FAQs

Since our founding in 1869, every student has been touched by the generosity and vision of our community. From the land and buildings to the endowment, generations of generous families and individuals have created the school that serves today’s students. OES is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit school and does not receive public funding. Like most independent schools, OES has two main fundraising areas: annual giving and capital campaigns.

• Tuition and fees cover about 89% of our school’s budget. Around $3,500 per student is needed every year to ensure our academic and extra-curricular programs are available and exceptional. These funds are raised from our endowment, the auction, and most importantly, contributions to the OES Fund.
• At times, independent schools request funds for projects that are beyond the scope of daily operations, like facilities updates or growing the endowment. Capital campaigns are crucial to the long-term physical, financial, athletic, and academic vitality of OES.

• The OES Fund is the school's most vital and fundamental fundraising effort, providing significant and immediate annual resources. Every student scientist, athlete, actor, writer, musician, reader and artist—as well as his or her teacher—benefits from your unrestricted donations to the OES Fund. But if one aspect of the OES experience is especially important to you, we invite you to designate your gift to that area: Financial Aid, Athletics, Science & Technology, Arts & Literature, and Service & Community. Learn more here.
• Many families also enjoy participating in our annual auction, held each March, as volunteers, sponsors, auction item donors, and attendees. Like the OES Fund, the auction raises funds for current-year use. Specifically, funds raised through the auction support faculty and staff professional development, community engagement, and special projects that enhance our campus and students’ learning experience. Learn more here.

No. Our ability to cover our annual operating expenses will always be a top priority so we hope all parents will contribute to the OES Fund and/or auction. During a capital campaign it is important that members of our community make a campaign donation in addition to maintaining their current annual support. This combination of capital campaign and annual gifts allows us to offer a world-class education in the classroom today while we focus on adding additional world-class facilities for tomorrow. To continue to be able to deliver the mind-opening education OES is known for, we seek charitable donations from parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, foundations, faculty, staff and friends to help OES fully realize our mission and vision.

Donate or pledge today to benefit every OES student immediately and be counted as a participant with a gift by cash, check, credit card, or stock.

Check or Cash: Please make checks payable to Oregon Episcopal School and mail to: OES Development Office, 6300 SW Nicol Road, Portland, OR 97223.

Give Online: Click here to make a gift online. You can charge your gift on a VISA, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover.

Many donors are able to give more by incorporating philanthropy into their monthly budget by making a monthly recurring gift. OES offers this option through its online giving page.

Pledge Online: Click here to establish a pledge payable at a future date.

Gifts of Stock: Many donors choose to make their gifts in the form of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other assets that have increased in value. A gift of appreciated securities (held for more than 12 months) may allow the donor to avoid the high cost of capital gains tax, while also receiving a tax deduction for the appreciated security. Making a stock gift is simple. If you would like to find out more, please contact the Development office, or see detailed instructions for giving stocks.

Matching Gifts: Many companies will match donations from current and retired employees. We encourage you to seek out your employer's matching gift program – it could double or triple the size of your gift. Find out if your employer will match your donation.

Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN): 93-0386915

Memorial and Tribute Gifts: A way to honor or remember an important person.

Quite possibly. A Gift-in-Kind is a voluntary contribution of goods or services that can be used to advance the mission of the school or can be readily converted to cash and may qualify as a charitable deduction for the person(s) making the gift.

• Gift-in-Kind Acceptance Policy
• Gift-in-Kind Contribution Form

Donations of all sizes are gratefully received. We ask all parents to make Oregon Episcopal School one of their top three philanthropic priorities and to consider becoming a member of the 1869 Society. We ask all members of our community to donate at a level that is personally significant to them.

Named in honor of the year the school was founded, the 1869 Society recognizes and celebrates the philanthropic leadership of donors who invest $2,500 or more to the OES Fund during the fiscal year. These leadership gifts are critical, providing 80% or more of the total contributions each year. Society members are recognized at a celebratory dinner each fall. Please consider joining this group of philanthropic leaders.

Yes! A monthly gift by credit card can be an easy way to increase your support of OES students. Sustainable support and one less thing to remember!

Development staff is here to help! Contact us anytime, stop by our office in Morris House or email development@oes.edu.