How can you make a difference?

1 How can you make a difference?

you make the excellence happen You can count the reasons most families choose an independent school on one hand: outstanding, innovative academic programs; smart, passionate teachers; safe, nurturing environments; and warm, welcoming communities. Those benefits and all the things that make an independent school strong and dynamic require talent, time, and money. Financial support of an independent school ensures exceptional teachers, a diverse student body, small classes, and up-to-date resources and technology. We re not talking about tuition. Tuition at independent schools typically covers around 80 percent of the expenses. We re talking about the ways in which families at independent schools across the country provide for their child s school, above and beyond the tuition check. a schedule you can count on With the exception of special capital campaigns, fundraisers follow a fairly regular schedule to help families plan and budget. At Wildwood, we ask each family to participate to the best of their ability, because participation builds a strong community and guarantees our school s immediate and long-term success. celebrating our community Wildwood has a wide circle of support that includes current families, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, grandparents, and parents of alumni. Every gift is celebrated from the money you give to the time you spend on campus as a volunteer. Everything you and others do for Wildwood contributes to an outstanding program for your child today and a school you will be proud of long after graduation. In any school that s more than 10 or 15 years old, parents of previous generations of students gave the money to fund the resources your child enjoys today. As the saying goes, all children are warmed by the fires built by others. National Association of Independent Schools join the ranks Wildwood has been built with the support of its families, starting with our founders who acted on a vision and an idea in 1971. Your child will be the beneficiary of a legacy of involvement, and we ll look forward to including you in that long line of benefactors. By the way, contributions to Wildwood are tax-deductible.

03 october is all about the annual fund Wildwood, like all independent schools, counts on its Annual Fund to cover crucial immediate expenses that aren t covered by tuition. It s the Annual Fund that helps sustain a school environment in which each child is known well. The Annual Fund helps pay for teachers to attend local and national workshops and bring important new ideas back to the classroom. And it supports financial aid, enabling the school to serve a diverse community that reflects our city s ethnic and socio-economic mix. Goal-oriented We have two goals for the Annual Fund. The first is to meet a dollar amount that is determined by our Board and is based on our operating budget. The second is to have everybody and we do mean everybody, from faculty and staff to parents and alumni participate by making a contribution. High participation is a vote of confidence and a sign that our entire community is invested in our children s education and the mission of Wildwood School. the nuts and bolts Here s how it works. We kick off the Annual Fund at Back-to-School Night with an announcement from our Annual Fund chairs parents who have stepped up to lead the effort. Letters are sent home, along with a remittance envelope. We also enlist a team of parent volunteers 100 or more who make calls on behalf of their child s class or division. We go all out because this is our most important fundraising effort of the year: It directly impacts our kids. You ll be asked to send a contribution or make a pledge. Pledges must be fulfilled by June 1 of the current school year. Everyone who gives to the Annual Fund is recognized in our Annual Report. And did we mention that Annual Fund gifts are tax-deductible? When you are part of a community at an independent school, you have some obligations. You have to become involved, which means things like volunteering at Jog-a-Thon, taking pictures at school events, and contributing as much as you can to the Annual Fund. Glynis Costin, former Annual Fund co-chair

05 an endowment lets a school think big Endowment funds are monies typically held in long-term investments with the principal remaining untouched, allowing the funds to grow and have a greater impact over time. The interest and dividend income supports programs and initiatives by providing a permanent source of revenue. A strong endowment gives school trustees the confidence to plan for a financially secure future. A fund for financial aid Wildwood s first endowment fund was established in 2007 to build a robust source of funding for financial aid in honor of then-retiring Head of School Hope E. Boyd. She shared Wildwood s commitment to developing a multicultural school population that mirrors the broader Los Angeles community. The Hope E. Boyd Endowment Fund is managed by the Investment Advisory Committee, a subset of the Board of Trustees Finance Committee. They follow best practices of accounting and reporting, as established by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). It s a spring thing While gifts to the Hope E. Boyd Endowment Fund are accepted throughout the year, our biggest fundraising effort is in the spring. The Wildwood Parent Organization, or WWPO, sponsors a huge annual event that typically includes a great party and auction, with a net result that benefits students well into the future. All parents are encouraged to attend or purchase tickets in support of the fund. supporting an array of programs Endowment funds are established by donors who feel passionate about a particular program that aligns with the school s goals. Endowments can fund faculty salaries, professional development, international service work, scholarship, or the construction of a new campus. Donors who make landmark gifts can transform a school and create a legacy that sets the tone for generations to come. For information about establishing an endowment fund, please contact the Advancement Office. Endowment contributions are, of course, tax-deductible. Financial aid allowed me to attend Wildwood, and I m grateful. Other people invested their money in me, and I want them to know I took full advantage of the experience. Betty Villalobos, Class of 2004

