Giving – Frequently Asked Questions
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Giving – Frequently Asked Questions

We rely on our Woodstock community – current parents, alumni, Board members, and friends – to continue our legacy of Education for a World of Difference with ever-increasing relevance and impact for our students and communities across the globe.

 

 

Contributions touch every aspect of the school. Students are able to enjoy expanded scholarships, counselling, and support services along with academic and extracurricular programmes in science, performing arts, sports, and outdoor education. Faculty, residence staff, and administrative staff are able to take advantage of professional development opportunities. Infrastructure projects such as updating academic campus buildings and staff and employee housing provide a living and learning environment that keeps everyone thriving and inspired.

 

Your gifts help us apply financial resources to the areas of greatest need. Your participation ensures the school’s solid financial future and inspires others to support and invest in the school. Below are common questions and answers about giving to Woodstock School. For more information, please get in touch with the Advancement Office at advancement@woodstock.ac.in.

Why We Need the Broadest Possible Support from Our Community

 

 

 

The Woodstock School Distinctives featured above are at the core of our strongly-rooted yet ever-evolving identity and showcase our historical points of pride as well as our vision for equipping Woodstock’s students and global community for the future. While supported by our legacies and surroundings, Woodstock School Distinctives cannot thrive on their own. They require the constant striving, nurturing, and support of countless community members like you. Woodstock offers many different ways to get involved, nearly all of which include significant contributions from the side of the school in terms of both funding and professional support. No matter how you choose to support the school – whether through annual giving, student scholarships, funding new initiatives, or leaving a legacy via planned giving, your generosity will make a big difference. Consider giving today by making Woodstock one of your philanthropic priorities, and invest in the future of our students!

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why does it seem so difficult for non-Indian citizens (including PIO and OCI card holders) to give to Woodstock School?

Governments are raising the minimum threshold for receiving tax deductions for donations, and more foreign donors are seeking to give directly to Woodstock School. However, donors often become frustrated when they learn of the very specific process that must be followed for Woodstock School to receive their donations.

Woodstock School must adhere to the Indian government’s Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA), which stipulates that all donations from non-Indian citizens (including PIO and OCI card holders) be submitted via bank-to-bank transfer or check ONLY to a specially designated State Bank of India account. No online payment or transfer services may be used to send money to this account. Note that checks can take anywhere from weeks to months to clear.

Foreign donors must use the account details below for check or bank-to-bank electronic funds transfer (EFT) ONLY, assuring the payee name you write/enter is EXACTLY as it appears below under “Account Name.”Bank Name: State Bank of IndiaAccount Name: The Board of Directors of the Woodstock School and Teachers Training CollegeAccount Number: 40078561071IFS Code: SBIN0000691SWIFT Code: SBININBB104Bank Address: FCRA Cell, 4th Floor, State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch, 11 Sansad Marg, New Delhi ‐ 110001

Checks should include the purpose of donation written on the note line and be mailed to the following address:

Advancement Office
Woodstock School
Landour, Tehri Road
Mussoorie – 248179
Uttarakhand – India

 

What are annual giving and the Woodstock Fund for Excellence?

Annual giving focuses on the school’s annual fundraising priority. Each year, all members of our community (parents, alumni, board members, staff, and friends) are asked to make a donation to Woodstock. The revenues raised through our annual giving programme support the Woodstock Fund for Excellence. This is our unrestricted fund, which means we can support projects and initiatives where resources are required most, helping to provide our students with an exemplary Woodstock education now and into the future.

 

 

Why is annual giving so important? What does it fund?

Tuition covers the majority of the school’s annual budget. Annual giving and other major gifts pay for the essentials needed for excellence and for projects and programmes required to ensure that the school stays relevant and competitive into the future.

 

How much am I expected to give?

We are more interested in having your philanthropic support than in the amount of that support.  Our request is that you make it a habit to contribute something to Woodstock annually and, based on the evolution of your involvement in Woodstock’s future, consider making Woodstock one of your primary philanthropic priorities. 

Most Woodstock School fundraising projects and appeals have giving levels attached to them, along with an estimation of how many gifts are needed at each level to achieve the fundraising goal. We ask you to contribute at a level that is personally meaningful and that makes sense for you and your family.  Every gift is greatly valued and deeply appreciated.

 

Why is a gift of ANY size important to Woodstock?

