The Walker’s Fund plays a vital role in the financial strength of our school by providing for expenses not covered by tuition or interest from the endowment. The Ethel Walker School is a non-profit, independent organization that operates without financial assistance from any public source. As tuition dollars meet only part of the actual cost for educating a student, we need to raise additional funds to support the gap between income and the actual operating cost of the
school.
Tuition at Walker's, as with most independent schools, does not cover the full cost of the education. We estimate that tuition makes up just 58% of that cost. Because the School is committed to diversity in all its definitions, including socio-economic diversity, Walker's strives to make its excellence in education available to a diverse group of students regardless of financial background. This could not be achieved without the significant support of financial aid programs and the incredible generosity of our annual giving community, including parents (past and present), alumnae, trustees, faculty, staff, and friends of Walker’s.
All of the money raised through The Walker’s Fund is put into the operating budget for that year. Currently, The Walker’s Fund represents 31% of the funding for all operations, including academic programs, extra curricular activities, student support, athletic programs, faculty salaries, administration, plant operations, and financial aid.
Many employers will match a gift you make to a non-profit or charitable organization. Ask your employer for a matching gift form to help extend your support to Walker’s even further.
In 2007, Walker’s celebrated a significant milestone; the school’s endowment grew to $18 million through proceeds from The Ethel Walker Woods land deal. While a tremendous achievement, we will not see income generated from this increased endowment during the short term. The school continues to look toward The Walker’s Fund to support day-to-day school operations.
Independent schools represent a unique form of education in our society, and independence demands an above-average commitment on the part of its members. Participation is as critical a component as the dollar amount given. Please demonstrate your support by making a gift at some level.
