FAQ

Ever Forward is Darlington School’s $75 million comprehensive capital campaign focused on investing in the people, programs and places that will shape Darlington’s future.

The campaign advances five key priorities: Educating Scholars, Supporting Faculty, Inspiring Artists, Empowering Athletes and Enhancing Campus. Together, these investments will expand opportunities for students, strengthen our faculty and programs, and ensure our campus continues to meet the needs of generations to come.

The Darlington Fund is Darlington’s annual giving program, providing essential resources to support the school’s needs today.

Tuition alone does not cover the full cost of the Darlington experience. Annual gifts to The Darlington Fund help bridge that gap, supporting the exceptional faculty and staff, programs and resources that make a Darlington education possible each day—from academics, arts and athletics to technology, financial aid and student wellness.

The 2026-2027 Darlington Fund goal is $1.3 million. Gifts may support the school’s greatest needs or be designated to Faculty Development, Learning Center, or Financial Aid.

The Darlington Fund supports Darlington today. Ever Forward invests in Darlington’s future.

Every gift to Darlington is an investment in our students and the experience we provide them.

Participation at every level matters. Broad support from alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff and friends demonstrates the strength of the Darlington Community and our shared commitment to the school. 

Whether through an annual gift to The Darlington Fund, a commitment to Ever Forward, or both, we ask each member of our community to participate as generously as they are able.

We recommend making your gift to The Darlington Fund.

The Darlington Fund supports the needs of our students and school right now, and participation at every giving level is important.

For those who are able, we hope you will consider supporting both—continuing your annual participation in The Darlington Fund while making an additional commitment to Ever Forward.

The Darlington Fund supports Darlington today. Ever Forward invests in Darlington’s future.

Endowed giving is another tax-deductible way our community can support our school - with a lasting legacy. By establishing or giving to a named endowment fund, you are making a permanent gift to Darlington School that will continue to benefit our students and faculty far into the future. A named endowment fund can be created in your name or the name of another person and will provide permanent financial support to any program or project within the school that is particularly meaningful to you or the person(s) you wish to honor.

Endowment funds are similar to savings accounts or other financial assets that generate income through wise investments of the principal. Part of the income from the endowment provides cash toward annual operating expenses and relieves the necessity for large tuition increases.

The investment income earned from your fund will be used exclusively for the fund’s stated purpose and will be generated forever. It is Darlington’s policy to invest all endowment funds in a balanced and broadly diversified portfolio; comprised of conservative, fixed-income securities (bonds and money market funds) as well as more aggressive equity securities (stocks and managed stock funds). Your fund’s principal amount will be preserved within Darlington’s overall endowment.

Your fund can be designated for a specific purpose, program or scholarship of your choice.

Planned Giving is another way to leave a lasting legacy at Darlington in a significant way. A planned gift is a bequest made through your will or trust. It is one of the most popular and flexible ways that you can support our cause and can help you meet your personal, financial and estate planning goals by making a lifetime or testamentary charitable gift

Those who indicate they have listed Darlington in their estate plans are welcomed as members of the J. Daniel Hanks Sr. ’27 Heritage Society.

If you have questions or are interested in making a planned gift, please send an email to brmathis@darlingtonschool.org.

There are a variety of ways to make a Planned Gift:

• Bequest
• IRA Rollover
• Beneficiary Designation Gifts
• Charitable Gift Annuity
• Charitable Remainder Unitrust
• Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
• Charitable Lead Trust

And a variety of forms those gifts can take:

• Stocks and Bonts
• Real Estate
• Retirement Assets
• Cash
• Insurance

If you have questions or are interested in making a planned gift, please send an email to brmathis@darlingtonschool.org.

To make a gift to The Darlington Fund please visit https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/77512/donations/new 

To make a gift to the Ever Forward Campaign please visit https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/78270/donations/new 

For planned gifts: To make a gift, please contact your financial planner or Brooks Mathis, director of giving programs.

The Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program is a win-win-win for taxpayer donors, scholarship recipients, and our school community. By simply contributing to GOAL for a 100% Georgia income tax credit, you will help maximize this source of financial aid for deserving families desiring to receive a Darlington education.

Submit your 2027 GOAL Tax Credit Form online today by visiting www.goalscholarship.org.

For questions regarding the Georgia GOAL Scholarship, please contact Brooks Mathis, director of giving programs. 

Many companies double or even triple charitable gifts, increasing the impact of your donation. To see if your company has a matching gift program please click here. All matching funds received by May 31 will count toward your overall leadership giving total for that year.

Gifts of common stock can be donated at any time, allowing the donor to receive the fair market value of appreciated securities at the time the gift is made, while avoiding capital gains tax on the appreciated value of the stock.

Stock may be transferred from any brokerage house to Darlington School's account through Schwab. For instructions, please email Hannah (Willerson) Zuloaga (’19), advancement services officer.

For questions regarding The Darlington Fund, please contact Ella Givens ('17), director of annual giving.