PHILANTHROPY & FUNDRAISING

ISD is an exceptional school with outstanding teachers, top-notch facilities, and exciting programmes for students of all ages. Tuition fees allow us to cover our day-to-day operational costs, as well as maintain our high educational standards. In addition, we encourage our students to conceive and initiate projects that transcend the ordinary and provide richer and more varied experiences. That is where fundraising plays a crucial role. 

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to provide exceptional opportunities for our students and have a significant and lasting impact on our school community, without significantly having to raise tuition costs. These donations all us to to go beyond where we think we can go. 

Fundraising is widely accepted and embraced in private and international schools around the world as an effective means to creatively support the school's mission and initiatives. 

At ISD we are extremely grateful for the generosity of our community members - past, present, and future - who embrace the spirit of giving and view ISD as a community, not just an individual service provider.

Both the ISD Annual Fund and ISD Capital Campaigns are essential tools that allow us to enhance our school's offerings and facilities. 

• The ISD Annual Fund primarily supports ongoing short-term programmes, student activities, and immediate needs that may not be covered by the standard budget. It allows us to innovate, invest in technology, and offer unique learning experiences. 

• ISD Capital Campaigns focus on larger, long-term projects, such as facility improvements, building expansions, or major investments in infrastructure. These campaigns help us plan for the future to ensure that ISD remains a top-tier institution.

Smaller contributions are typically directed to the ISD Annual Fund, where our Philanthropy & Fundraising committee works with the school leadership team to identify projects that will have the greatest impact on students.

For larger donations, we are more than happy to talk about ways of customising your contribution to align with both the school's needs and your own goals and preferences. ISD Capital Campaigns are an excellent way to have a significant impact on an area that you are particularly passionate about supporting. 

No matter the amoung, we are happy to support you in your fundraising journey and are grateful for all contributions.

Yes. All donations are eligible or partially eligible for tax deduction purposes. For donations, whether monetary or in kind, totaling up to 300 EUR, the German tax office typically doesn't require a donation receipt. If you have inquiries about donation receipts (Spendenbescheinigungen) for amounts exceeding 300 Euro or any related questions, please contact us at fundraising@isdedu.de

Yes. We are always delighted to receive ideas and feedback from our community members, including students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. Perhaps you have come across innovative ideas at other schools or in your workplace. 

If you have a specific idea that could enhance the ISD experience, whether today or in the future, and is both actionable and feasible, we invite you to complete our "Pitch Your Project" form. 

All project proposals are assessed by the Philanthropy & Fundraising committee, whose selection process is guided by clear criteria, including: whether the project aligns with the ISD strategic plan; whether it can be executed within a reasonable timeframe; whether it fits into the budget framework for the year. Promising ideas that are not accepted in one year are retained for consideration in future years. 

Our projects are chosen by an independent committee and the selection process is guided by clear criteria, including whether the project aligns with our strategic plan and can be executed within a reasonable timeframe. If a project is not considered at the moment, it may not fit into the budget framework. However, promising ideas are retained for potential consideration in the future. Your input is highly valued, and we thank you for your understanding.

Participation in all our fundraising activities is entirely voluntary. While we strongly encourage parent participation, ISD is very fortunate to have a wide base of supporters. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our extended community.  

Contributions can take various forms, including financial support, time, or other resources. Your involvement is valued, and we are grateful for your contributions in any way you choose to participate.

Endowment funds are a new initiative at ISD, and yes, you can absolutely establish a fund bearing your family's name. Endowment funds raise capital, and school projects are funded from the interest accrued over time. It's important to note that a larger initial sum is typically required for this approach to be meaningful. If creating an endowment fund is something your family would like to explore as a way to leave a lasting legacy at ISD, please reach out to our Director or the fundraising manager for further guidance. Additionally, there may be certain tax benefits associated with setting up such a fund, and our finance department can provide more information and address any questions you may have in this regard.

ISD is an exceptional school with outstanding teachers, top-notch facilities, and exciting programs for all ages. While our budget covers operational costs and maintains our high standards, we encourage students to initiate projects that transcend the ordinary. We're thankful for the generosity of our community members who embrace the spirit of giving and view ISD as a community, not just an individual service provider.

Named Sponsorships are typically mid- to higher-level donations, starting at around €2,000. These receive special recognition, such as a plaque on our donors’ wall, a dedicated stone or tree, or another preferred method of acknowledgment.

There are also smaller naming opportunities such as our upcoming senior class wall, where families can purchase a plaque as a graduation gift, forever commemorating their senior's achievement and their lasting connection to the ISD community.

For more details on this programme, watch for updates on our website or contact our fundraising team.

Absolutely. We fully respect the need for financial privacy, in fact, some of our past capital campaigns were funded by very private individuals, families, or even institutions. These contributions were entirely philanthropic and were handled with utmost discretion, without any public or even internal acknowledgment. If your family or foundation would like to make a donation to ISD in any capacity, we can and will ensure your privacy preferences are honoured and that your contribution remains confidential.

ISD operates with a distinct fundraising entity, known as the gGmbH (Gemeinnuetzinge GmBH), ensuring that every fundraising effort exclusively benefits our ISD Foundation. None of the funds raised are allocated towards operational or budgetary expenses.

The International School of Düsseldorf e.V., along with its official fundraising subsidiary, ISD Fundraising gGmbH, are recognised as charitable, non-profit organisations under German law. With exemption certificates (Freistellungsbescheinigungen) granted by the Düsseldorf tax authority, our school is authorised to receive donations in both monetary and non-monetary forms to support charitable and social projects both within and outside the school community.

Yes. Contributions can take various forms, including financial support, time, or other resources. Your involvement is valued, and we are grateful for your contributions in any way you choose to participate.

With our new fundraising manager on board, we are actively planning community-focused fundraising events, including an annual gala. 

Stay tuned for announcements about these upcoming events; we look forward to sharing the details with you soon.

ISD Connect, our alumni engagement tool, has been instrumental in connecting and mobilising our alumni network. As the platform expands, we've identified an exciting opportunity to extend its reach to our wider ISD Community.

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to our current parents and students to join, and we will start sharing our fundraising updates, especially regarding the annual fund projects funded throughout the year.

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!