GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

By Lalo Walsh

Our annual fundraising efforts, beginning the summer ahead of each school year and closing as the school year ends, are the lifeblood of our Fund for Collegiate. Year after year, the Fund for Collegiate supports both visible, critical enhancements and behind-the-scenes initiatives and investments that keep WCS a world-class institution.

Every spring, our Development Office works with our Administration and the Board Members on our Advancement & Development Committee to set our fundraising goals for the upcoming year. We fundraise to cover the necessities and aspirations of the following school year. These goals must take into consideration our fundraising history, our anticipated needs looking as far ahead as one to two years (and beyond), and the fact that a number of our expenditures will inevitably be unforeseen. It is these unanticipated or deferred maintenance expenses that we now save for and include in our annual fundraising goal; we call this new allocation within our Fund for Collegiate our “Rainy Day Fund.”

Here are just a few examples of how the Fund for Collegiate supported our students, employees, and campus in the 2023-24 school year:

Teacher Wishlists

Every year, we receive numerous funding requests from teachers and coaches looking to purchase new programming and/or supplies and equipment in order to enhance our students' learning and classroom experiences.

Professional Development

Our teachers and coaches aim to operate at the highest caliber in their field in order to best serve our students. Their continued education through either coursework or professional conferences allows them to elevate the education offered on our campus. Twenty faculty members were able to attend professional development conferences this past year thanks to your support through our Fund for Collegiate.

CAMPUS SAFETY

Student, Faculty, and Staff safety is of the utmost importance to us, and the ongoing work of enhancing our campus security continues to be prioritized. This past year numerous updates and upgrades made to our campus security were afforded by donations to our Fund for Collegiate, including the acquisition and implementation of our new Visit U campus visitor management system and installation of NightLocks.

CLASS RETREATS & ACTIVITIES

In recent years, the Fund for Collegiate has provided around $60,000 a year towards Senior Class Retreats & Activities such as Road Rally, Prom, After Prom, Senior Weekend, and the Senior Banquet.

COLLEGIATE’S TWO BIGGEST FUNDRAISING EVENTS OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR IN SUPPORT OF OUR FUND FOR COLLEGIATE WERE OUR DAY GIVING IN THE FALL AND OUR SPARTAN BASH IN THE SPRING.

The WCS Day of Giving is the official kick-off to our annual fundraising effort, which raises money every year towards our Fund for Collegiate, benefitting our students, teachers, and school. Our 2023 Day of Giving took place on October 12 and was a campus-wide celebration raising $402,711.

509 OVERALL NUMBER OF DONORS PARTICIPATING

76 NUMBER OF ALUMNI DONORS

100% OF FACULTY & STAFF GAVE TO THE FUND FOR COLLEGIATE

39% CURRENT PARENT DONORS

Our Rainy Day Fund will need $6.3 million allocated to it over the next 5 years in order for WCS to cover anticipated deferred maintenance and campus needs.

Help us Buy the Bus! We need a bus better aligned with the caliber of our school and students, providing them greater reliability and comfort in their transportation to sporting events, field trips, and off-campus extracurricular activities.

Mechanical equipment upgrades are needed across campus including upgrades to our fire control panels.

Both the Lair and Upper School kitchens need equipment upgrades.

Classroom & Division upgrades are needed across the campus requiring new furniture and flexible learning spaces.

We hope you join in on our next Day of Giving!

PLEDGE OR DONATE TODAY TOWARDS OUR DAY OF GIVING > FUTURE NEEDS