Support | Giving WISely

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SUPPORTING WIS

Every day at WIS, we live our core values by teaching our students to ask questions and investigate, to cultivate a welcoming environment by embracing diversity, and to demonstrate empathy, kindness, and respect.

As a community, we are called to support those values and help advance the opportunities that make Washington International School an exemplary learning community.

Whether you make an immediate difference by giving to the WIS Annual Fund, support the School's long-term objectives by giving to the endowment, or contribute your time and energy as a volunteer, your philanthropic support and partnership is essential to our cause.

SUPPORTING EXEMPLARY EDUCATION

ANNUAL FUND

The WIS Annual Fund is the philanthropic foundation of giving at WIS.

Like other independent schools, WIS relies on the Annual Fund to support critical budget needs and drive innovation. When you support the Annual Fund, you help us achieve our mission. Your gift provides additional resources for students and faculty and supports educational initiatives that go above and beyond what is covered by tuition alone.

Our Goal: Ambitious, yet achievable—100% participation at whatever level is comfortable for each member of the WIS community. Every gift in every amount makes a difference. We are grateful for every contribution.

Gifts to the Annual Fund support a broad range of programs and initiatives at WIS:

A robust and inclusive curriculum that inspires a passion for inquiry-based learning.
Financial aid to support students and families.
International-mindedness, diversity, and inclusion initiatives relating to teaching practices, curriculum, employee recruitment, and more.
Faculty training to ensure our educators engage in life-long learning.
Athletic programming that empowers students with leadership skills they can use both on and off the court, field, or track.
Experiential visual and performing arts programming.
Other areas of greatest need throughout the year.

DID YOU KNOW?

Nearly $5M in annual financial assistance is funded in part by the Annual Fund.
200 outstanding faculty members teach, coach, and mentor WIS students.
15% of students received financial aid from the School.

ANNUAL FUND CO-CHAIRS

Farah Al Hinai and Mairzy Krulic

ANNUAL FUND FAQS

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL FUND?
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.
WHY IS THERE SUCH A STRONG FOCUS ON THE ANNUAL FUND?
In the school's early years, incremental increases in enrollment allowed WIS to rely on growing revenue from tuition. Starting in 2008, WIS enrollment reached capacity, limited by size of WIS facilities, city regulations, and agreements with surrounding neighborhoods. Accordingly, it was 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.
WHO MAKES GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND?
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.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?
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.
ARE GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
Absolutely! Gifts to the Annual Fund are 100% tax deductible.
WHAT IS PARTICIPATION? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
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.
I WANT TO SUPPORT BOTH THE ANNUAL FUND AND THE FUNDRAISER FOR FINANCIAL AID. AM I ABLE TO DO THAT?
Absolutely! The annual Fundraiser for Financial Aid is an important component of the Annual Fund, raising funds designated for Financial Aid. We hope families make a gift to the Annual Fund as well as support WIS by attending the event, donating items to the Silent Auction, and/or volunteering and bidding during the Silent Auction and/or Fund-A-Student portion of the night.
I ALREADY PAY TUITION. WHY SHOULD I MAKE A GIFT TO THE ANNUAL FUND?
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 WIS can provide an exemplary education to future generations.
WHEN SHOULD I MAKE MY GIFT?
The Annual Fund operates on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year; 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.
HOW DO I MAKE A GIFT OR PLEDGE?
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) by 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.
CAN I DESIGNATE MY GIFT?
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.
DOES WIS RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT OR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS?
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 the employees, not to WIS.
WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about giving, ways to get involved, or the Annual Fund, please contact Walker Konkle at walker.konkle@wis.edu or 202.243.1693.

MEET THE TEAM

`Marisa Alford`

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

`Gerad Teague`

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

`Megan Connolly`

ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATE

`Walker Konkle`

DIRECTOR OF THE ANNUAL FUND

WAYS TO GIVE

There are many ways to give at WIS; options for making a contribution to the School are highlighted below. Each and every gift is important. Thank you!

CREDIT / CASH

CREDIT CARD

Make a secure online gift HERE. WIS accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

PAYPAL / VENMO

WIS accepts gifts via PayPal or Venmo HERE.

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

WIRE TRANSFERS

Please EMAIL Gerad Teague for instructions on how to send a gift via wire transfer.

DAF

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.

PROPERTY

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.

SECURITIES

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 for instructions on how to donate securities.

PLANNED GIFT

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.

IRA GIFT

If you are 70.5 or older, giving from your IRA helps reduce your taxable income — and for those over 73 who must take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), an IRA gift is a simple way to fulfill it.

WIS has invested in a secure IRA donation tool to make it easier than ever to give from your IRA, and receive tax benefits. It only takes a few minutes to use, and will auto-complete your paperwork for you.

Note: When you donate from your IRA, please use THIS LINK so we can track your gift and send you the right receipt, and you can get the tax savings you deserve.

MATCHING GIFT

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.

Make a donation and be sure to keep your receipt, then follow the instructions provided by your employer to submit documentation for the gift match.

See if your employer will match your donation!

All information provided by
Double the Donation

Giving WISely