What Petaluma Educational Foundation does

Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation incorporated on September 30, 1982 in Petaluma, California, dedicated to supplementing TK-12 education funding in the Petaluma area. Founded in response to major California school budget deficits, PEF is 100% community-supported and receives no government funding. Its core programs are two: (1) PEF Impact Grants, curriculum-based awards up to $15,000 per grant supporting literacy, STEAM, arts, athletics, health, and student well-being across 35 public, charter, and not-for-profit private schools; and (2) the PEF Scholarship Program, which administers 100+ donor-funded scholarship funds for graduating seniors pursuing higher education, disbursed via the AwardSpring application platform. Cumulative distribution since founding exceeds $10.8 million, with 12,000+ students enriched annually.

PEF operates five revenue streams: individual and corporate donations (with suggested monthly and one-time tiers), the Alphabet Soup Benefit Thrift Stores (two downtown Petaluma retail locations wholly owned since 2009 after a 1994 joint venture with Petaluma Boys & Girls Club), annual fundraising events headlined by the BASH gala (raised ~$330,000 in 2025), planned giving vehicles including wills and IRA rollovers, and managed endowment funds (over $5.8M) administered with Exchange Bank Wealth Management. The annual Partners for Education program secures four $30,000 corporate sponsorships (Clover Sonoma, Exchange Bank, Petaluma Market, Healthy Petaluma District & Foundation), with distribution channels spanning an online donation portal, mail and phone intake, two physical thrift stores, and self-serve grant/scholarship application portals.

Governance rests with a board of approximately 20 directors plus Ex-Officio seats held by district superintendents, supported by a small executive team led by Executive Director Maureen Highland, Program Director Katy Verke, and Accounting Manager Sharon Kimball, alongside Marketing & Event Coordinator Liz Derammelaere and Alphabet Soup Store Manager Monica Zimmerman. The organization has no technology platform, no proprietary software, and no AI/ML components, operating as a relationship-driven community intermediary between donors, schools, and students in a defined micro-geography.

Name

Petaluma Educational Foundation

Legal name

Petaluma Educational Foundation

Website

https://pefinfo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Petaluma Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that awards curriculum-based Impact Grants to 35 local schools and administers 100+ scholarship funds for graduating seniors, supported entirely by community donations, thrift store revenue, and corporate partnerships in the Petaluma area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Educational grants
• Student scholarships
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Endowment management
• Community education funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Petaluma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: PEF receives monetary donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Donors can give one-time or recurring monthly contributions. Minimum managed fund establishment is $250, with endowed funds starting at $10,000.
2. Alphabet Soup Thrift Stores: PEF operates two downtown Petaluma thrift stores (Alphabet Soup Clothing & Alphabet Soup Home) that generate revenue supporting educational programs. These stores are run by dedicated volunteers.
3. Annual Events (BASH): Annual fundraising event featuring auctions, sponsorships, and ticket sales. The BASH event generates significant revenue for schools and students, with the 2025 event raising approximately $330,000.
4. Planned Giving and Endowments: PEF receives planned gifts including wills, trusts, gift annuities, insurance, and IRA charitable rollovers. These create lasting legacies for local education.
5. Managed Funds Administration: PEF manages over $5 million in endowed and invested funds with donor-directed allocations. The investment portfolio is managed by Exchange Bank Wealth Management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Petaluma Educational Foundation is a community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds educational opportunities in the Petaluma area through curriculum-based Impact Grants to local schools (up to $15,000 each) and scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education or vocational training. PEF also operates two Alphabet Soup thrift stores as a social enterprise to generate program revenue, manages over $5 million in endowed and invested funds on behalf of donors, and administers planned giving and Partners for Education corporate sponsorship programs.

