Waldorf School of the Peninsula Fund
Our WSP Fund campaign is the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts at WSP. Unrestricted contributions to the WSP Fund are essential to the day-to-day operations of the school and help fill the gap in our operating budget that is not covered by tuition and other fees.
Our 2023-24 fiscal year goal is $400,000 and 100% participation from every family (as well as faculty, administrative staff, and board member) at the school. In addition, the number of gifts we receive from alumni, friends, and corporate matching fund programs increases each year. Because the Waldorf School of the Peninsula is a nonprofit institution, every unrestricted contribution to the WSP Fund campaign is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Our WSP Fund campaign runs the school calendar year, from July 1 through June 30.
We thank all of our supporters for their generous gifts and contributions throughout the years.
For more information about the WSP Fund campaign, please contact our Advancement Director at development@waldorfpeninsula.org or 650.209-9405.
See if your employer will match your gift!
Ways to Give
If you have any questions, please contact Christine McQuade Hsu, Advancement Director, 650.209-9405. The following are ways in which you can make your tax-deductible gift:
- Donate online by credit card – secure, fast & easy! Click here to make your gift today!
- Pay by check. Checks should be payable to “Waldorf School of the Peninsula”, and sent or brought to the Los Altos Office at 11311 Mora Drive, Los Altos, 94024.
- Securities can be transferred directly to WSP. For transfer instructions, please email Christine, at development@waldorfpeninsula.org.
WSP Fund Questions and Answers
Q. What is the WSP Fund campaign?
A. The WSP Fund campaign is the yearly effort to raise unrestricted funds to help bridge the gap between tuition income and total operating expenses. It is administered by WSP’s Development and Outreach office.
Q. What are the major components of the school’s annual operating budget?
A. Approximately 75% of the school’s budget funds people – salaries and benefits for faculty and staff. The remainder supports our programs, lease payments, classroom supplies, utilities, insurance and site maintenance costs.
Q. Doesn’t tuition cover all of the annual operating expenses?
A. No. Tuition income does not cover the full cost of running the school—the gap needs to be made up from other sources of income such as WSP Fund, the Spring Gala and Holiday Faire, and the Heart’s Delight school store.
Q. So why not raise tuition even higher?
A. No independent school charges the full cost of educating its students without pricing itself out of the market. The Waldorf School of the Peninsula strives to keep tuition increases as low as possible in an effort to make Waldorf education available to as many students as possible.
Q. What makes the Waldorf School of the Peninsula an independent school?
A. We are self-governed and operate without any public financial support. Independent schools rely solely on tuition revenues, and philanthropic gifts to meet their operating expenses. Some schools also have endowments that they can draw interest from to support their programs.
Q. Who supports the WSP Fund campaign?
A. Last year hundreds of people including alumni, friends of the school, grandparents, parents, students, past parents, and trustees who believe in our mission of educating children and who support our school’s ideals contributed to WSP Fund.
Q. Do corporations and foundations support the WSP Fund campaign?
A. Many corporations in Silicon Valley match their employees’ philanthropic gifts. As the Waldorf School of the Peninsula is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you may be able to double or even triple your gift by submitting the appropriate matching gift request along with your contribution. Since 2021, we’ve raised an average of $80,000 through matching gifts from our parents each year! If you don’t know whether your employer matches your contribution, please check here.
Q. How much should I donate to the WSP Fund Fund?
A. Only you can determine what is appropriate for your family, but we encourage you to be as generous as you can be. A suggested guideline for many independent schools is 10% of annual tuition. The only donation that is too small is a zero donation. All others we will receive with respect and gratitude.
Q. Who do I contact if I have further questions about the WSP Fund Campaign?
A. Please contact Christine McQuade Hsu, Advancement Director, at 650.209.9405.
Employer Match Program
See if your employer will match your contribution!
The Waldorf School of the Peninsula is a nonprofit, 501c 3 tax-exempt corporation. Tax ID 942941604.
