Annual Give 2026

How do I donate? What online form do I need to submit?

Visit wildcats.schoolauction.net/annualgive2026/ to submit your online form with a donation of any size. Each year we see a range from $0 to well above this year’s $375 per-student ask for this Annual Give fundraiser. Our goal is 100% participation before the campaign ends on 10/2! Complete the online form on schoolauction.net (regardless of donation amount) to ensure your student is entered for a chance to win a prize at the weekly raffle! Note: We aren’t using paper forms this year; contact fundraising@whittierptaseattle.org if you’d like a paper form or envelope for a check or paper donation.

Why doesn’t Seattle Public School (SPS) fund more?

Washington State does not adequately fund public schools and caps property taxes directed to local schools, causing budget crises and service issues in districts across the state. WA school districts use specific formulas to decide how much of their limited funds to give individual district schools. Seattle Public Schools’ “funding formula” gives more money to high-poverty schools (Tiers 1-2) than low-poverty ones (Tiers 3-4). Whittier is considered a low-poverty school. The expectation is that students attending Tier 4 schools will either be able to thrive without adequate resources or their PTAs will fund the gap in resources through community donations. Whittier PTA does this by providing funds for staff, services, and programs; these funds are only available through PTA-supported funding. This includes funding staffing grants; at Whittier, we use these funds to ensure a 5-day Specialist schedule (with Art, Performing Arts, PE), to increase Nurse Marissa’s and our reading interventionist time on campus.

What if we don’t raise the funds?

If we do not raise the funds planned, we will see a number of programs drastically impacted including:

• • Irregular (not daily) schedule with our specialists (PE/Performing Arts/Art) with Arts access reduced
  • School nurse on campus for fewer days per week
  • Fewer school assemblies, field trips and enrichment programs

How much am I going to be asked to give this year overall?

This year, the Whittier PTA total fundraising need is $250,000 and is spread across approximately 350 students (about $715 per student) and 3 fundraisers. This year’s Annual Give goal is $375 per student.

Can I spread my donation throughout the year?

Yes! You can sign up for monthly recurring donations for a specific duration of time.

Does Whittier accept employee matching?

Yes! Employee matching is a large portion of the Annual Give campaign and we rely on it! Please reach out to your employer and request matching funds. Then indicate the name of your employer (and the name of any employer matching organization, like Benevity) when completing the online giving form so that the PTA can attribute the matching gift.

Is my gift tax deductible?

Yes! The Whittier PTA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization (Federal ID #91-1479413) and we’ll provide you with a thank you letter documenting your contribution approximately one month after the conclusion of the campaign