Supporting Lifelong Learning
Our mission and vision
Mission: The mission of the Doc Gift Fund is to continue Dennis Littky’s legacy of creating new ways of learning, pathways for personal and professional growth, and supporting educational opportunities for underserved people to thrive and make a better world.
Vision: The vision of DGF is a world where the potential of educators, entrepreneurs and students is fully realized, creativity is nurtured, wellness is prioritized, and lifelong learning is embraced.
Our Values
Lifelong Learning: We believe education is not limited to the classroom.
Thinking Differently. We believe in thinking outside the box.
The Magic of Nature: We believe in the importance of The Cabin and its natural environment.
Social Entrepreneurship: We believe that investing in people, and helping them find their edge, is the best way to make an impact.
Kindness: We believe in being Kind to ourselves and each other.
What we do.
One Student at a Time.
What We Do: DGF holds retreats at The Cabin and awards individual grants and scholarships. One student at a time is a guiding value of the Fund.
A letter from our President:
October 2026
The mission of the Doc Gift Fund is to help make the world a better place. For 55 years, Dennis lived that mission by working in education. Dennis worked at all levels in education, including community building at Ocean Hill Brownsville, as principal at Thayer High School, founding Shoreham Wading River Middle School in New York, The MET in Providence, Big Picture schools worldwide, and College Unbound in our nation's prisons.
Since he retired in 2024, Dennis' interest has been less institutional and more individual. So, too, the Doc Gift Fund's mission has evolved: while the general idea of making the world a better place remains, the focus now is on supporting the next generation of individuals who are doing great work, as opposed to a continued focus on new programs and institutions. Examples include assisting individuals to set up their non-profits, rewarding individual educators for their tireless efforts, helping students pay for college or meaningful travel, and helping individuals with financial challenges so that they all can continue contributing toward making our world better.
Giving will grow and evolve from year to year as opportunities present themselves. DGF giving will not be based on formal proposals. The Doc Gift Fund is a foundation marked by its more personal structure and direct impact gifts. The Board of Directors is made up of Dennis' 5 nieces and nephews, plus 2 close friends. Each board member has had the opportunity to allocate Doc Gift funds around their personal interests, e.g., psychological care for homeless kids, support for fights against banned books, and elementary, high school, and college education.
Additionally, his cabin in the woods of New Hampshire, that Dennis has had for 55 years (and lived in for 20) is now an asset of the Doc Gift Fund. Consistent with the Fund's crystallized focus on individuals, the cabin is now to be used for retreats -- for educators, students, friends, and family.
In summary, it is now the time to support individuals who are making positive change in the world. The K-16 schools that Dennis co-founded were built on the philosophy of “One Student at a Time.” Now, DGF has broadened the OSAT to one individual at a time. The DGF is ever changing through new circumstances, environments and needs.
Cabin as Retreat
Cabin as a Retreat: The Doc Gift Fund has used the Cabin as Retreat for two of its board retreats in 2024 and 2026. The Cabin has been used over the years as a writer’s retreat, educator’s workshop, and for solitary reflection.
Contact Us
More about DGF: Doc Gift Fund supports opportunities that encourage the imaginative spirit in both educational and personal pursuits.