Support of  Woodstock School represents your belief in the continuation of the Woodstock School mission and your dedication to the maintenance of the vision for Education for a World of Difference for current and future students. Your gift of any amount demonstrates to our campus community, alumni, past/current parents, and foundations your continued commitment to Woodstock as an institution unique in all the world. Yes, Woodstock School is unique in its place-based education focused on global citizenship and individual mentoring to bring out the best in each member of our global, lifelong learning community. Small gifts add up to become large ventures.

As our friends at Canadian Friends of Woodstock School (CFWS) put it:

Studying in the Himalayas at India’s leading international boarding school is the opportunity of a lifetime, with students and staff joining Woodstock from 30+ countries worldwide. Woodstock School exemplifies excellence in academics, enrichment, and residential life. A holistic learning experience develops well-rounded students who go on to become global citizens, succeeding and thriving in all walks of life.

 

Can I include Woodstock School in my will or other financial plans?

Yes! Over 100 supporters to date have joined the Lyre Tree Society by indicating that they have included WoodstoclSchool in their financial plans. Please see the sidebar on this page for more information.

 

My company is required to make Corporate Social Responsibility contributions under India’s Companies Act. is it possible for Woodstock School to receive CSR funding?

Yes! Woodstock School is registered to receive CSR funding and in past years has received donations from a handful of companies. We are always interested to learn more ideas on how to partner with companies in their CSR. Please email us at advancement@woodstock.ac.in if you think Woodstock might be a good fit for your company’s CSR plans – or if you know of a company we should be working with!

 

Can I designate my gift?

Donors may direct their contributions to one of the specific projects detailed in appeals from Woodstock School and described on our online giving page. Simply specify which area you want to support when you make your donation. Unrestricted gifts to the Woodstock School or FWS Fund for Excellence (gifts that can be applied with discretion where needed most) provide Woodstock with the greatest degree of flexibility to respond to needs that may arise in these times of continued uncertainty. Please note that as an independent U.S.-based charitable organisation, Friends of Woodstock School (FWS) may not accept donations towards all of the same purposes Woodstock School promotes via campaigns and its giving page. Please check the FWS website for a full list of funds for which FWS accepts donations.

 

I’m not sure which fund to support. Which is the most useful for Woodstock?

Whichever fund you choose to support, you can rest assured that your donation will be put to work as effectively as possible. But if you’re not sure which area you want to support, a donation to the Woodstock Fund for Excellence gives the school the most flexibility to use the money where the community needs it most. Because the fund is unrestricted, Woodstock can use the money to support highest-priority projects and initiatives.

 

Who is asked to contribute to the Woodstock Fund for Excellence?

The Woodstock Fund for Excellence helps support the ENTIRE Woodstock community. Accordingly, we seek help from the worldwide community of past and present parents, alumni, board members, friends, and staff.

 

Can I make a gift to the Woodstock Fund for Excellence over a period of time?

You may consider a monthly or sustained gift. A sustaining gift gives you control of your monthly expenses and also demonstrates your fiscal support of Woodstock’s current and future mission. The monthly charge on your credit card may be cancelled at any time upon request. These recurring donations may be set up to be payable to Woodstock School (Indian citizens only – contact advancement@woodstock.ac.in for details) or to Friends of Woodstock School (U.S. citizens).

 

Is my gift tax-deductible?

Donations by non-Indian citizens (including PIO and OCI card holders), who are not eligible for (or do not require) tax relief in the U.S. or India can be made directly to Woodstock School.

Gifts made directly to Woodstock School by citizens of India are eligible for tax benefit under section 80G.

Gifts made by residents of the U.S. to the Friends of Woodstock School Foundation, which is a U.S. IRS-recognised not-for-profit 501(3)(c) organisation, are eligible for tax benefit in the U.S.

Gifts made by residents of Canada to Canadian Friends of Woodstock School, which is a Canadian government-recognised charitable organisation, are eligible for tax benefits in Canada.

Donors who are not citizens of India, the U.S., or Canada may qualify for tax benefits in accordance with the laws of their respective countries. Note that a UK charitable trust will soon be established to provide tax benefit to UK residents wishing to support Woodstock School.

 

How does the Woodstock Fund for Excellence affect Woodstock’s operating budget?

Each year Woodstock School depends on a combination of income from fees and charitable contributions to achieve its educational objectives. Contributions to the Woodstock Fund for Excellence meet immediate needs and are allocated towards capital project improvements such as staff and employee housing, as well as to special student projects and professional development opportunities for staff.

