Whidbey Island Waldorf School

Why We Ask for Your Gift

A Story of Seeds and Starlight: The magic of Whidbey Island Waldorf School

Once upon a time—nestled between forest and sea, there was a school unlike any other—a school born from a dream, tended with love, and grown with care. It was not made of stone and steel, but of songs sung under the canopy of majestic cedar trees, of hands shaping beeswax and bread, of verses whispered beneath winter stars. This was Whidbey Island Waldorf School.

Here, children did not simply learn facts—they remembered the world with their hearts, their hands, and their imagination. Math was rhythm, writing was story, science was wonder. The forest trails were their hallways; the changing seasons their curriculum. And behind each lesson, there pulsed a single question: What kind of human being are you becoming?

This school began, as all true things do—with a circle of families who believed in planting seeds. They sowed the first ones in the 1980s, in humble classrooms with hand-dyed silks and hand-made toys. Today, nearly 40 years later, their vision blossoms daily in the laughter of children, the warmth of teachers, and the deep connection to nature and each other.

Yet even the strongest forest weathers storms—we are in a time of contraction, economic headwinds, fewer young families settling on the island, and rising operating costs (inflation) that outpace what tuition many families can cover. Fewer families can afford a Waldorf education, and our teachers—who give so much of themselves—earn as much as 50% less than their public school counterparts. Each year, it becomes harder to balance what is needed with what is possible.

We remain steadfast in mission and hope, community and care— because we know the true worth of Waldorf Education, and we know you do too.

In giving, you join the circle of those who say... 

yes, we believe in beauty. 

Yes, we believe in kindness. 

Yes, we believe in hope. 

Yes, we believe that education can be art, and reverence, and light.

Yes, we believe that when we invest in the children of today, we grow the compassionate leaders of tomorrow. 

Give the Gift of Community, Beauty and Whole-Child Education

Imagine a world in which everyone can send their children to the school of their choice without concern for finances. With such a vision in mind, we raise money each year so that Whidbey Island Waldorf School can be financially accessible and can keep Waldorf Education on Whidbey Island. This GiveBIG campaign is focused on raising the last $45,000 of this year's minimum goal of $100,000.