The Community Fund is a vital charitable giving program, and is the primary way that our CWS community makes philanthropic gifts to the school. Tuition and class fees only cover a percentage of the actual cost of education at the Chicago Waldorf School; the purpose of the Community Fund is to cover that remaining gap and help to enhance the school’s operating budget.

Click here to give to the Community Fund online.

You may make a check payable to Chicago Waldorf School and submit it at our Main Office or mail to:

Chicago Waldorf School
Attn: Advancement Department
5200 N Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640.

Do you or your spouse or partner work for an organization or company that matches gifts to non-profit organizations, such as schools? Do you serve on a board of directors of an organization that matches gifts by their directors? Many companies offer matching gifts for employees, employees’ spouses/partners and some retirees. Request a matching gift form from the company’s benefits or personnel office and submit it with your payment. What a wonderful way to increase your gift to Chicago Waldorf School!

Donors may transfer appreciated securities as a form of payment.

- Authorize your broker to transfer shares to Chicago Waldorf School
- Contact our Advancement Director for information on how to effectively transfer securities

Real estate might be a perfect gift to Chicago Waldorf School because normally the sale of appreciated real estate often leads to capital gains taxes, real estate agent and attorney fees, etc. Many of these taxes can be avoided by involving a non-profit organization in your plans. Some donors may even choose to occupy the property for their life, with the asset becoming valuable to Chicago Waldorf School upon death.

Can you forgo the earnings from a property or another asset to fund a special gift to Chicago Waldorf School?

A donor can make a gift over a period of years or over a lifetime by creating a Charitable Lead Trust. Earnings go to Chicago Waldorf School and when the trust terminates, the assets revert back to the donor or to a named beneficiary or loved ones, such as grandchildren.

In exchange for cash or securities, Chicago Waldorf School will pay the donor or a loved one a fixed amount annually for the rest of their life or for the lives of two annuitants. A minimum contribution of $25,000 must be made in order for a Charitable Gift Annuity to be established at Chicago Waldorf School. Most donors can expect payout rates from approximately 6 percent to 9.7 percent annually. You can even support Chicago Waldorf School by designating 80 percent of the earnings income to you and 20 percent to Chicago Waldorf School.

Would you or a loved one like to receive a fixed annual income for life and help support the school's initiatives?

By creating an irrevocable Charitable Remainder Trust, you can receive annual income until death when the corpus of the trust is distributed to Chicago Waldorf School. You can even support the school now by designating 80 percent of the earnings income to you and 20 percent to Chicago Waldorf School!