 

Do all international independent schools like Woodstock fundraise?

Yes, most international independent schools fundraise and greatly depend on external funding to pursue relevance, growth, and ever-greater excellence into the future. In fact, the average percentage of annual income received from external funding for boarding schools around the world is 22% compared to the 5.5% of annual income received from external funding at Woodstock School.* Tuition is the “price tag” for an independent international school education, but it is not the true cost.

Current Scholarships: Support a 2023-24 Scholar for Peace

Help conflict-affected students in need & continue Woodstock's legacy of transformative learning by living with differences!

₹1,690 of ₹21.05 lakh
1 donations

Current Scholarships: Support a 2023-24 Scholar for Peace

₹1,690 of ₹21.05 lakh raised

This project’s fundraising goal and total donations are based on combined contributions to Woodstock School and to charitable organizations that support Woodstock School.

Help a conflict-affected student in need and support intercultural learning and global citizenship.

Join our crowdfunding drive to provide 2023-24 academic year tuition and related expenses for one of the incredible high-need, high-achieving young people who come to Woodstock School as Scholars for Peace (SFP), as Woodstock works to welcome the first SFP student from Ukraine and continues tuition-funded efforts to support at least five students from conflict-affected areas around the world in Grades 9-12. Your contributions will also allow the school to focus more of its operating budget on innovating education and recruiting and diversifying excellent, long-serving faculty.

Use the drop-down menu and radio buttons below to select your currency and giving level. The amount will automatically change based on your selected currency and giving levels.
 
Citizenship/Passport Status Required
I acknowledge I will ONLY pay through the international methods detailed below and will NOT choose a payment method designated for Indian citizens. Required
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

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Terms

Donation Total: ₹33,500.00

Institutional Endowment: Woodstock School Diversity Scholarships Fund

Help continue Woodstock's legacy of transformational education through its diverse living and learning community!

₹0 of ₹1 crore
0 donation

Institutional Endowment: Woodstock School Diversity Scholarships Fund

₹0 of ₹1 crore raised

This project’s fundraising goal and total donations are based on combined contributions to Woodstock School and to charitable organizations that support Woodstock School.

Help continue Woodstock’s legacy of transformational education through its diverse living and learning community!

Join our community crowdfunding drive to raise 1 crore in initial funds for an institutional endowment ensuring a diverse Woodstock School student body. Although Wodtsock School is a 169-year-old institution, it lacks an institutional endowment – a large investment from which only the interest is regularly drawn to ensure long-term viability. Woodstock is focused on student diversity both as an important legacy and as a key to the school’s future and therefore is focusing its institutional endowment solely on providing scholarships to attract a diverse range of students who are a good fit for the school. The funds from this endowment will supplement Woodstock’s tuition-funded efforts to attract diverse students to campus and allow the school to focus more of its operating budget on innovating education and recruiting and diversifying excellent, long-serving faculty.

 

Use the drop-down menu and radio buttons below to select your currency and giving level. The amount will automatically change based on the currency and giving level you select.
 
Citizenship/Passport Status Required
I acknowledge I will ONLY pay through the international methods detailed below and will NOT choose a payment method designated for Indian citizens. Required
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Billing Details

Terms

Donation Total: ₹35,000.00

Better Spaces: Parker Hall Heritage Renovations Kickstarter

Keep the Parker Hall legacy alive by helping Woodstock kickstart renovations that improve capacity, technology, and…

₹82,829 of ₹1 crore
1 donation

Better Spaces: Parker Hall Heritage Renovations Kickstarter

₹82,829 of ₹1 crore raised

This project’s fundraising goal and total donations are based on combined contributions to Woodstock School and to charitable organizations that support Woodstock School.

Keep Parker Hall’s legacy alive by helping Woodstock kickstart renovations that will improve capacity, technology, and function while retaining its iconic character.

Naming opportunities available – contact advancement@woodstock.ac.in for more information and watch for updates here!

Commemorate your time in Parker Hall by joining our community drive to kickstart Parker Hall renovations. The renovations will maximize Parker Hall’s usefulness with improved capacity, technology, and functionality while retaining its iconic character! Designed by award-winning heritage architect Aishwarya Tipnis and based on input from our community, Parker Hall’s renovation will achieve an incredible synergy of excellent performance space and technology, safety, sustainability, and heritage preservation. If this initial fundraising goal is met, renovations are slated to begin in the summer of 2024. This landmark project has an expected overall cost of nearly INR 1.47 crore or USD 1.77 million, with fundraising to continue over the next 2-3 years. The funds supporting this and other capital projects will supplement Woodstock School tuition-funded campus master plan expenditures and allow the school to focus more of its operating budget on innovating education and recruiting and diversifying excellent, long-serving faculty.

