder and
Bylaws and                     Fernbank Brick Walk             Committee                   Community
Governance                     & State of the District                                     Engagement




                                                                                                             2
Foundation Accomplishments
 7 microgrant projects and 5 environmental grants funded in 2025-26,
  supporting 200+ educators and over 5200 students

 Committed over $55,000 to innovative and inclusive funding for schools
  in 2025-26, with more grantmaking in the pipeline

 Participated in over 50 community engagement events and meetings
  across the District, expanding our partnerships and engaging the
  philanthropic community

 Hosted approximately 100 members of community organizations in a
  “Community Reception” at State of the District, offering tickets to
  nonprofit partners




                                                                           3
         Fundraising – by Year & Source
                                     Funds Raised, SY24-25 & SY25-26

121000
111000
101000
91000
81000
71000
61000
51000
41000
31000
21000
11000
 1000
         Brick Campaign       Monthly Giving         SOTD 2025         Grant Funding   Total

                          SY 24-25 Funding Sources        SY25-26 Funding Sources




                                                                                               4
Microgrants Program
  7 microgrant projects funded, to encourage classroom innovation across
   focus areas: improving literacy, providing teacher training, and supporting
   mental health and physical well-being.

  $10,500 in microgrants awarded in Fall 2026; Additional projects to be
   awarded in Spring/Summer 2026 for Fall.
  Schoolwide impact grants expected to benefit 4000+ students.
 Funded schools include:
 • Redan Elementary School
 • Princeton Elementary School
 • Evansdale Elementary School
 • Tucker Middle School
 • Redan Middle School
 • McNair High School


                                                                                 5
Opportunities
  Inform schools about grant funding and sharing lessons learned
  from funded grants.

  Create a resource library based on Year 1 grants, to expand impact
  of Foundation grantmaking.

  Convene grantees for information and data exchange about
  literacy, teacher training, and wellness.

  Align grantees with initiatives across the District.

  Encourage schools within a cluster to collaborate on grants – from
  application to findings.


                                                                        6
How can you help?
 Share the work of the Foundation to address funding gaps- and
 showcase collaborations across CEIP

 Share Foundation grant opportunities with schools in each School
 Board district

 Identify stakeholders and potential partners for CEIP overall,
 including the Foundation

 Include Foundation in conversations about economic
 development and workforce transition programs for DCSD
 students, graduates, and families


                                                                     7
DSEF – What’s Next

                 Expanding the
                 Foundation’s
Finalizing the                        Showcasing success
                 Network with
Foundation’s                          stories across the
                 Stakeholders –
Strategic Plan                        District
                 including other
                 nonprofits

Reaching more    Aligning Board       Building Alliances in
schools with     Members with         philanthropic
grantmaking      Georgia Industries   community




                                                              8
                      Thank you
                                   Munir Meghjani       Sands Investment Group              Chair
                                   Martha Pacini        Leo Daly – Architecture/ Engineering Vice Chair
                                   Paige Perkins        Community Associations Institute    Secretary



   DeKalb Schools Educational
Foundation EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
                                               Mike Carnathan        Neighborhood Nexus
                                               Genesis Castro        Deloitte Consulting
                                               Robert Davis, Jr.     Burlington Corp. / Grantmaking Comm Chair
                                               Sadie Dennard         Dennard Development Group
                                               Dionne McGee, Esq     City of Atlanta
                                               Steve Overcash        Georgia United Credit Union
                                               Jennifer Shultis      PNC Bank
                                               Andrea Sieber         Georgia Power/ Fundraising Comm Chair
  DeKalb Schools Educational Foundation
   BOARD OF DIRECTORS & EXECUTIVE



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