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Philanthropy at Bush

Giving and Gratitude

For 100 years, The Bush School has continued to thrive because of clear guiding principles, outstanding teaching, dedicated students and families, strong leadership, a commitment to philanthropy, and placing children at the center of all we do.

The role of philanthropy at The Bush School is to advance the mission—to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities. Philanthropy is integral to delivering on Bush’s promise to provide a meaningful and transformative education to students now and into the future.

At Bush, the culture of philanthropy is defined by gifts and care from many sources and in many forms—some are time, some are expertise, some are donations. They represent our collective belief that education is the greatest gift you can give. We honor every volunteer, donor, partner, and community member. We are grateful for every gift of every form and every size. At Bush, philanthropy is a big umbrella and our goal is for everyone to know they are welcome and feel a sense of belonging.

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Giving and gratitude are central to who we are. Every gift makes a difference.

List of 5 items.

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund Family Campaign is the philanthropic priority of The Bush School and all gifts to it support the school’s annual operating budget. The Annual Fund takes place for six weeks in the fall beginning in October. Every family is encouraged to make a contribution to the Annual Fund in an amount that is meaningful to them. The collective generosity of our entire community—alumni, parents, grandparents, parents/guardians of alumni, and friends—makes a difference in the life of each student and teacher.

Annual Fund
Celebrate Bush

Celebrate Bush is a K-12 community celebration in support of financial aid. The Bush School provides $4.8M in financial aid to students and families and Celebrate Bush is an important part of making that funding possible.

Celebrate Bush
Endowment

Endowments are assets invested by the school to support the education mission in perpetuity. They are charitable funds that offer a source of stability for schools. The Bush School receives returns on endowment investments each year to support specific uses outlined by the donor and agreed upon by the school, current teaching, learning, and operational needs; any remaining investment returns are generally reinvested into the existing endowment.

Endowment
Planned Giving

Planned giving allows donors to have a lasting impact on education at The Bush School and works to keep Helen Bush’s dream alive. By designating The Bush School in your will, living trust, or beneficiary designations, you help ensure that the legacy of experiential education nurtured by Helen Bush’s vision continues to grow for generations to come.

Planned Giving
Capital Campaigns

Capital campaigns are specific, one-time fundraising initiatives to support strategic priorities identified by the Board of Trustees such as campus improvements, new buildings, and endowment growth. Pledges to a campaign are often paid over three to five years, and the school endeavors to meet donors’ philanthropic goals and timelines. Every Bush campaign has propelled our school forward, meeting the needs of current and future generations of students.

VOLUNTEERING & BUILDING COMMUNITY

Community Engagement & Volunteering
The relationships among the Bush community have continuously helped students prosper and achieve their academic dreams. Whether it involves volunteering in the classroom or helping in the admissions office, engaging with the community enhances the lives of our students, faculty, and staff. There are many ways to get and stay connected with families, students and faculty. Every Fall, the Bush Families Association hosts an event for all parents/guardians who are interested in pursuing volunteer opportunities.

To learn more about volunteering at Bush, please visit the portal Families Association page (requires login).

Families Association
The Bush School Families Association (FA) mission is to promote awareness, a sense of belonging and participation at Bush. The FA nurtures a spirit of involvement and community between the school and its families by providing opportunities to support school events and activities. Every enrolled family is a member of the FA, and all FA meetings are open for parents and guardians to attend.

The FA also serves as a key channel of communication for parent concerns, providing families with information about the school, its philosophy, programs, methods, and operations.

Families Association at Bush

THE BUILDING OF A SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

1924

In the fall of 1924, The Bush School began its journey in the Dorffel Drive House. Founder Helen Bush converted her family home into classrooms and six children attended preschool and kindergarten.
1925

In 1925, a first grade was added, and the school grew grade by grade each year after that. The House continued to adapt to the burgeoning needs of the school.
1929

In 1929, The Bush School expanded to a K-6 school and was officially recognized as a non-profit organization. A Board of Trustees was elected and charged with governance of the school.
1930

As the school grew in size, so did the physical and financial needs of the program. In the 1930’s, Lenore McGrath Ostrander, one of the school’s first parents and an early trustee, loaned the school her lakefront home for dormitory use. This gift from the Ostrander family was the first of many philanthropic deeds from the community in support of The Bush School and its commitment to progressive education.
1933

