Restricted Gifts

Restricted Gifts and Endowment Gifts have a profound impact on our students and faculty for years to come. We welcome an opportunity to learn about your passions and areas of greatest interest so that we can develop a gift or pledge plan that aligns your philanthropic passions with Sanford’s needs.

Gifts to specific fundraising projects are administered as either an Endowed Fund or a Spend-Down Fund.

Our active fundraising initiatives for gifts other than the Sanford Fund are:

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ENDOWED FUNDS

The Sanford Endowment is a collection of unrestricted and restricted endowed funds that are invested in order to generate income for the school. Endowed funds are designed to keep the principal corpus intact so it can grow over time. Because the principal amount is never touched, gifts to the Sanford Endowment provide stable, perennial financial support for the school’s ongoing operations and programs and thus benefit the school in perpetuity. Income generated from the principal can be used each year to fund operations or for purposes deemed necessary by the Head of School and board of trustees. In some years, approximately 5% of the school’s annual operating budget is funded by a draw from the Sanford Endowment investment account, making it one of three primary sources of operating revenue, along with tuition and annual gifts to the Sanford Fund.

If you are interested in giving a gift to an endowed fund, contact the Development Office to designate it in one of 3 ways:

The Sanford Unrestricted Endowed Fund consists of gifts that aren't restricted to being used for a specific purpose. It allows school leadership the flexibility to use the investment income where it is most needed each year. Give Now.
In collaboration with school leadership, establish a brand-new endowed fund restricted to a specific program or use. There is a minimum gift size required to start a new endowed fund. Please contact the Development Office if you are interested in this option.
Give a gift of any amount to an existing endowed fund. These funds are included in the Sanford Endowment assets but the income they generate is restricted for the specific purpose listed below. Please contact the Development Office if you are interested in donating to one of our already established endowed funds. If you donate online, please enter the endowed fund name in the comment box on the online donation form, or write it in the memo line if you send a gift by check.

- The Endowed Fund for Program Support
- The Endowed Fund for Faculty Salaries
- The Endowed Fund for Upper School Professional Development
- The MacKelcan Endowed Scholarship Fund was established to honor former Sanford Head of School, Chip MacKelcan and his wife Debbie. It is awarded to a student who demonstrates academic achievement, positive school citizenship, and financial need.
- The Mitchell Family Endowed Scholarship Fund was established by Heather and Kenny Mitchell '93. Our first Mitchell Family Scholar is a member of the Class of 2027. It is granted to a student who demonstrates great potential to add to the life of the school, as well as significant financial need.
- The Helen Vermeychuk Endowed Fund was established to honor former Sanford faculty member Helen Vermeychuk. It is an award/stipend given each year to a student whose potential inspires a teacher's best efforts.
- The Jackie Pitts '55 Sanford Champion Award was established in 2024 to honor Jackie Pitts '55. It it an award given to a faculty or staff member who embodies Jackie's love for the Sanford community.
- The Paul H. Donovan Faculty Award honors former Sanford faculty member and World Language Chair Paul H. Donovan. It is given each year to a faculty member who is distinguished in his or her work.
- The Dagenais Award for Leadership in Teaching Endowed Fund was established to honor former Sanford faculty members André and Susan Dagenais. It is an award given each year to a faculty member who is a mentor, going above and beyond for their students and colleagues.
- The Johns Award for Excellence in Teaching Endowed Fund was established to honor former Sanford faculty member Lloyd Johns. It is an award given each year to a faculty member who challenges his/her students.
- The Waterman Award for Exceptional Coach Endowed Fund was established to honor former Sanford faculty member and coach Stan Waterman. It is an award given each year to an exceptional Sanford coach.

SPEND-DOWN FUNDS

Sanford also fundraises for specific one-time projects, such as baseball field improvements, or larger capital campaign projects. Each of these projects are set up as restricted spend-down funds, meaning the gift principal is entirely spent to support the specific project or program, as intended.

Over the years, we have made many improvements to the campus using these types of funds. For example, Geipel Center for Performing Arts was renovated in 2015-16, the Struthers Family Sports Center in 2019, and the Michael and Nancy Pia Center for Creativity at Hebb Hall in 2021-22.

We are actively fundraising for the Exceptionally Sanford Campaign which includes capital projects in all three divisions. Click here to learn more.

The Pia Center for Creativity at Hebb Hall
Struthers' Family Sports Center
Geipel Center for Performing Arts
Rubin Auditorium
Struthers' Family Sports Center
Rubin Auditorium

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WAYS TO GIVE

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Credit Card

Donate securely online by credit card. Make a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift plan. With a recurring gift, choose the amount and the frequency that you'd like to donate to Sanford; just "set it and forget it." Should you ever need to change your recurring plan, contact Jody Cross in the Development Office.
Corporate Matching Gift

Check with your employer or HR department to see if they have a corporate matching gift program that will match your donation. If so, apply for a matching grant following your company's rules. Let us know you've applied for a matching grant so that we can thank you.
IRA Gifts

Give to Sanford School through your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Those who are at retirement age need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) each year. Contact your retirement account administrator to direct all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD) to Sanford. Because Sanford is an IRS-qualified charity, this is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). With a QCD, the amount donated is not reported as taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions. In this way, Qualified Charitable Distributions can offer greater tax savings. Sanford’s EIN is 51-0064331.

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Check

Send a check payable to Sanford School with the specific project you would like to support listed in the memo line.
Attn: Development Office, Sanford School, 6900 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707.
Stock Gifts

Contact your financial advisor or broker to transfer stock to Sanford's account. Please contact Jody Cross in the Development Office for account details and to alert us of the transfer; otherwise, we won't know who, or to what fund, to credit the stock gift.
charitable lead trust

Talk to your attorney or financial advisor about the advantages of setting up a charitable lead trust with Sanford as the beneficiary. Charitable Lead Trust refers to an irrevocable trust designed to provide financial support to one or more charities, such as Sanford, for a set period of time, with the remaining assets eventually going to family members or other non-charitable beneficiaries.

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Pledge

Fill out this online form or contact Jody Cross in the Development Office to set up a pledge and payment schedule. A pledge allows you to commit a larger specific donation amount with the flexibility to pay it out over multiple years and at payment times of your choosing.
Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund, or DAF, is a giving vehicle established at a public charity like the Delaware Community Foundation. Giving in this way allows donors to make a lump sum charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, then recommend grants to qualified non-profit organizations over time. Sanford is an IRS-qualified charity. Our EIN is 51-0064331. Recommend a grant to Sanford from your Donor Advised Fund today.
Charitable Remainder Trust

Talk to your attorney or financial advisor about the advantages of setting up a charitable remainder trust with Sanford as the beneficiary. Charitable Remainder Trust refers to an irrevocable trust that generates a potential income stream for the donor or other beneficiaries, with the remainder going to your favorite charity or charities. At the end of the specified term of the trust, the remaining trust assets are distributed to one or more charitable beneficiaries, such as Sanford.