The Darlington Fund is one of the tax-deductible ways for alumni, parents and grandparents, parents and grandparents of alumni and friends to give to the school. Tuition alone does not cover the full cost of the Darlington experience. Annual gifts to The Darlington Fund provide at least 6% of the entire budget during the school year and are used to recruit and retain excellent faculty and staff and provide the best programs and resources in arts, athletics, academics and technology.

Gifts to The Darlington Fund may be directed in a variety of ways. All gifts support the greatest needs of the school but can be designated to: Faculty Development, Learning Center, Financial Aid, Arts, Athletics, Academics, Technology, or Health and Wellness.

The 2024-2025 Darlington Fund goal is $1.2 million.

It is the responsibility of our community to maintain and enhance the experience provided by Darlington. A high rate of participation shows the investment by the community. Foundations and corporations who support our school are positively encouraged by strong and varied support. Gifts range from $5 to $50,000 annually with Leadership Giving beginning at $1,500.

We ask that each person give as generously as they are able as we appreciate and need gifts of every size. Our key stakeholders - faculty and staff and the board of trustees and Alumni Council give at 100%.

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.

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

For gifts to The Darlington Fund: We accept checks, credit cards, publicly traded stocks and bank transfers via Flywire, as well as matching gifts. Gifts can be made online at any time, one time or in monthly installments. Gifts must be received by the end of the fiscal year on May 31 to count toward this school year’s Darlington Fund.

For endowed gifts: We accept checks, credit cards, publicly traded stocks and bank transfers. Gifts can be made online at any time by selecting “Other” under Fund Direction.

For planned gifts: To make a planned gift please contact your financial planner and Julie Lucas.

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 2024 GOAL Tax Credit Form online today by visiting www.goalscholarship.org.

For more information about the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, please contact Cassidy Carter, director of development.

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. To view our full stock instructions please click here.

Please contact anyone in the Advancement Office or explore our website for more information. We are happy to help!