Ensuring Access and Diversity

Goal: $4,200,000

The quality of Westminster students is one of the school’s defining strengths.  Diversity of race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and cultural backgrounds remains a valued attribute.  To sustain and build on this strength, Westminster must ensure that financial constraints do not impede potential applicant families. 

Westminster offers financial assistance to families in need, and is one of a small number of schools capable of extending financial aid to students in grades pre-first through 8, but it is increasingly hard pressed to do so.  Although demand for financial aid continues to grow, and has increased by 20 percent in recent years, income from endowment and other restricted funds continues to fall short of the need.  The disparity has necessitated a draw on other revenue sources, reducing the funds available to meet other educational priorities. 

Westminster must secure additional financial aid endowment to assist applicant families, including members of its own faculty who lack the financial resources to send their children to Westminster.  Accordingly, the school’s trustees have set a minimum goal of securing $4.2 million in financial aid endowment to lessen, if not eliminate, the draw on other school revenues.