Endowment and Memorial Gifts

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Waterford School is deeply grateful to parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents and friends who have supported our endowment. Endowment donors leave a lasting legacy at the School; ensuring our financial strength, expanding our curricular and extracurricular offerings, and continuing to attract and retain exceptional faculty and students. Waterford endowment funds are invested in perpetuity and fund income provides resources used to meet current operating budget priorities. Gifts may be given through outright and multi-year cash gifts, gifts of stock, or bequests. Our endowment is managed by the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, consistent with the Investment Policy, as approved by the Board.

What is an endowment fund?

Waterford’s Endowment Fund is a savings account for the school, which is invested according to policies adopted by the Board of Trustees and the Endowment Advisory Committee. A portion of the Endowment is then spent each year to help cover the school’s annual expenses, either for the general operating budget or for specific programs designated by the donor.

Why is it important?

The Endowment Fund can provide a steady source of income to Waterford, making it possible for the school to be less reliant on tuition and annual fundraising programs to balance the budget each year. In effect, a larger Endowment Fund enhances Waterford’s ability to fulfill its mission now, and for many years to come.


Giving to
Waterford’s Endowment Fund

Endowment growth is an area of strategic importance for Waterford. Giving to the Endowment Fund provides a unique opportunity to you as a donor to make a dramatic impact on a part of the Waterford experience that you care about the most. 

Gifts and pledges to the Waterford Endowment in the form of cash or appreciated securities have the most immediate impact. However, gifts to the Endowment can also occur over a longer term through bequests in estates, gifts of real estate, and structured planned giving instruments.

Endowment gifts to Waterford can be designated in the following ways:

  • Unrestricted gifts (of any dollar size) can be made to the general endowment which ensures our ability to sustain the financial strength of our School.
  • Gifts can be used to establish a new general or restricted endowed fund. If restricted, the terms specifying how the income shall be used will be established by the donor. Minimum gift levels are required for naming rights.
  • Gifts can be made to any one of our existing named funds (see below) should there be one that reflects your philanthropic interests.

Nancy and Dustin Heuston Endowed Chair

Established in 2015, the Board of Trustees established the Heuston Endowed Chair as a way to honor the profound legacy of Nancy and Dusty Heuston. For the selected faculty member, fund income supports their professional growth and overall contributions to Waterford.

Class of 2015 Endowed Fund

Established in 2015 through generous gifts from parents and students in the Class of 2015 this fund supports financial assistance for an academically qualified student with demonstrated financial need.

The Mika Family Athletic Endowment Fund

​Established in 2018 by ​Sue and Ron Mika, Jaklyn ’06, Kirsten ’08, Alek ’10, Eric ’13​, Jacob ’15 ​and  ​Kyle ’18, income from the Fund will support Waterford’s Upper School Athletic program as determined by the Athletic Directors and Head of School. 

Click here to give to the Heuston Endowed Chair and/or to the Class of 2015 Endowed Fund.


Memorial Scholarship Awards

To further support Waterford’s financial assistance/scholarship program, donors can support the following memorial scholarship awards (not endowed) now accepting additional gifts:

Hilary Z. Heuston Memorial Scholarship
In memory of Hilary Zell Heuston, daughter of Nancy and Dustin Heuston. Hilary graduated from the Waterford School in 1987 and her memorial fund is open for public donation.

Linda Kitchen Memorial Scholarship
Created by Mark Bromley in 1994, and now in memory of Linda Kitchen, a beloved faculty member, this fund is open for public donation.

Click here to support Waterford’s scholarship program, including the Hilary Z. Heuston Memorial Scholarship and/or the Linda Kitchen Memorial Scholarship.