 

Use the drop-down menu and radio buttons below to select your currency and giving level. The amount will automatically change based on your selected currency and giving levels.
 
Citizenship/Passport Status Required
I acknowledge I will ONLY pay through the international methods detailed below and will NOT choose a payment method designated for Indian citizens. Required
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Billing Details

Terms

Donation Total: ₹35,000.00

Scholarship Endowment: Scholars for Peace Supporting High-Need, Conflict-Affected Students

Help continue Woodstock's legacies of helping those who need it most, providing refuge from conflict and…

₹66,269 of ₹1 crore
1 donation

Scholarship Endowment: Scholars for Peace Supporting High-Need, Conflict-Affected Students

₹66,269 of ₹1 crore raised

This project’s fundraising goal and total donations are based on combined contributions to Woodstock School and to charitable organizations that support Woodstock School.

Support the Scholars for Peace Endowment and help continue Woodstock’s legacies of helping those who need it most, providing refuge from conflict and educating for a world of difference!

Join our community crowdfunding drive to raise 1 crore in initial funds for an endowment fund from which only the interest is regularly drawn to ensure the longevity of Scholars for Peace, a flagship initiative that for the last decade has helped students impacted by conflict. The program enriches the learning experiences of all in our community and helps achieve Education for a World of Difference in areas including Global Citizenship Rooted in a Culture of Service; Lived Diversity, Reflection, and Self Discovery; and Interfaith Dialogue and Peace-building as a Natural Expression of Christian values. The funds from this endowment will supplement Woodstock School tuition-funded efforts to support at least five students from conflict-affected areas around the world in Grades 9-12. Your contributions will also allow the school to focus more of its operating budget on innovating education and recruiting and diversifying excellent, long-serving faculty.

 

Use the drop-down menu and radio buttons below to select your currency and giving level. The amount will automatically change based on the currency and giving level you select.
 
Citizenship/Passport Status Required
I acknowledge I will ONLY pay through the international methods detailed below and will NOT choose a payment method designated for Indian citizens. Required
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Billing Details

Terms

Donation Total: ₹35,000.00

Better Spaces: Alter Ridge Dining Hall Renovation

Help Woodstock bring the Alter Ridge Dining Hall up to date with climate control and improved…

₹4,493 of ₹50 lakh
1 donations

Better Spaces: Alter Ridge Dining Hall Renovation

₹4,493 of ₹50 lakh raised

This project’s fundraising goal and total donations are based on combined contributions to Woodstock School and to charitable organizations that support Woodstock School.

 

Make Alter Ridge Dining Hall a Space for Warmth, Nourishment, and Laughter!

Join our community crowdfunding drive to partner with Woodstock and fund half of Alter Ridge Dining Hall renovations. The renovations – which will bring more space and more light into Alter Ridge Dining Hall – include rewiring and provision of power points all around the dining hall for study. They also include energy-efficient LED lighting and refurbishing of doors and windows. The flooring will be redone for safer walking surfaces, and serving counters will be added to the food service area. Proper hand wash and drinking water stations as well as the first-ever toilets in the dining hall area will be added.

Designed by award-winning heritage architect Aishwarya Tipnis and based on input from our community, the Alter Ridge Dining Hall renovations will achieve an incredible synergy of excellent community space and aesthetics, safety, sustainability, and heritage preservation. The funds supporting this and other capital projects will supplement Woodstock’s tuition-funded campus master plan expenditures and allow the school to focus more of its operating budget on innovating education and recruiting/diversifying excellent, long-serving faculty.

NOTE: This project is not currently eligible to receive funding from Friends of Woodstock School (FWS).

 

Use the drop-down menu and radio buttons below to select your currency and giving level. The amount will automatically change based on the currency and giving level you select.
 
Citizenship/Passport Status Required
I acknowledge I will ONLY pay through the international methods detailed below and will NOT choose a payment method designated for Indian citizens. Required
Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Billing Details

Terms

Donation Total: ₹25,000.00

*Source: National Association of Independent Schools, January 2023 (includes a global sample of schools with data for 2020-2021); Woodstock School financial data with a five-year average for Indian fiscal years 2017-2022.