Philanthropic Leadership

Giving Societies

Countless moments are made possible each year because of the generosity of Westminster’s community of supporters. We are delighted to celebrate donors at all levels and offer special recognition of our leadership supporters through membership across five giving societies. The full listings of Westminster’s 2020-21 donors and society members can be found on our password-protected website: https://www.westminster.net/support-westminster/2020-21-report-on-philanthropy. The password is: MOMENTS.

The Columns Society

The Columns Society is the pinnacle of philanthropy at Westminster, recognizing benefactors whose lifetime investments in the School have reached one million dollars or more. We are privileged to celebrate visionary donors whose leadership, loyalty, and extraordinary generosity has allowed Westminster to become—and remain—one of the nation’s leading independent schools.

The Cornerstone Society

The Cornerstone Society honors members of our community who have invested in the development of tomorrow’s leaders by including Westminster in their estate plans. We appreciate our Cornerstone members’ vision and generosity and extend a collective “thank you” from the Westminster community, both present and future. 

The Pressly Leadership Society

The Pressly Leadership Society celebrates donors who made gifts totaling $5,000 or more to Westminster during the 2020-21 school year. Members of the Pressly Leadership Society honor the vision of Dr. William L. Pressly, our founding president, through their extraordinary philanthropic commitments. 

The 1951 Circle

The 1951 Circle recognizes alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends who give $1,951-$4,999 to The Westminster Fund, enabling Westminster to deliver on its founding promise: to help young people become the leaders our world needs. 

The Young Alumni Leadership Society

The Young Alumni Leadership Society celebrates young alumni who give back to Westminster by investing at significant levels in The Westminster Fund. By doing so, they support today’s students as they grow into change-making citizens, guided by dedicated faculty every step of the way. 

Although we could not host as many donor celebrations in person last year, being able to engage with each other through a series of reimagined virtual events proved that you can’t press the mute button on joy, laughter, and gratitude. 

Our 1951 Circle and Young Alumni Leadership Societies spent an evening in Italy with Westminster and enjoyed a virtual pizza-making demonstration from Antico owner Giovanni Di Palma. In September 2020, nearly 300 members of The Pressly Leadership Society tuned in for a fireside chat with President Keith Evans. Society members toasted to their generosity and heard reflections from Senior Class Officers of the Class of 2021. In celebration of the holiday season, members of The Cornerstone Society and The Columns Society gathered online to enjoy an evening of caroling with Westminster’s student a cappella groups and a performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Upper School’s chorus and orchestra.

After more than a year apart, Westminster hosted its first in-person celebration. Members of the Principals’ Circle—donors who give $10,000 or more to The Westminster Fund—gathered outdoors at Westminster’s newly renovated Community Plaza and Alfred E. Thompson Stadium.  

Westminster celebrated the extraordinary generosity of Olivia and John '64 Barge during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Barge Commons. Designed as a place for the School to welcome the world as well as a home for leadership development and community engagement, Barge Commons will facilitate the many ways a Westminster education is enhanced by a deep connection with the world beyond our gates.