Frequently Asked Questions

What are the goals of this campaign?

The Lighting the Way campaign seeks to raise $62 million to support the school in several important ways:

  • To continue to increase the school’s financial aid endowment, so that we take intentional steps toward our long-term aspiration to become a need-blind institution, and the near-term commitment to continue helping students and families access and afford a Westtown education.
  • To create a new, free-standing dining facility that will enable the entire Upper School to enjoy meals at the same time, while providing our Dining Services team with the facility they require to accommodate the variety of dietary needs of our students, and aspire to the highest standards of sustainable practices.
  • To provide the additional resources our faculty require in order to continue to develop and deliver the exceptional programs our students deserve by increasing the faculty and program endowment.
  • To revitalize and expand the Center for the Living Arts so that the physical space that houses the arts at Westtown mirrors the excellence of our program, and highlights the talent and creativity of our student artists.

We are grateful to our campaign co-clerks and committee for their volunteer support of Lighting the Way!

  • Ann Hutton, Trustee and Parent of Alum,  Co-Clerk
  • Will Hildreth ’81, Trustee, Co-Clerk
  • Sanjay Jain, Trustee and Parent of Alums, Co-Clerk
  • Martha Bryans ’68, Former Clerk of the Board, Parent of Alums, Current Grandparent
  • Kavi Gandhi ’21, WAA Board Recording Secretary
  • Tracy Jackson ’83, WAA Board Associate Clerk
  • Rachna Kota ’15, WAA Board Clerk
  • Annie Madonia, Parent of Alum
  • Katie McKinstry  ’03, Trustee
  • Brenda Perkins ’75, Former Trustee, Parent of Alums
  • Anne Roche, Clerk of the Board of Trustees, Parent of Alums
  • Jennifer Simpson, Trustee, Current Parent
  • Don Wildman ’79, Trustee

As of June 2024, we have raised more than $51.5 million toward our goal of $62 million.

Everyone is invited to participate in this historic campaign! All parents, guardians, grandparents, alums, parents of alums, Trustees, faculty, and staff are asked to support this important work.

Every gift is important, and it will take thousands of gifts of all sizes to make this vision a reality. Your gift, no matter the amount, will show our community that we are invested in our school. Full participation sends a powerful message and demonstrates our collective support for Westtown School.

Yes, beginning in July of 2020, annual contributions and pledges to The Westtown Fund have been counted towards the total raised so far in this campaign and will be counted toward it until the end of the campaign.

The typical pledge period is three to five years. Please contact a member of the Advancement team to discuss options.

All gifts to the campaign are fully tax-deductible as allowable by law.

Yes! There naming opportunities associated with each of the capital projects, and donors may also name an endowed fund. Please contact a member of the Advancement team to learn more.

The featured campaign priorities were discerned with guidance from our Strategic Vision, and each priority aligns with at least one of our three pillars: Knowledge, Illuminated; Environment, Illuminated; and Community, Illuminated.

The endowment provides critical funding to support faculty compensation and professional development, financial aid, and school programs. Tuition at Westtown School provides 80 percent of operating revenue to cover the full cost to educate our students. The remainder comes from philanthropy, endowment income, and auxiliary programs. Of that, the endowment provides approximately 12 percent of operating revenue that supports the school each year.

The endowment, made up of more than 100 individual endowed funds, was valued at $126 million on June 30, 2024.

The Board of Trustees Investment Committee oversees the management of the endowment in accordance with the school’s investment policy, with the assistance of an independent investment firm.

The Westtown Fund provides annual operating funds for the school’s highest priorities, including:

  • supporting students and families through financial aid;
  • providing faculty with professional development opportunities; and
  • creating the highest quality programmatic experiences for our students.

Everyone is invited to support The Westtown Fund and every gift to the Fund is critical to the work of our school. In addition, participation inspires others to join in our fundraising efforts.

Contact Us

For general inquiries, please contact Dean of Advancement Ellen Urbanski at ellen.urbanski@westtown.edu or 610-399-7915 or contact a member of the Advancement Team.