Support Walker

A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

PHILANTHROPY

For over 65 years The Walker School’s parents, friends and families have selflessly given of their time, talent and resources to ensure our mission is fulfilled for every generation of Walker students.

Walker is the extraordinary school it is because of the generous philanthropic support of its families, both past and present. It is through the act of giving that Walker is able to maintain its outstanding academic, arts and athletic programs, and attract and retain the finest educators. There are so many ways to give; please explore these pages to discover what works best for you and your family. Remember that your gifts deepen the educational experience for everyone at The Walker School.

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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Like all independent schools, The Walker School relies on a culture of philanthropy to enhance its programs and facilities.

Philanthropy plays a critical role in the life of independent schools and is an important piece of the puzzle beyond tuition. To the right, you will find the many ways you can invest your charitable dollars in Walker to allow our students, teachers and programs to flourish.

THE WALKER FUND
The Walker Fund is the school’s largest and most important annual fundraising effort. Like all independent schools, tuition does not cover the entire cost of a Walker education. The Walker Fund provides vital resources in support of our academic, arts and athletic programs as well as professional development for our faculty and staff. Tax-deductible contributions to The Walker Fund ensure and enhance the Walker experience for every student, every day. Learn more about The Walker Fund here
MATCHING GIFTS
Many employers will match, and in some cases triple, the amount of your contribution to Walker through a matching gift program. If you have any questions about matching gifts to benefit Walker, please contact Elizabeth Sirk via email or call (770) 366-2512. To learn more about gift matching and whether your employer takes part in the program please visit our Matching Gifts page.
PLEDGES
The Walker School accepts and encourages pledge commitments to the Annual Fund. Pledges must be paid by June 30, the end of the school’s fiscal year. To make an online pledge to the Annual Fund, email or call Elizabeth Sirk, Director of Development, at (770)366-2512.
CASH/CHECK/ONLINE
The majority of gifts made to the Annual Fund come in the form of cash or check. A gift of cash receives the most generous federal income tax deduction available for charitable contributions. Gifts or pledge payments can be made online by credit card or mailed directly to the school. Make a gift today.
GEORGIA GOAL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
The Georgia GOAL Tax Credit Program makes an extraordinary impact on our student body, providing financial aid for highly qualified students with significant financial need. Through the program, state residents, S- and C-corporations, LLCs, partnerships and trusts can redirect a portion of their Georgia tax liability to a Student Scholarship Organization (SSO) in support of financial aid at one or more independent schools of the taxpayer’s choice. When you participate through Georgia GOAL (Walker’s SSO of choice), you receive a 100 percent dollar-for-dollar tax credit to your state income tax bill for the amount of your contribution. Learn more about Georgia GOAL here.
GIFTS OF STOCK
The Walker School accepts gifts of publicly traded securities. A gift of appreciated securities held for more than one year is one of the most tax-wise ways to make a donation. You receive the immediate fair market value as a charitable deduction and can avoid capital gains tax. The Walker School gratefully accepts gifts of securities. To make a stock transfer, please follow the procedure listed below. Instruct your broker to transfer the gift shares directly to The Walker School’s broker, Merrill Lynch. The Merrill Lynch DTC# is 8862. The Merrill Lynch account number is 6AK-02002. The name of the account is The Walker School Inc. (Donations Account) At the time of transfer, it is very important that your broker provide the details to the Merrill Lynch representative, Ronda Kalaman, Private Wealth Associate, at (404) 231-6060 or by emailing her at ronda_kalaman@ml.com. The mailing address is: Ponder, Jowers & Associates, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc., 3455 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1100, Atlanta, Georgia 30326. To ensure that the stock is properly accounted for, ALSO AT THE TIME OF TRANSFER, have your broker contact Katlin Seger, at 678-540-7231 or katlin.seger@thewalkerschool.org, regarding the stock transfer.
HONOR/MEMORIAL GIFTS
Memorial gifts are an honorable and loving way to remember a family member, loved one or friend. Gifts may be made in memory of someone or in honor of a special teacher or friend of The Walker School during an Annual Fund or Capital Campaign. You may make a gift at any time in honor of or in memory of someone and an appropriate fund can be established. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Sirk, director of Development via email or at (770) 366-2512.
PLANNED GIFTS
Since 1957, The Walker School has prepared students for a lifetime of learning, and you want to help ensure the School's economic future for following generations. You want your gift to make a difference, but are concerned about your own future financial needs and those of your family. A planned gift might be an option that can benefit both you and the school. There are several financial tools you can use to plan your gift to Walker. For instance: You don't have to use cash to make your gift. Instead, you can donate appreciated securities and use an asset that costs you less than the tax deduction you'll get for it today. You may be holding assets that would benefit Walker more than they do you, such as a life insurance policy that you no longer need or a parcel of real estate like a second home or undeveloped land. You can make a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime, such as by making Walker a beneficiary of your will or revocable trust or a beneficiary of your retirement plan, and let your cash flow and current financial planning continue uninterrupted. We would be happy to talk with you further about the many ways to make a planned gift to The Walker School. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Sirk, Director of Development, via email or at (770) 366-2512.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our hope is that you will choose to be fully involved in the life of our school. We realize there are numerous opportunities to give of your time, talent and resources, and we hope you will make Walker a top volunteer and philanthropic priority.

We want all families to give their time supporting our community at athletic events and musical performances, to share their talents by volunteering in the classroom and by organizing community-building events or by fundraising with the Development Office. We hope every family will make a gift to The Walker Fund at the level that is right for them.

My family already pays tuition. Why is a gift to The Walker Fund needed as well?
It is a reality not just at Walker but at all independent schools: Tuition alone cannot fund the entire cost of a private education. Because tuition only covers 95 percent of the school’s operating costs, philanthropic support through The Walker Fund helps make up that difference. Your tax deductible gifts account for 5 percent of a student’s Walker experience.
What does my gift to The Walker Fund do?
Every dollar contributed to The Walker Fund is used to provide the outstanding faculty, programs and facilities that directly benefit your student every day.
Specifically, gifts to The Walker Fund:
Assist with salaries and benefits that allow us to hire and sustain a team of outstanding faculty, staff and coaches. Provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to gain knowledge and skills in their area of expertise. Purchase state-of-the-art technology and new curriculum materials for use in our classrooms at all division levels. Supply resources and equipment needed to sustain and enhance our high-quality academic, arts and athletic programs.
Why is my participation so important?
Not only does participation signify a high level of community commitment to the school’s mission, it also strengthens our case when seeking support from foundations and corporations. Walker has received $2.7 million in foundation grants in the last few years to support financial aid, academic programs and facilities construction.
How much of a difference does my gift really make?
The Walker School has fewer supporters than a large university or charity, but our needs are just as great. That’s why we ask every member of the Walker community — including our Board of Trustees, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, grandparents and friends — to make a yearly gift to The Walker Fund.