In 1933, eighty-one students were enrolled at The Bush School. Despite the lack of funding and due to the generous nature of Helen Taylor Bush, eleven students attended The Bush School tuition free and fourteen students paid only half of the school’s $400 annual tuition.
1944

In 1944, the iconic Gracemont building was donated to The Bush School by Grace Heffernan Arnold. Philanthropic support and the school’s footprint continued to grow.
1947

In 1947, the Lower School gymnasium was completed thanks to a generous donation by the estate of Frank Reed. The new building was named Reed Hall in memory of the three Reed sons, all Parkside students, who died with their parents in a tragic fire in 1942.
1950

Beginning in the 1950’s, through the combined efforts of alumni and parents, a stable source of scholarship funding was established. By 1967, the scholarship endowment totaled $15,000 and $4,350 in financial aid was awarded to seven students.
1970

In the 1970’s, the Board of Trustees launched a five-year capital campaign that successfully raised $1.2 million.
1972

By 1972, the endowment increased to $202,000, helping expand need-based financial aid funding for additional students.
1978

In 1978, The Bush School was awarded a $50,000 grant by the Edward E. Ford Foundation, in support of faculty professional development. The grant was later renamed the George W. Taylor endowment, and established a sabbatical for teachers at Bush.
1980

In 1980, an annual school raffle introduced by Bush faculty, students and volunteers later evolved into a major auction. In 1986, the school’s first formal auction was held at the Seattle Trade Center and successfully raised over $100,000.
1986

By 1986, the community raised $3.3 million over the course of 14 years and two capital campaigns. These funds were allocated to an endowment for faculty compensation, Gracemont upgrades, construction of the Commons, a new gym, an art building, administrative offices, Benaroya Hall, and the urban courtyard.
1997

In 1997, a capital campaign was launched for a new Science and Technology building on the Upper Campus. Through the generosity of the Bush community nearly $7 million dollars was raised to fund the completion of Wissner Hall.
2001

At the end of 2001, a capital campaign was launched to build new facilities and revitalize The Bush Lower School Campus.
2004

In 2004-2005, the community bid farewell to the old campus classrooms, playing field, library, and gym, and construction of the new Lower School buildings began.
2006

In 2006, the new Lower School campus was completed. Students moved into modernized classrooms and played on an all weather turf field and playground; families could park in the new parking garage, and the community could gather in a beautiful space.
2011

In 2011, the Every One of Us Campaign concluded, having raised over $28 million from more than 700 donors for the Lower School renovations, $3.3 million of which was designated for Bush’s endowment.
2016

In 2016, Bush acquired a twenty-acre campus and educational facility in Mazama, WA. Located in the region known as the Methow Valley, this campus provides students with immersive educational and outdoor learning experiences.
2017

In 2017-18, the Bush community celebrated important milestones collectively giving over $1 million to the Annual Fund and over $500,000 at Celebrate Bush to support financial aid.
2018

In 2018-2020, 155 donor families, foundations, and corporations gave $17 million to the Connecting to Place capital campaign to support the design and construction of the New Upper School Building.
2020

In 2020, construction of the New Upper School Building began. This new building prioritizes Bush’s focus on environmental sustainability; it is the first Salmon Safe school in Seattle, the first Passive-House school in the West, and one of the first Net Zero Energy school buildings in the nation. The new building is scheduled to open for classes and activities in early 2022.
2022

On May 16, 2022, K-12 students migrated up to the Upper Campus to celebrate the opening of the New Upper School Building. Following a blessing of the building from Duwamish Chairwoman Cecile Hansen and remarks from Head of School Percy L. Abram and senior Carolina H. ’22, community members had the opportunity to walk the halls and tour the open spaces and classrooms. Younger students, not quite yet in the Upper School, also got a glimpse into their future.

1/23

The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.

3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978

The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status.

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Philanthropy at Bush

Giving and Gratitude

Giving and gratitude are central to who we are. Every gift makes a difference.

List of 5 items.

Annual Fund

Celebrate Bush

Endowment

Planned Giving

Capital Campaigns

VOLUNTEERING & BUILDING COMMUNITY

THE BUILDING OF A SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

1924

1925

1929

1930

1933

1944

1947

1950

1970

1972

1978

1980

1986

1997

2001

2004

2006

2011

2016

2017

2018

2020

2022