North Thurston Education Foundation

About Us

The North Thurston Education Foundation (NTEF) is an independent, community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Lacey, Washington. Our mission is to mobilize the resources necessary to enrich programs, provide basic needs, and enhance educational opportunities for the students and staff of North Thurston Public Schools. Our vision is that every student, regardless of their financial situation, has the opportunity to excel and achieve their dreams.
Lacey, WA has a very diverse population and a large number of soldiers, and their families chose Lacey as their home. In the 2023-24 school year, North Thurston Public Schools served over 14,500 students, with nearly half of them (6,449) relying on the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and 1,024 students identified as homeless.
NTEF is dedicated to ensuring that students in need have access to essential resources such as food, clothing, and other support, enabling them to focus on learning. Each year, we provide Student Assistance Grants (SAG) to every school in the North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) district. These grants are used for personal and school-related necessities like school supplies, clothing, toiletries, medical supplies, and even extracurricular activity fees, testing costs, and credit recovery classes for low-income and homeless students. We also offer emergency assistance for rental or utility payments, car repairs, or the replacement of critical items. Our goal is to ensure these funds are quickly and quietly distributed by school staff, so students receive the help they need with dignity.