Wills & Bequests
A Gift in Your Will Can Change Everything.
You don't have to be a millionaire to make a life-changing gift. By including WSA in your will or estate plan, you leave behind something powerful: the gift of Waldorf education for children you will never meet. A bequest costs nothing today — and changes everything tomorrow.
Bequests and estate gifts are fully tax-deductible. Consult your tax advisor for details.
The Waldorf School of Atlanta is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, federal tax ID 58-1741907. Charitable bequests are generally deductible for federal estate tax purposes, and gifts of retirement assets to a nonprofit typically avoid the income tax that heirs would owe on the same assets. How any of this applies to your estate depends entirely on your circumstances, so please work with your own attorney or financial advisor. We are glad to talk with them alongside you.
Questions? Contact Mae Hill, Director of Development, at development@waldorfatlanta.org or (404) 809-3777.
What are Wills & Bequests?
A bequest is a gift you leave to a charitable organization through your will or living trust. It's one of the simplest, most impactful forms of giving, and it costs you nothing during your lifetime. You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other bequests are fulfilled. Your bequest goes to work the moment it arrives at WSA.
There's no minimum gift. Bequests are accessible to donors of every income level — a small percentage of your estate can still fund years of Waldorf education.
Bequest Opportunities
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Specific Bequest
Designate a fixed dollar amount or a specific asset, such as cash, securities, or real estate, to WSA. This is the most straightforward type of bequest.
Sample language: "I give and bequeath to The Waldorf School of Atlanta (EIN 58-1741907), 827 Kirk Road, Decatur, Georgia 30030, the sum of $[amount] to be used for its general purposes."
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Percentage Bequest
Leave a percentage of your total estate to WSA. This type of gift adjusts automatically if your estate grows or shrinks, making it a flexible and future-proof option.
Sample language: "I give and bequeath [X]% of my estate to The Waldorf School of Atlanta (EIN 58-1741907), to be used for its general purposes."
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Residuary Bequest
Direct all — or a portion — of what remains in your estate after debts, taxes, and other bequests have been settled. Residuary gifts can be among the most significant, as they grow proportionally with your estate.
Sample language:"I give and bequeath all [or X%] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to The Waldorf School of Atlanta (EIN 58-1741907), to be used for its general purposes."
Note: Always consult your attorney or financial advisor when drafting or amending estate planning documents. WSA’s Development Director is happy to provide our legal information to your advisors upon request.
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You're not legally required to notify us — but we'd love to know. When you let us know of your intention, we can thank you personally, keep you informed about the impact your gift will have, and ensure we can honor any specific wishes for how your bequest should be directed. Please reach out to us at development@waldorfatlanta.org.
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Yes. You may designate your gift for a specific program or purpose. If you'd like to make a restricted bequest, we encourage you to contact us first so we can help your attorney draft language that accurately reflects your wishes and aligns with our current programs.
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Absolutely. A bequest is revocable at any time during your lifetime. You can update or cancel it by amending your will through your attorney. Your life circumstances may change — and your estate plan should too.
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Please provide your attorney with the following:
Legal name: The Waldorf School of Atlanta
EIN: 58-1741907
Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Mailing address: 827 Kirk Road, Decatur, GA 30030
FAQs
Your will. Their future.
This school opened in 1986 because a handful of parents decided their children deserved something different, and it has stayed open for 40 years because people kept deciding it was worth sustaining.
A bequest is that decision extended past your own lifetime: a first grader learning to knit in 2045, on the same wooded acres, because of something you wrote down. If you have already included WSA in your plans, we would love to know, and we would love to thank you.
You might also be interested in:
Other Ways to Give
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Annual Fund
The school's operating support, raised fresh every year. It is the most flexible gift you can make and the one we build the budget around. Our goal this year is $115,000.
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GOAL Scholarships
Redirect a portion of the income tax you already owe to fund tuition assistance at WSA, and receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit. Applying takes two minutes, and no payment is due when you apply. The window closes December 31.
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Auction & Gala
One evening each spring, our community gathers for dinner, dancing, and an auction of extraordinary things, and the whole night funds the school. Buy a ticket and bid, sponsor the evening, or donate something to the auction table. It is the rare way of giving where you also get a night out.
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Matching Gifts
Many employers match charitable gifts, and some match monthly ones too. Ask your HR department whether yours is one of them, and let us know if it is so we can thank you for both.
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Stock, Retirement, IRAs
A gift of appreciated securities can carry meaningful tax advantages compared with selling first and giving the proceeds. Contact us before you initiate a transfer so we can watch for your gift and thank you promptly.
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Wills & Bequests
Some families choose to make WSA part of their legacy through a bequest, a trust, or an endowment gift: the gift of this education for children they may never meet. We would be honored to talk it through with you and your advisor.
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Sponsorship
Sponsor the Holiday Fair in November or the Annual Auction and Gala in April, in cash or in-kind. Four simple levels at each event, with recognition that stays visible on our website.
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In-Kind Donations
Auction items and experiences valued at $50 or more, gift cards, flowers for the Fair, or professional services like printing, catering, or photography.
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Evergreen Partners
Georgia businesses that participate in GOAL on behalf of WSA are recognized as Evergreen Partners, with priority placement in our Business Directory.
Questions? We are here to help.
Reach Mae Hill, Development Director, at development@waldorfatlanta.org or (404) 809-3777.