Whittier PTA's Annual Give Campaign
This year’s Annual Give Yellow Envelope Campaign, Whittier PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year, kicks off on 9/1. We aim to raise $375 per student through this campaign by 10/2! We are aiming for 100% participation this year in our Annual Give campaign.
Donations of all sizes are welcome and every donation supports Whittier this school year.
The Reality
Washington State and federal funding don't fully cover the staff and programs our scholars deserve — academic support, the arts, nursing, and more. So our community steps in. This year, the Whittier PTA aims to raise $250,000 to close that gap.
Where the Money Goes
Staffing Grants ($163,000): Whittier has a unique commitment to a daily Specialist schedule (Art, Performing Arts, Physical Education) for our Wildcat scholars. The PTA’s budget funds 50% of our Art Specialist’s salary. Whittier PTA also funds 75% of our Reading Interventionist so we can support twice as many students in their literacy journey and funds 25% more time on-site for Nurse Marissa. This year we are also funding onsite math tutors.
Enrichment Programs and Events ($26,000): Instructional Supports, Curriculum Enrichment, Global Reading Challenge, Massive Monkees residency, Maker Space, Enrichment Assemblies, After School Programs, Safety Patrol, Field Day, Wildcats READ!, Art Walk, Reflections Art Contest
School Support ($16,000): Supplies (including school supplies for every student), Staff appreciation, Scholarships and Fragile Family Support, Student Snack Pantry, Community-Driven Funding Proposals
Family Events ($8,500): Fall Festival, Family Nights/Community Events, EDI Education Opportunities, 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
The Ask
Across our 350 Wildcats, that's $715 per student for the year — raised through three campaigns:
- Annual Give - $130K, Sept 1 - Oct 2, 2026
- Spring Fling - $90K, April 3, 2027
- Move-a-thon - $20K, May 15, 2027
Annual Give kicks off on Sept 1, with a goal of raising $375 per student.
We recognize that many families will give above or below this ask; please donate what works best for your family’s situation. If your family would like to sponsor a matching program or an additional Whittier family during Annual Give, please email fundraising@whittierptaseattle.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 cut or drastically impacted including:
Daily time with our specialists (PE, performing Arts, or Art)
School nurse in house 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, Whittier PTA total fundraising need is $250,000 and is spread across approximately 350 students (about $715 per student). 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 contributor to Annual Give. 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.