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The school year might be winding down, but our work is far from over. With you at our side, we’ve made a powerful impact this year. Now, we need your help to keep the momentum going. Durham and our public school students, educators, staff, and families are counting on us—and you.

Duke University’s head football coach Manny Diaz has chosen the DPS Foundation to receive the winnings from his participation in the 18th annual Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament.

Learn more about our April DPS Alumni of the Month, Jokyra Scott (Southern High School)

Our executive director, Erika Wilkins, shares an important organizational update.

La resistencia incluye nuestro derecho a la alegría: una reclamación de la felicidad y la autoexpresión que todos merecemos, a pesar de los intentos de arrebatárnosla. Hoy nos enorgullece mostrar las obras de Roan Boucher y otros artistas locales a través de nuestra campaña de arte comunitario “Standing Strong/Estamos de Pie.”</p>

Learn more about our March DPS Alumni of the Month, Danielle Purifoy (Northern High School)!

El presidente Trump ha firmado una orden ejecutiva que pide disolver el Departamento de Educación. Lea nuestra respuesta sobre la razon por la cual Durham necesita el DOE y cómo puede actuar.

President Trump has signed an executive order calling to dismantle the Department of Education. Read more about why Durham needs the DOE and how you can act.

Student U is now overseeing and managing the Community Schools program for DPS. This will allow Student U to continue expanding this promising model throughout Central North Carolina.

The new fund seeks to cover the certification costs for up to 50 drivers.

Resistance includes our right to joy — a reclamation of the happiness and self-expression that we all deserve, in spite of attempts to take it away. Today we are proud to showcase the artwork of Roan Boucher and other local artists through our “Standing Strong/Estamos de Pie” community art campaign.

Born and raised in Durham, Erika Wilkins left home to pursue a career in education. In 2022 she returned to serve at the DPS Foundation, an organization she’s led as the executive director of since 2023.

Las escuelas deben ser lugares donde cada educador esté seguro, cada estudiante pertenezca y cada familia sea tratada con dignidad. Pero las recientes órdenes ejecutivas federales dirigidas contra los inmigrantes están poniendo en peligro esa seguridad y tienen el potencial de perturbar la vida de la comunidad a todos los niveles, incluidas las aulas de clases.

At Durham Public Schools Foundation, we believe every child, every person—no matter where they come from or how they got here—deserve to feel safe, supported, and valued. Schools must be places where every educator is safe, every student belongs and every family is treated with dignity.&nbsp;</p>

Learn more about our January DPS Alumni of the Month, Audrey Hawkins (Southern High School ‘07)

As of Jan. 1, 2025, DPSF has welcomed Durham nonprofit Crayons2Calculators (C2C) into the organization as an official program. This provides Durham teachers with a one-stop shop for needed school supplies.

Learn more about our December DPS Alumni of the Month, Sonie Guseh Osagie (Jordan High School)

<p>Learn more about our November DPS Alumni of the Month, Pilar Hurtado (JD Clement ‘22)!</p>

On Friday, the school board met to determine next steps for classified staff pay. The passion and dedication displayed by our community members in that meeting was undeniable, and we share in the disappointment that key issues were not fully addressed. 

Durham is going through an incredibly challenging time. Hear from DPS Foundation’s Executive Director about the current crisis.