What is Giving Day?
Giving Day is a whole day fundraising event for the whole Wellington school community; students, parents, Old Wellingtonians, alumni staff and friends of the School all around the world, inviting everyone to donate what they can towards making more bursaries available.  we believe that every child, regardless of their financial background, should have the opportunity to benefit from an exceptional education.
 
Old Wellingtonians, parents, staff and supporters will come together online for 24 hours, wherever they are in the world, to help grow the school’s bursary programme, and give students the benefit of a Wellington education.
 
Pupils and staff are organising a packed day of activities and competitions which we will share on our Wellington School Giving Day website and through social media.
 
We have a very generous donor who has agreed to some match funding so every single pound you donate really matters. It’s a day like no other and your gift will go even further than usual. It will be a transformational day of giving and it’s all about what we can achieve together. This year’s Giving Day will take place on 1^st April 2025. We’re excited for you to join us!
 
What difference will my donation make?
Every gift makes a difference, no matter the size, because Giving Day is all about the collective power of our Wellington community.
You gift will help change lives for children from all backgrounds who deserve a chance to shine at Wellington School. 
 
With thousands to unlock in matched and challenge funds, gifts go even further than usual. All gifts, of whatever size, add up and make a significant difference. Having a large number of donors encourages others to support us too, so we would love as many members of our community to participate in our Giving Day as possible.
 
Gifts during Giving Day will be matched pound for pound up to £50,000 by a generous donor, doubling the impact of your donation.
 
Where will the funds go? 
Every pound raised goes directly to support children through means-tested bursaries at Wellington School.??Whatever size of gift you feel comfortable with, it’s your participation that matters most.
 
Independent schools are now paying 20% VAT on school fees. - will that affect my donation?
At Wellington School we are doing all we can to mitigate these costs and to support our families, many of whom make huge sacrifices to send their children here. We have worked hard to reduce the impact that this change will have on our parents. However, this means that the need to support children through means tested bursaries is greater than ever. It is important to note that donations and grant income is not consideration for supply and is a non-business activity that falls outside the scope of VAT. In all cases, where the donor is a UK taxpayer and through the Government’s Gift Aid scheme, The Wellington School Foundation can claim an additional 25p for every £1 donated. Donors can therefore increase the value of their donations to us by 25% at no extra cost. All donations will be used to support means-tested bursaries and will not be subject to VAT. The Wellington School Foundation is a registered charity: No 1105256.
 
Please just tick the gift aid box when you make your donation.
 
How can I make my gift?
We’d love you to join in on 1^st April 2025, but we understand that your schedule might not allow you to participate during the Giving Day itself. 
 
There are several ways to make your gift, whether you’d like to give on the day or before it: 
 
During the Giving Day (1^st April 2025)
 
Online: Through our Giving Day platform (the site you’re currently on)
By phone: 01823 668858
By post: Cheques made out to The Wellington School Foundation can be sent to c/o Juliet Handley, Wellington School, South Street, Wellington TA21 8NT.
 
Before the day:   If you would like to make an early gift to our Giving Day, the best way to do this is through the ‘Give Early’ option on the platform. 
 
If you cannot give online, you can still give early by post (see above). Please be sure to indicate that your gift should support our Giving Day.
 
Is my payment secure?
Yes. All payments through our Giving Day website will be securely processed by a secure, off-site payment processor called Stripe www.stripe.com/gb/privacy
 
Why is my payment not going through?
We’re sorry that you’re having difficulty making your gift. Common errors include:
 
Incorrect card details
Postcode is incorrect or doesn’t match the address linked to your card
 
Please double-check the above before you contact us. 
 
If you continue to have problems making your gift, please email us at [email protected] or call 01823 668858.  
 
I set up a recurring payment, what will show in the totaliser? 
Yes, the total of your direct debit payments for the duration of time selected will show up in the total raised on the website. 
 
Is there a minimum donation?
The minimum online gift amount is £1.
 
Can I claim Gift Aid on this donation?
Yes! If you are a UK taxpayer and have paid as much Income Tax and/or Capital Gains tax as the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year, Wellington School Foundation can reclaim the basic tax rate (25%) on your gift, with no extra cost to you. So, for example, your donation of £100 will be worth £125.
 
Can I donate tax-efficiently?
Gifts from the USA: Tax-deductible contributions can be made via the British Schools and Universities Foundation www.bsuf.org America which is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organisation. If you make your gift via the Wellington School Giving Day platform and select ‘Donate in USD’ you will be directed to our US donation form.
 
How can I help spread the word?
Your support will make a huge difference to Wellington School Foundation’s Giving Day 2025. Post about our Giving Day using the hashtags #I???? and #???? on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - and don’t forget to tag us!  Make sure to tell your friends about this exciting day to get involved and make a difference.
 
My question hasn’t been answered. How can I get in touch?
Feel free to get in touch with Juliet or the team on [email protected] or call 01823 668858.
 
Can I connect using WhatsApp?
Yes. Send a message, stating who you are, to 07607 617923 and we can take it from there. ?
 
Can I make a gift before the giving day?
Yes! We know that not all donors’ schedules will allow them to participate during the Giving Day itself. You can make your gift through our Giving Day platform anytime from now until 26 May. Alternatively, please send your gift by post or make a gift online through the Wellington School website.
 
How much do people give on a Giving Day?
Anything from £1 upwards…… £20,000 will fund one day student for a year, £50,000 will fund a boarding student for one year
 
How much of my donation today will be allocated towards Wellington School bursaries?
We put the maximum proportion of your donation as possible towards the area which you wish to support. No administrative or other costs are met through fundraising.  Stripe, our payment processor, charges a small fee of 1.5% + 20p for each donation. This means that a £10 donation would result in £9.65 going towards bursaries (excluding gift aid).
 
I would like my donation to support a particular area. Is this possible?
No. In this instance all money raised is going to bursaries. However, if you have a particular interest in another area of the school, then please do get in touch with the team on [email protected] or call 01823 668858
 
I would like to make a regular monthly donation. How do I do this?
Click the ‘Donate’ button at the top-right of any page in the Giving Day platform to open the gift form. Then in the ‘Your Gift’ section, tick the checkbox stating that you would like to make a regular direct debit.
 
Can I give anonymously?
Yes. When making your gift, tick the relevant box in the ‘Gift Visibility’ section of the form.
 
I would like to leave a bequest to Wellington School in my Will. Can you help?
Yes. Instead of making this type of gift through the Giving Day platform, you can get more information about leaving a legacy to Wellington School by contacting our development team on email: [email protected]  or call Juliet or Rachel on 01823 668858
 
Do you have a Donor's Charter?
Yes. Our donor's charter is part of our published Wellington School Fundraising and Gift Acceptance Policy found on our school website.