The GDEF was formed as a result of years of discussions within the communities of Groton and Dunstable concerning of the lack of a non-profit group focused on public school education. In January 2003, a group of highly motivated community members set forth on the path to making a non-profit education-oriented foundation a reality. Months of legal, organizational planning and goal-setting followed, and the Articles of Organization and 501(c)(3) application were filed in July 2003. The GDEF was formally recognized as a non-profit organization in September of 2003.

Philosophically, the GDEF believes that public education is the responsibility of the public – of the people of the towns of Groton and Dunstable – as are public health and public safety. The GDEF was started with the understanding that, even in the best of economic times, there is always more that our communities want to achieve relative to the education of their children. There are always inspiring, motivating programs that “don’t make the cut,” or creative ideas that are never proposed because they probably won’t or can’t be considered due to budget (or other) constraints. These are the ideas and programs that the GDEF is interested in potentially funding.

The GDEF does not use, nor has it ever used, its funds to make up for state cuts to its schools’ operating budgets. As a private foundation run exclusively by volunteers, it has no direct organizational ties to the Groton Dunstable Regional School District. The by-laws address conflicts of interest, including limiting officer positions and membership on the Board of Directors to individuals not employed by the school district.