Westmark Fund FAQ

The Westmark Fund is one of the critical sources of operating income and, as such, ensures the strength and success of our programs.

Donations are used to support various aspects of the School, including:

• Small class sizes, ensuring personalized attention for each student.
• Educational programs, enhancing both academic and social-emotional learning.
• Arts and athletics, providing robust programs that foster creativity and physical well-being.
• Tuition assistance, making Westmark accessible to families from diverse financial backgrounds.
• Professional learning, keeping our educators updated with the latest teaching methodologies.
• Technology upgrades, equipping classrooms with the latest educational tools.

Tuition alone does not cover the full cost of a Westmark education. The Westmark Fund bridges this gap, ensuring that we can offer individualized, research-based education to all our students, regardless of their financial background. In fact, the Westmark Fund is a line item in our operating budget.

Your gift is a direct investment in your student. Think of how few opportunities there are to make a charitable gift that directly benefits your own child(ren).

All Westmark Fund dollars raised are used in the current school year to provide critical support of programs and educational expenses essential to the Westmark experience. We count on the support of our community to meet the needs of our operating budget each year, and the donations benefit your student(s) immediately.

How much each family contributes is a personal decision, but we ask that everyone be as generous as possible. The real impact of the Westmark Fund is in our community’s collective giving. 

Yes! A gift or pledge made early in the school year is a great advantage because it allows us to know what funds are available to support the programs in the current school year and allows us to plan for the future year.

We ask donors to make their contribution or pledge by December 31 with pledge payments being due by June 30.

High participation signals institutional strength and school pride, particularly our community’s belief in Westmark’s approach to educating students with learning differences.  It also means that more individuals are sharing the financial responsibility to support the School. Family participation is essential for Westmark's accreditation process and for securing grants from outside foundations. 

Yes, donations to the Westmark Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive a receipt for your contribution, which you can use for tax purposes.

There are multipe ways to give to Westmark School. Many of these methods have significant tax advantages. Read more about ways to give.

Yes, you can set up a monthly, quarterly, or an annual recurring donation. This allows you to spread your contribution over time and provide ongoing support to the school. Many donors use recurring giving in order to make a larger commitment to the school than they could in a lump sum payment.

For more information, please contact our Advancement Office at advancement@westmarkschool.org or call 818-986-5045. We are happy to answer any questions and assist you with your donation.