Mission

Based in Washington, DC, The Ellington Fund (The Fund) is the charitable arm of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA). The mission of The Fund is to support programs at DESA that are not fully funded by the DC Public School System (DCPS). The Fund provides critical services as it seeks to bridge the gap between DCPS budget allocations and the actual cost of DESA's dual arts/academic curriculum. Together with the school, The Fund supports over 560 high school students who come from all Wards of the District, with many not being able to otherwise afford the costs of an arts education. Ellington has a 100% graduation rate and 91% college acceptance rate, which is remarkable, as many of our students enter 9th grade at or below reading and math proficiency levels.