Update from the Development Committee

March 19, 2026

Dear WWS Community, 

The Development Committee is a group of volunteers and staff committed to fundraising for our nonprofit 501(c)(3) school. We have a goal of raising $475,000 for the 2025-2026 school year for the One Fund, which combines three initiatives:   the Annual Fund, Bazaar and Gala. Contributions to the One Fund expand what the school can offer and support the financial health of the school by helping to fill the gap between tuition revenue and operating expenses. 

As of today, we have raised $369,000 towards this goal, representing 77.68%. Our largest fundraiser of the year, the annual Gala, took place  on February 28 and raised $109,000+. This leaves us with $110,000 left to raise by June 30. If your family has the capacity to make a tax-deductible charitable gift to our school this year and you haven’t yet, please get in touch with development@washingtonwaldorf.org or give directly on our website. Contributions to the One Fund benefit every student and every teacher, every day. 

2025-2026 work to date:

  • Fall Class Parent Evenings – We briefed parents on our plans for the year and invited everyone to give and get involved.
  • Annual Appeal – We sent an appeal to every member of our community in November. It included details on the One Fund, and an invitation to give at a level that feels right and meaningful to each household. 
  • Annual Report – We sent a copy of the 2024/2025 annual report to all members of our school community. The details of our fundraising from last year were included, as well as an invitation to give. 
  • Plant Sale – We held our first plant sale in the Fall in partnership with the Land Stewardship Committee, raising over $1,500. 
  • Giving Tuesday – Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, a traditional time for nonprofits to run a fundraising appeal. We saw $15,083in gifts through that initiative. 
  • Individual leadership giving outreach (ongoing) – The Development Committee meets with community members who have expressed an interest in giving at a leadership level of more than $1,000, or have done so in the past. Through these engagements, we have received gifts ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 from parents, grandparents, alumni families, friends, faculty and staff. 
  • Grants – We have applied for two so far this year, with another application due in April. We haven’t been successful so far, but will continue to look out for grant opportunities that align with our efforts.
  • Gala – The WWS annual Gala was on February 28, and raised $109,000 for our school (net after expenses). It was an incredible evening of generosity, fun, and WWS spirit. 

To Come: 

  • Spring Plant Sale – The fall sale got great feedback, so we’re doing it again, and this time opening it up beyond the WWS community and buying more plants!
  • Participation Week – Participation Week will be a celebration of giving at any level to help us increase the percent of our community that has given to the One Fund. A gift of just $10 increases our participation numbers which is so meaningful when we are asking individuals for larger amounts or applying for grants. 
  • Grandparents Day – Grandparents Day is a community event. Grandparents do not need to contribute financially to our school in order to attend! However, there will be information on giving discussed in the programming and an invitation to give following the event sent in the mail. 

What you can do: 

If you haven’t given yet, please consider doing so at a level that feels meaningful to your family. You can always give through the website. If you’d like more information about our efforts, a member of the Development Committee would be glad to talk to you. development@washingtonwaldorf.org 

With gratitude for those who have helped us get to the $369,000 we have today, and with enthusiasm for reaching our $475,000 goal by June. We are One Community, Building Together.

Sarah Wester on behalf of The Development Committee

The Development Committee

  • Volunteer Committee Chair: Sarah Wester (Songbirds, G1 & G3 parent)
  • Volunteer Committee Members: Redeit Alemu Admassie (G10 parent), Jennifer Borders (PFO Chair, Apple Blossom & G1 parent), Eben Kaplan (Trustees Council, G3 & G5 parent), Kate Mueller (Trustees Council Chair, G6 parent), Anne Wotring (Trustees Council, Alumni parent)
  • Director of Development: Erika Bryant Northcutt
  • Database Coordinator: Dykeem Cervantes 
  • Head of School: Margery Bank