Giving FAQ

The Annual Fund is the foundation of all charitable giving to WIS and directly supports students, teachers, and academic programs. Each year the school depends on Annual Fund revenue to fund basic budgetary priorities and allow for new, imaginative programs and planning for future initiatives. 

In the school's early years, incremental increases in enrollment allowed WIS to rely on growing revenue from tuition. This steady increase allowed WIS to cover the rapidly rising cost of private education in the U.S. with only moderate annual increases in tuition rates.

Starting in 2008, WIS enrollment reached capacity, limited by size of WIS facilities, city regulations, and agreements with surrounding neighborhoods. Accordingly, it became no longer possible to realize revenue growth through enrollment growth. Given our commitment to keeping tuition increases to a minimum, supporting WIS’s revenue base through a robust Annual Fund is vital for the School’s present and future. A growing Annual Fund alleviates WIS's dependence on tuition revenue, which currently stands at 90% of its total income, significantly above the average of other NAIS schools and of most other schools in the Washington, DC area.

All members of the WIS community: parents, alumni, faculty and staff, parents of alumni, grandparents, and friends are asked to make a gift each year. Giving each year is an excellent opportunity to support the outstanding teaching and learning that takes place every day at WIS.

Every gift to WIS—large or small—makes a real, tangible difference in the educational experience of every child. Financial circumstances differ, but we hope WIS will be your family’s primary philanthropic priority while your children attend the school. We simply ask that each family makes a gift that is meaningful given the family's circumstances. For the 2020-2021 school year, the average family annual giving was $2,024, with gifts ranging in size from $5 to $25,000+. Leadership gifts at WIS range from $1,000 to $25,000+.

Absolutely! Gifts to the Annual Fund are 100% tax deductible.

Participation is the percentage of our community (parents, alumni, faculty, etc.) who make a gift to the Annual Fund or Fund-A-Student of any size in a given year. This percentage is a key indicator of the strength and commitment of the school community and can also have an impact on giving from outside sources; many foundations consider participation rates before agreeing to make a charitable gift to a school. We aim for 100% participation each year from our entire community.

Absolutely! The WIS Auction is an important component of the Annual Fund, raising much needed dollars designated for Financial Aid. We hope families make a gift to the Annual Fund as well as support WIS by attending the Auction, donating items to the Silent Auction, and/or volunteering and bidding during the Silent Auction and/or Fund-A-Student portion of the night. For more information on the Auction and ways to become involved, please contact Marcela Churchill at marcela.churchill@wis.edu or 202.243.1821.

Each year, there are budgetary needs that income from tuition does not fully cover. Gifts to the Annual Fund contribute to these budgetary needs by supporting everyday operations at WIS—from academic and extracurricular programs to teacher resources, training, and maintenance. The Fund provides critical financial aid for families for whom a WIS education is not possible without assistance. Fund gifts also enable WIS to plan and save for the future, ensuring that WIS can provide an exemplary education to future generations. 

Annual Fund gifts are 100% tax deductible.

The Annual Fund operates on a fiscal year of July 1 to June 30, and we ask that you make a gift when it is appropriate for your family. A commitment early in the academic year will give momentum to the Annual Fund campaign. Annual Fund parent volunteers contact WIS families throughout the year to solicit contributions and thank donors for support, as well as answer any questions they may have about giving to WIS.

There are several ways to make your annual gift or pledge to WIS: 1) by Visa or MasterCard, securely and conveniently here; 2) by check via mail to the Advancement Office (3100 Macomb Street NW, Washington DC 20008); 3) make a pledge to give later in the year or split your gift into monthly pledge payments here; 4) through the United Way (write-in) or Combined Federal Campaign (our CFC number is 58598); 5) through a gift of stock (contact the Advancement Office at 202.243.1816 for details); or 6) double the impact of your gift through a corporate match—find out if your employer matches charitable contributions by using our searchable database. Our EIN is 52-0822077.

Absolutely. WIS is delighted to accept Annual Fund contributions designated to the following areas: Unrestricted/Greatest Need, Athletics, Arts, Exchange & Service Learning Trips, Facilities, Faculty Development, Financial Aid, or Library & Media Services. Simply select the program of your choice in the drop-down menu of the online giving form or feel free to contact the Advancement Office with any questions at advancement@wis.edu or 202.243.1693.

WIS does not receive support from any government or international financial institution. Some organizations provide tuition support to their employees, but this support is directly to their employees, not to WIS.

If you have any questions about giving, ways to get involved, or the Annual Fund, please contact Katie McCrystal at katie.mccrystal@wis.edu or 202.243.1693. To get involved with the Auction for Financial Aid, please contact Marcela Churchill at marcela.churchill@wis.edu or 202.243.1821.