Product overview

Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) operates as a community-supported nonprofit organization offering educational support programs rather than a technology product. The organization provides two primary programs: Impact Grants that fund curriculum-based educational initiatives across 35 local schools (literacy, STEAM, arts, athletics, health), and a Scholarship Program that awards financial assistance to graduating seniors. PEF also operates Alphabet Soup Thrift Stores as a social enterprise generating revenue for schools, manages endowed funds for donors, facilitates planned giving arrangements, and hosts the annual BASH fundraising event. The organization is 100% community-supported and does not receive government funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alphabet Soup: Thrift stores operated by PEF - Alphabet Soup Home (home decor, furniture, books, kitchen & linens at 203 Western Avenue) and Alphabet Soup Clothing Boutique (women's, men's & children's clothing, accessories & shoes at 217 Western Avenue). Both stores benefit local families, students, and schools.
• Fund the Future

Products and services

• PEF Impact Grants
• PEF Scholarship Program
• Alphabet Soup Thrift Stores
• Managed Funds
• Planned Giving
• BASH Annual Fundraiser
• Partners for Education Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed over $10.8 million to Petaluma students and schools since 1982
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• X˙CORE PetalumaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2026Fitness studio partnership offering exclusive class packages to PEF supporters. X˙CORE donates 20% of revenue from special promotion sales to PEF, creating a health-focused fundraising opportunity.
• Clover SonomacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024Annual Partner for Education since 2012. Clover Sonoma provides financial support through the $30,000 annual partnership package, receiving year-round acknowledgment, logo placement on promotional materials, and recognition at PEF events including the BASH and Scholarship Reception.
• Exchange BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024Annual Partner for Education and Investment Advisor. Exchange Bank provides financial sponsorship through the annual $30,000 partnership and manages PEF's investment portfolio and endowment funds through Exchange Bank Wealth Management, overseen by the PEF Investment Advisory Committee.
• Healthy Petaluma District & FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Annual Partner for Education collaborating on community health and education initiatives. PEF featured in HPDF community video and partners on programs like 'Healthy Habits, Healthy Screens' addressing social media literacy.
• Petaluma MarketcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2024Annual Partner for Education providing financial support through the $30,000 partnership package with year-round brand visibility and event sponsorship benefits.
• Lions & Tigers & HairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business selected PEF as a July fundraising partner. The salon donates a portion of proceeds from signature 'Amer the Gamer' sandwiches and merchandise to support local education through PEF.
• MelaleucaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShopping rewards program where Melaleuca customers can link their loyalty cards to contribute a percentage of purchases to PEF. Group ID 7376865 for enrollment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Berkeley Public Schools Fund: Long-running K-12 education foundation funding public school programs and student scholarships via community donations, very similar structure to PEF.
• San Francisco Education Fund: Urban education foundation that mobilizes private donations to fund classroom grants and scholarships in public schools — same operating model, broader metro area.
• Santa Rosa Education Foundation: Sonoma County peer providing grants and scholarships to local schools and students; comparable community-supported funding model serving a slightly larger district.
• Napa Valley Education Foundation: Local education foundation funding classroom innovation and scholarships in Napa Valley schools — same nonprofit grantmaking + scholarship model as PEF.
• Sonoma Valley Education Foundation: A neighboring Sonoma County education foundation that raises and distributes funds to local K-12 schools and students through grants and scholarships, structurally identical to PEF's model.
• Cotati-Rohnert Park Education Foundation: Adjacent Sonoma County education foundation supporting local public schools via community donations and grants — a near-perfect regional parallel to PEF.
• San Rafael Education Foundation: Bay Area nonprofit that raises private funds to enrich public school programs and scholarships, directly comparable in scope and activities to PEF.
• Marin Education Foundation: Bay Area community education foundation providing scholarships and school grants, comparable to PEF in mission, structure, and donor-supported model.

Others

• AwardSpring (scholarship management software): Platform vendor providing the scholarship application portal PEF uses; thematically related as enabling technology for community education foundations.

Broad incumbents

• Sonoma County Community Foundation: Regional community foundation with broader philanthropic scope (arts, health, education, environment) that also administers scholarship and grant funds — a broader-incumbent analog.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pefproud
• Facebookfacebook.com/PetalumaEducationalFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petaluma-educational-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/pefproud

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Petaluma Educational Foundation