Ways to Give

CREDIT CARD
Make a secure online gift to WIS. The WIS Business Office is able to accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

CASH
Please make checks payable to "Washington International School" or "WIS" and mail to:

Washington International School
Advancement Office
3100 Macomb Street NW
Washington, DC 20008

Giving stocks, bonds, and mutual fund shares that have increased in value (and which the donor has owned for more than one year) provides greater tax benefits to the donor than giving cash. The donor can not only deduct the full market value of the securities, but also avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation.

Please email Gerad Teague at gerad.teague@wis.edu for instructions on how to donate securities or initiate cash wire transfers.

Many companies will match employee gifts. You may be able to double or triple the size of your gift by submitting the appropriate matching gift form (available from your employer) along with your contribution. Please use the below search tool to see if your company will match your donation and to access the forms, guidelines, and instructions that you need to submit a matching gift.

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Cathya Wing Stephenson Planned Giving Society

The Board of Trustees established the Cathya Wing Stephenson Society to recognize donors who have included WIS in their wills. As co-founder of Washington International School and one of its major donors since 1966, Mrs. Stephenson is a leader in international education for world citizenship.

To perpetuate the School's mission into the future, she has included WIS in her will, designating her bequest for Financial Aid. Her belief that an international education should be available to a large cross-section of Washington, DC students carries the School forward and continues to inspire our community. Since Mrs. Stephenson made her estate gift to WIS, many alumni, faculty, parents, and friends have chosen to follow in her footsteps by providing for the School in their estates.

If you are interested in learning more about Planned Giving at WIS, please visit our Planned Giving page.

Gifts of low-yielding securities, real estate, collectibles, and other similar properties can provide a tax-efficient way to make meaningful gifts with little or no effect on your current spendable income. When you give appropriate property you have owned longer than one year, you are entitled to an income tax deduction for the full value of the asset, not just the amount you paid for it. All capital gains tax that would be due on a sale of the property is avoided. Gifts of appreciated assets may be deducted in an amount up to 30% of your adjusted gross income each year. Please call the Advancement Office at 202.243.1693 if you have property you would like to donate to the School.

WIS welcomes contributions made via donor-advised funds (DAFs). In recent years DAFs have become an increasingly common vehicle for charitable giving—the fastest-growing form of philanthropy today, according to a 2021 study by the National Philanthropic Trust. DAFs are individual charitable investment accounts established via a donor's irrevocable contribution to a public charity, like Vanguard Charitable or a community foundation. Donors can then recommend grants from their account to nonprofit organizations of the donor’s choosing.

DAFs can offer several benefits:

Contributions to a DAF are eligible for immediate tax deduction, even if the funds are not disbursed right away. Donors have the flexibility to make gifts on their own schedule—and have the option to invest DAF funds and let them grow tax free until disbursement. Unlike private foundations, DAFs typically do not have a minimum annual distribution.

Donors can contribute appreciated securities directly to a DAF, without paying capital gains tax which would have been incurred had they sold the securities prior to transfer. DAFs are also not subject to estate taxes.

DAFs also offer administrative convenience, particularly for donors who support a wide range of charities, by consolidating statements and performing due diligence on eligible recipients. Likewise, setup is generally easy and costs low.

The above material is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified tax professional regarding your specific situation.