Last updated: January 2024

Overview 

1.  FIS accepts donations to the school that are intended to further support its mission. This process is coordinated through the Alumni Relations and Development Office, under the supervision of the Director of Admissions and Advancement.

2.  Donations to the school can be in the form of cash, bank transfer, credit/debit card payments, real property, intellectual property, securities, in-kind donations or planned gifts from the estate of the donor. In-kind donations of tangible personal property will be approved by the Alumni Relations and Development Office.

3  FIS may seek professional advice and services to assist in the transfer of donor assets or to assist a donor with the inclusion of FIS in the benefactor’s estate planning or upon the distribution of the estate.

4.   If the purpose of the gift is not designated by the donor, it will be considered an unrestricted gift and the school will be allowed to determine how the funds will be used.

5.  FIS will annually invite its community of faculty, staff, parents, and alumni to make contributions to its Annual Fund. The Annual Fund donor will be allowed to designate a specific use of the donated funds or to make an unrestricted gift to the school.

Donation and Campaign Options

6. Annual Fund solicitations will provide the community with a number of giving options: Student scholarship support through the Tuition Reduction Program (TRP); an unrestricted giving option allowing the school to direct funds most appropriately; special named project support which will vary annually; and the option to donate Endowment funds through the FIS Foundation.

7.  FIS may initiate a Capital Campaign alongside its Annual Fund to support the construction of FIS facilities or significant program enhancement.

Donor Communications 

8.  Every donor, regardless of the amount donated, will receive a letter of appreciation from the Alumni Relations and Development Office. The Alumni Relations and Development Office communicates that gifts of all sizes are appreciated and offer a meaningful contribution to the school.

9.  The Alumni Relations and Development Office may ask the Head of School to communicate a personal note of appreciation to a donor when circumstances suggest it is warranted.

10.  All significant donations of €5,000 and above will be recognized by the Head of School in a personal note to the donor. Donations of this size and above will be reported to the Board of Trustees.

11.  A donation from a person or organization with known values or interests that conflict with FIS values, interests or reputation cannot be accepted by the school. A decision to reject a donation will be made by the Head of School in consultation with the Board of Trustees. This identified conflict may also result in the school choosing to remove a donor’s name from an existing facility.

12.  The school will report the result of its fundraising efforts through its Annual Report. This report will be compiled and published online after the official audit of the school is completed in November. In addition to reporting funds raised, this publication will also share the names of all those who have donated during the previous fiscal year. Donors will also be given the option to have their names omitted from this report.

Designated Gifts and Naming Guidelines 

13.  Designated or special-purpose gifts must be allocated toward the purpose specified by the donor. Only with the written consent of the donor can the designation of a gift be changed for another purpose.

14.  The school will consider the naming of spaces, buildings or endowments in recognition of large donations to the school. The amount donated must meet the gift level established by the Alumni Relations and Development Office and approved by the Head of School and Board of Trustees. All naming rights must be approved by the Board of Trustees. Naming rights will be periodically reviewed to ensure they remain consistent with the school’s mission and values. Examples of designated donations and related naming rights are given below.

15.  A donor may choose to pledge a large donation that will be fulfilled over a period that exceeds one year. For purposes of donor recognition, the gift will be recognized and treated as a single donation that is paid through agreed-upon installments.  If a pledge has associated naming rights at FIS, failure to fulfill the pledge will result in the forfeiture of those naming rights.

16.  The school will provide the donor an appropriate tax receipt, as specified by German law.