07 bricks and mortar Bricks and mortar don t come cheap. That s why schools have capital campaigns. Capital campaigns generally are the result of focused strategic planning that looks at long-term growth and program development. A capital campaign raises money for building and renovation projects that are funded outside of tuition, the Annual Fund, and the regular operating budget. proof under the roof Capital campaigns generally unfold over several years and raise millions of dollars for big ticket items like the purchase of property or the construction of a new campus. We have capital campaigns and the families who gave to them to thank for the striking campuses Wildwood enjoys today. Capital campaigns funded new buildings for the elementary school and an entire campus for the middle and upper school. And capital campaigns have paid for major renovations, including a new library and science labs. Major gifts for major projects Whether they are short or long, capital campaigns are fueled by major gifts. Contributions from every member of the community help the school meet its goals. When families, alumni, faculty, and friends rally together, amazing things happen: campuses are built, buildings are renovated, and the Wildwood program is enriched for generations of students. Because capital campaigns target specific projects, they don t replace our annual fundraising initiatives. That means you ll still be asked to participate in the Annual Fund. Think of it this way: Annual Fund pays for programs that impact your child right now. Depending on the project, the outcome of a capital campaign may be seen in a year or five. Capital giving is an investment in the future. And yes, contributions are tax-deductible. Schools tend to conduct capital campaigns once or twice a decade. Because the gifts are large, pledges are usually paid over two years or more.

09 Wildwood s version of the PTA The Wildwood Parent Organization (WWPO, or wah-poe) is the get-things-done group. wwpo fundraising Each year, a dollar goal is set for WWPO based on its previous successes. Most of the contributions raised by WWPO go to the general operating budget. Monies from WWPO-sponsored events like the Book Fair and Jog-a-Thon which both occur in the fall and ongoing sales of school tee-shirts and other gear help pay for classroom resources and programs at the school. There are two exceptions. One is the annual spring event, which raises funds for the Hope E. Boyd Endowment Fund (see page 5). The other is the Community Gift. The Community Gift WWPO invites parents to contribute to the Community Gift every November. The Community Gift is distributed equally among all teachers and staff at the holidays and again at the end of the year. It s a simple and fair way to show appreciation to all your child s teachers and school staff, in lieu of shopping for individual gifts. In case you were wondering, contributions to the WWPO fundraisers are tax-deductible after the fair market value of any goods or services received has been considered. Need volunteers to count Jog-a-Thon laps? Done. Salad for the faculty appreciation lunch? Got it covered. Extra hands in the library? No problem. WWPO committees and the volunteers who serve on them embody the type of community spirit we cultivate in our kids. I always hear from our families how much they appreciate the warmth and generous spirit of the Wildwood community, and I know we owe a large part of that to the work of our parent organization. Landis Green, head of school

11 What would we do without our parents? They drive kids to field trips, serve lunch, help out in the library, paint posters I could go on and on. They are a wonderful and vital part of every child s school day. Katie Rios, director of elementary school wildwood volunteers Whether you have an hour once a month or a couple of hours every week, there are many ways to give your time at Wildwood. Spend a morning helping out in a classroom. Bring cookies to College Night. Be a field trip driver. Lead a WWPO committee. We re ready to match our laundry list of needs with your expertise and availability. Give some, get some Volunteering is a give and get opportunity. You give your talent and time, and you get loads of rewards in return. For one thing, you ll get a good idea of where your child spends most of her or his time. Plus, you can participate in the daily life of the school, get to know teachers and staff, and develop friendships with fellow parents. Your gift of time to the Wildwood community is an expression of your interest in, and commitment to, your child s daily school life. And it is very much appreciated not only by the Wildwood teachers and staff, but by your child. As a volunteer, you model one of the key values Wildwood seeks to instill in our students: service to the common good.

12 ways to give Wildwood offers many opportunities to support the school. yearly fundraising calendar at a glance FALL WINter SPRING Gifts of cash. Send a check, payable to Wildwood Grants. You can designate Wildwood as a recipient Annual Fund. A fundraiser for Book Fair. A parent-organized Spring Fundraiser. The Wildwood School, to the Development Office at 11811 Olympic of a grant from a family foundation, charitable gift, or current-year operating expenses. book sale at the elementary campus to Parent Organization throws a huge Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064. donor-advised gift fund. encourage literacy and raise money. party to benefit the Hope E. Boyd Jog-a-Thon. A daylong event to Endowment Fund for financial aid. Gifts via credit card. Use your MasterCard, Visa, In-kind gifts. The provision of professional services or promote physical fitness and raise or American Express to make a contribution online at the donation of equipment or other goods that advance funds for the school. our website, www.wildwood.org/makeagift. the educational experience at Wildwood offers an excellent opportunity to support the school. Community Gift. This fund is Matching gifts. Many companies offer matching distributed equally among faculty gift programs. To see if your company matches gifts, Deferred gifts and planned giving. These are gifts and staff at the holidays and end visit www.matchinggifts.com/wildwood. made now for the future through estate planning via of the year. bequests, life insurance, or charitable remainder trusts. Gifts of common stock. You can contribute the fair market value of appreciated securities and avoid capital gains tax on the appreciated value of the stock. Volunteer work. Wildwood offers many ways to get involved. Design: KBDA, Los Angeles additional opportunities School fundraisers never sleep. If you d like to make a gift to the endowment, a capital campaign, or any other initiative, we want to hear from you. Please contact the Advancement Office at 310.806.4511. To learn more about Wildwood School, visit our website, www.wildwood.org.

Wildwood School Elementary Campus 12201 Washington Place Los Angeles, CA 90066 Telephone: 310.397.3134 middle/upper Campus 11811 Olympic Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90064 Telephone: 310.478.7189 www.wildwood.org