Whether you would like to put your donation to work today or benefit the School after your lifetime, you can find a charitable plan that lets you provide for your family and support Chatham Hall.
Bequests (Wills & Living Trusts)
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable Gift Annuities —immediate or deferred
Life Insurance
Retirement Plan Assets
Click here to learn more about ways to plan a gift.
Esto Perpetua Society
Founded in 1996, the Esto Perpetua Society celebrates the vision and commitment of individuals who have included future support for Chatham Hall in their estate, trusts, asset beneficiary designations, etc.
After you make these arrangements, notify us and we will send you an official welcome!
Donor Stories
Judy Carter ’63
After leaving Chatham Hall Judy Carter graduated from Converse College with a Bachelor’s degree in math and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Although she loved teaching, she wanted to get into the Data Processing field and took a job with her family’s life insurance company.
A member of the Class of 1999, Fitzalan developed a thirst for travel and global connections. She went on to study at Radford and Virginia Tech, earning two degrees in International Relations, and hoped for a career to fund her desire to see the world.
A member of the Chatham Hall Class of 1957, Ms. McFadden went on to graduate from Wheaton College before returning to live in New York. Josie spent her life’s work in selfless devotion and advocacy for those in need.
“Chatham Hall’s lovely setting combined with excellent, stimulating and supportive teachers was just what I needed at the age of 15. I was continually challenged to do more than what I thought was my best, and for this I am most grateful.
Amanda Mackay Smith '58 owned property bought years ago at $4 an acre, now worth $4,000 an acre. She contributed this land to a charitable remainder trust, allowing her to avoid a heavy capital gains tax and to take an income tax deduction.
I believe it's critically important to support Chatham Hall through the Chatham Hall Fund—the Chatham Hall of today. But, I also believe it's important to plan for Chatham Hall's future, just as we should make plans for our own.
The Jeffrey Ferguson '41 Endowed Chapel Fund provides more than $5,000 annually for chapel programs and the upkeep of St. Mary's Chapel.
Mary Covey Trust
Each year since 2002, the Mary Covey Trust, established at the death of Mary Wilmer Covey '41, has provided $15,000 - $35,000 for student scholarships.
Sarah C. Benson '47 Endowed Music Fund
The Sarah C. Benson '47 Endowed Music Fund provides more than $2,000 a year to strengthen Chatham Hall's music program.
Virginia L. Radley Endowment Fund
The Virginia L. Radley Endowment Fund, established by a bequest from a former faculty member, provides more than $20,000 a year for the School's highest priorities.
Zachar-Holt Scholarship
The Zachar-Holt Scholarship, established through a bequest by Stefanie Zachar '52 in honor of her parents and former dean Virginia Holt, awards more than $60,000 in scholarships each year.
Interested in helping Chatham Hall with our mission but feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing another check or giving up your assets today? A simple, flexible, and versatile way to ensure we can continue our work for years to come is a gift in your will or living trust, known as a charitable bequest. By including a bequest to Chatham Hall in your will or living trust, you are ensuring that we can continue our mission for years to come.
Bequests Sample Language:
I give and bequeath to Chatham Hall School (“Chatham Hall”), 800 Chatham Hall Circle, Chatham, Va. 24531 the sum of $______________ [or property/assets described herein] [or _________% of the remainder of my estate]
...to be used by Chatham Hall in its discretion for its general purposes
...to be added to the principal of the Chatham Hall endowment fund for the unrestricted needs of the School
...to be used for the following purpose [state purpose here].
When you are looking for ways to help Chatham Hall with our mission, you shouldn't feel like you are choosing between your philanthropic goals and financial security. One gift that allows you to support Chatham Hall's work while receiving fixed payments for life is a charitable gift annuity.
Not only does this gift provide you with regular payments and allow us to further our work, but when you create a charitable gift annuity with Chatham Hall you can receive a variety of tax benefits, including a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize.
Looking for a way to give Chatham Hall a significant gift? If you have built up a sizeable estate and are also looking for ways to receive reliable payments, you may want to check out the advantages of setting up a charitable remainder trust.
Benefits of a charitable remainder trust include:
Potential for a partial charitable income tax deduction
Potential for increased income
Up-front capital gains tax avoidance
There are two ways to receive payments with charitable remainder trusts:
The annuity trust pays you, each year, the same dollar amount you choose at the start. Your payments stay the same, regardless of fluctuations in trust investments.
The unitrust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. The amount of your payments is redetermined annually. If the value of the trust increases, so do your payments. If the value decreases, however, so will your payments.
Gifts of assets such as real estate, works of art, horses, etc. may be a wonderful way to support the School and achieve a tax benefit. These gifts will be accepted with consideration of fit with the program and needs of the school. Tangible gifts with a value of $5,000 or more must be accompanied by an appraisal acceptable to the School. The Office of Advancement would be happy to explore how a gift of tangible personal property might benefit you and the School.
A donor may designate Chatham Hall as a beneficiary of proceeds of their retirement fund or life insurance policy in a specific dollar amount or as a percentage of the asset.
If you are advising a client who has decided to make a planned gift to Chatham Hall, we are here to help! Please call us at 434.432.5600 or email usso that we may assist you. We will ask for your client's name and share our clearing broker, a DTC number, and the Chatham Hall account numbers and code.
For stock transfers, we will ask for your client's name, the name/ticker symbol of the shares you intend to transfer, the number of shares, an estimated value, and the fund designation (Annual Fund, special project, etc). This information will enable Chatham Hall to identify the donor and honor their gift intention.
Shannon Reynolds brought decades of nonprofit and independent school experience to the School in 2024 when she joined the Advancement Team. Prior to Chatham Hall, Shannon was the assistant head of school for institutional advancement at Ashley Hall where she led the advancement team and was a member of the school’s executive council and administrative leadership teams. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington and the University of Georgia, Shannon also has extensive experience working in various development positions at several organizations and nonprofits.