| GIVING TO WALNUT HILL |  |
About the Annual Fund
The Walnut Hill Annual Fund is essential to the operation of the School. These vital, unrestricted dollars support every student by bridging the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of providing a Walnut Hill education. Each year, all members of the School community - trustees, alumni, parents, Board members, faculty, staff, and friends - are asked to support the students and School's programs with a gift to the Annual Fund. An unrestricted gift to the Annual Fund allows the School to meet its goals and direct your money where it is needed most. Please join us!
Numerous members of the School community or their spouses work for companies who generously match charitable gifts. If your employer has a matching gift program, simply obtain a form from the company's human resources office and send it to us. We will take care of the rest.
Gifts of appreciated stock allow you to save capital gains tax while receiving a full tax deduction for the current value of the stock. Please contact Bruce Smith, bsmith@walnuthillarts.org, 508-650-5019 for information on how to transfer stock to Walnut Hill's Merrill Lynch account.
A gift to the Annual Fund helps the School support these important priorities:
Our talented and dedicated faculty
The Walnut Hill faculty is an impressive group of highly trained professionals. Dedicated to the art of teaching and the education of young people, they serve as dorm parents, mentors, friends and coaches. The faculty is the lifeblood of the School and our greatest asset.
A diverse student body
At Walnut Hill we believe that the richest education takes place in an environment that recognizes and celebrates diversity. To attract and assist qualified students from diverse social, economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, the School provides financial aid to more than 49% of the student body.
A unique and challenging program
The three components of the Walnut Hill program; arts, academics, and community life, provide an education unparalleled at the secondary level.
Technology
With over one hundred computers on campus, Walnut Hill has now created a campus-wide, fiber-optic network as well as a wireless network. This comprehensive network will provide students with the sophisticated subscription databases and communication networks that have become essential to learning in the digital age.
An exceptional campus and appropriate facilities
From the Keiter Performing Arts Center to the Keefe Library, Campus Center, Academic & Technology Center, Fitness Center and an expanded Visual Art Center, Walnut Hill is building for the future.
Questions and Answers about the Annual Fund
Q. What is the Annual Fund?
A. The Annual Fund supports the School's current fiscal year's operating budget with funds for faculty salaries, financial assistance, building maintenance, library books, lab and classroom materials, and utilities. When you give to the Annual Fund, you can be sure your gift is helping the students right now!
Q. Doesn't tuition cover these expenses?
A. Yes, but only partially. Tuition covers about 89% of the cost of educating a student at Walnut Hill. This is in line with most private schools.
Q. How is the remaining 16% covered?
A. To run the School every year, we depend on annual gifts from Trustees, alumni, current parents and parents of alumni, grandparents of current and former students, current and former faculty and staff, and other friends of the School such as members of the Boards of Overseers and Visitors. The remaining funds are generated by summer and afterschool programs as well as by the School’s small but growing endowment.
Q. If I can only give a small gift, does it really make an impact on Walnut Hill?
A. Yes! Your gift, combined with those from other alumni, family, and friends, provides substantial support for the ongoing operations of our School. Regardless of the level of the gift, it is an expression of your support. Every gift counts and every gift is appreciated.
Q. Why does my participation matter?
A. Participation matters because many foundations only fund schools that can demonstrate wide support from their own alumni, parents, and administration. In addition, costs for running a school and providing a strong academic and arts program increase every year. To keep Walnut Hill fiscally healthy, the School needs everyone's participation every year.
Q. What is a Leadership Society?
A. Giving to the Annual Fund each year is extremely important to the ongoing success of the School’s programs and demonstrates a donor’s commitment to the School. We recognize this commitment with membership in a particular Leadership Society where the donors are listed with other donors who share the same vision for the School. Our valued Leadership Societies are:
| Non Nobis Solum Society | $25,000 or more | |
| 1893 Leadership Society | $15,000 to 24,999 | |
| Centennial Leadership Society | $10,000 or 14,999 | |
| Perrin Leadership Society | $5,000 to 9,999 | |
| Conant Leadership Society | $2,500 to 4,999 | |
| Bigelow Leadership Society | $1,000 to 2,499 | |
| Walnut Hill Society | $500 to 999 | |
| Young Leaders Society | Gifts of $100 or more by alumni donors within twenty years of graduation | |
| Margaret Klous Williams '12 Society | Gifts of any amount by alumni donors within 5 years of graduation | |
| Star Society | Consecutive gifts to the Annual Fund for 20 or more years | |
| Rising Star Society | Consecutive gifts to the Annual Fund for 10 to 19 years |
Q. How are Annual Fund dollars raised?
A. The success of the Annual Fund depends greatly on the help of many volunteers who make phone calls and write letters on behalf of Walnut Hill, as well as a dedicated staff in the Office for Institutional Advancement. Last year, many volunteers helped the School meet its Annual Fund.
Q. What period does the Annual Fund cover?
A. The Annual Fund starts on July 1 of each year and closes on the following June 30.
Q. From where do the remaining funds come?
A. To run the School every year, we depend on annual gifts from Trustees, alumni, current parents and parents of alumni, grandparents of current and former students, current and former faculty and staff, and other friends of the School such as members of the Boards of Overseers and Visitors. The remaining funds are generated by summer and afterschool programs as well as by the School’s small but growing endowment.
A. Any number of ways, including by check, Visa or MasterCard, or securities. You may send your gift by mail to Kelly Feeney, Sr. Associate Dean, Walnut Hill School, 12 Highland Street, Natick, MA 01760. Or, click here to make a gift online. For more information on making a gift to the Annual Fund, please contact Bruce Smith at (508) 650-5019 or bsmith@walnuthillarts.org. We hope you will add your voice to the chorus that supports these programs by making your gift to the Annual Fund today. Thank you for your support of this extraordinary school.
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Annual Fund |
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Capital Giving |
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Planned Giving |
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Student Sponsorship Program |
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Annual Benefit Gala |
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Office for Institutional Advancement Officers |
