Support Whatcom Hills Waldorf School
As a 501c3 non-profit, privately funded educational institution, we rely on tuition and the generous financial support of our donors to offer the breadth of programming and quality of faculty and instruction that meet our educational standards.
Gifts to WHWS reinforce the deeply-rooted foundation of communal generosity which has upheld our school for over 40 years, and every contribution directly supports our students, teachers, historic campus, and the more than 40% of families who receive tuition assistance. Thank you for helping ensure that a Waldorf education can be experienced and treasured by every child!
Read our annual report to understand how donations contribute to the WHWS mission.
Annual Fund Campaign
The WHWS Annual Fund and our Annual Giving Campaign support the day-to-day operations of our school. As full tuition only covers 85% of our operating expenses, we rely on the Annual Fund to close this gap to steward our historic campus, invest in our teachers, and offer tuition assistance. We strive for 100% community participation each year to reach our goal.
Ways to Give
Gifts come in many forms. Contact Jessie Pemble, Development Director, at jpemble@whws.org to explore options that work best for you.
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Most gifts come in the form of personal/bank-issued checks or credit card payments. All checks should be made payable to Whatcom Hills Waldorf School and mailed to the following address, or you can also donate online.
Whatcom Hills Waldorf School
ATTN: Development
941 Austin Street
Bellingham, WA 98229 -
In-kind gifts can be tangible items like food, equipment, furniture, books, building materials or office supplies, or intangible contributions like professional services (legal, marketing, construction, etc), event space, advertising, or technical support. To make an in-kind gift to our school, please contact Jessie Pemble, our Development Director.
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Many companies have matching gift programs that can double or triple the value of your gift. Visit Charity Navigator to see if your employer will match your contribution, or contact your company’s Human Resources Department.
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A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to a qualified charity, as outlined in the Internal Revenue Code. Please contact Jessie Pemble, Development Director, at jpemble@whws.org for more information.
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We are fortunate to be a Fred Meyer Community Partner: enroll today and a percentage of your purchase goes to WHWS each time you shop! Visit Fred Meyer Community Rewards to get started, and remember to enter your phone number or scan your rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count!
We also occasionally participate in community give-back programs, where a local business donates a percentage of sales to our school on a certain day. Keep an eye out on our social media for the next opportunity!
Annual Gala
Join us for a unique theme, food, dancing, heartfelt program, and fun surprises! Our annual gala is one of the primary fundraisers for our school and you can contribute through your attendance, a donation, or by volunteering for the event.
Save the date for our 40th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, March 20th, 2027!
Wreath Sale
Each winter, our Annual Wreath & Garland Sale provides beautiful, affordable, and sustainably-made evergreens to our community while raising critical funds for our school! Pre-sales occur in October, with wreaths & garlands delivered in November.
School Store
Roots & Wings (located just outside the office) carries a beautiful selection of art materials, books, handmade wooden toys, wool roving, yarn, beeswax, candles, and other gifts to engage the heads, hearts and hands of all ages.
Volunteering
From practical, hands-on work in the classrooms and around the campus to valuable input about school governance and development, our school could not function without the support we receive from parents and caregivers.
Each family is asked to contribute 40+ hours a year—an investment that keeps tuition costs down, lightens the load for our hardworking teachers and staff, and strengthens the vibrant community that makes our school special.