FAQs

The development office manages many activities, such as charitable giving, special events, and alumni relations. The office also encourages families to become involved in the life of the school by volunteering and connecting with fellow parents!

Gifts to the Annual Fund and the auction support immediate operational needs (financial aid, programs, and more) and bring our community together through a combination of volunteerism, philanthropic support, and fun. Contributions to the SCDS Infinity Fund Endowment allows the school to plan for future generations of students. Legacy gifts are always welcome, of course, and other opportunities to give — such as capital campaigns — arise at the school. If you are interested in learning more, please don't hesitate to contact the development office. 

Please contact the development team if you have a question you'd like to explore; they'd love to hear from you. 

Historically, SCDS's auction and Annual Fund combined have provided approximately 6% of the annual operating budget. While they are both fundraisers, the auction has an additional purpose: to bring the SCDS community together for an evening of fun. Parent participation in both the Annual Fund and auction is robust.

Simply put, an endowment is a perennial account prudently invested to preserve the principal (the gift), while the earnings are used to support goals and activities.

A school is a labor-intensive institution. SCDS has a specific mission, small class sizes, and a robust and challenging curriculum. While tuition provides the major source of funding for SCDS's programs, an endowment — like the SCDS Infinity Fund — helps provide a secure source of revenue, added financial flexibility, and long-term fiduciary health. In addition, given that SCDS is an independent school which neither solicits nor accepts government support, an endowment helps ensure SCDS’s independence into the future. 

SCDS operates annually with a balanced budget thanks to the tax-exempt gift support of the Annual Fund and auction. However, tuition and revenue from the Annual Fund and auction focus only on year-to-year budgets, expenses, and costs. In the long-term, as tuition continues to climb, an SCDS education may not be affordable for families with mission-appropriate students. The SCDS Infinity Fund provides an additional sustainable source of revenue for our school for perpetuity. 

There are many ways you can make a gift to SCDS:

• Call: 206-691-2620
• Check: Make out a check, payable to SCDS, and mail to:
  2619 4th Avenue N
  Seattle, WA 98109
  Please make sure to note the purpose of the gift in the comments field.
• Credit card/online: You can make a gift to donate via credit card or make a pledge (noting that we ask donors to fulfill pledges by June 30 each year). Both Visa and MC are accepted forms of payment.
• Securities Transfer: Let us know the type of shares and the date of your transfer request, and give your broker the following details about the SCDS account:

  US Bancorp Investments
  DTC 0280
  Account Name: Seattle Country Day School
  Account Number: 138585921

  Download the stock contribution form here.
  If you would like to submit a stock contribution form, please email the development office.  

Seattle Country Day School is a registered 501(c)(3); tax ID #91-0777610.

Gifts to SCDS’s Annual Fund range widely...recently, from $5 to $20,000, with an average around $1,300. Gifts of all amounts, including matching gifts from your or your spouse's employer, are very much appreciated. 

Every family individually determines the right amount to contribute. Gifts to the Auction, Infinity Fund Endowment, and bequests can vary greatly. Gifts to the Annual Fund have the following recognized levels:

Innovator: $15,000+*
Visionary: $10,000 to $14,999*
Benefactor: $5,000 to $9,999*
Patron: $3,000 to $4,999
Scholar: $1,000 to $2,999
Wildcat: up to $999

*Leadership-level giving

Matching gift programs are a wonderful way to leverage your gift to SCDS. Many companies will not only match your gifts dollar-for-dollar, but may also recognize your volunteer hours! We have listed, here, some companies that have generously made matching contributions to SCDS. How can you take advantage of matching programs? Reach out to your employer, see if they have a matching gift program, and submit the necessary form/paperwork. Questions about what qualifies as a matching gift? Contact the development office. Thank you!

Gifts to SCDS are acknowledged each year in the school's annual report. SCDS recognizes gifts by their level; the exact dollar amount of a gift is not made available publicly. Donors may choose to remain anonymous by selecting this option when they make a gift.