Captains Club and Giving Societies FAQs

List of 16 items.

• Why is Woodberry making these changes?

  Increasing the giving level for Captains Club expands support for the boys in our care and resources for the faculty and staff who know, challenge, and love them. 

  
  

  Since the last increase in the Captains Club level in 2011, the cost of educating Woodberry students and retaining exceptional faculty members has increased. In response, the Board of Trustees has elected to increase the Captains Club giving level to ensure the school can continue to provide the exceptional experience that defines a Woodberry education — for the boys here now and for future Tigers. 

  
  

  The school is introducing new giving societies to better recognize donors while offering multiple ways to become a member of a giving society.

• What are the benefits of joining a giving society?

  Giving societies serve to best recognize and celebrate donors collectively, as well as with individual stewardship.  We remain committed to communicating the significant impact of donor generosity, and giving society members can expect additional touchpoints from Woodberry throughout the year that highlight the impact donors are having on individual students as well as the broader Woodberry community.

• How do I join The Rapidan Society?

  Donors who have given consecutively to Woodberry (to any area of support) for the past five or more fiscal years are automatically in The Rapidan Society. If you have not given consecutively for five or more years but wish to join The Rapidan Society, make sure to make a gift to Woodberry each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) to qualify.

• How can I find out how many years of consecutive giving I have?

  Please contact Kristina Jones, director of development operations, at kristina_jones@woodberry.org or 540-672-6078 to confirm your consecutive giving history. Please note our official records for giving start in the late 1970s, and that for counting purposes we evaluate gifts by fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).

• How do I join Captains Club?

  Captains Club donors support the school through yearly leadership gifts. To join Captains Club, make a gift of $5,000 or more (or the prorated giving level if you qualify) during the 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) and each subsequent fiscal year going forward to retain membership.

• Will the fall 2026 Captains Club event be based on the new giving level or the previous giving level?

  The November 2026 Captains Club event will be based on gifts made during the 2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). The November 2027 Captains Club event will be based on the new giving level for gifts made in the 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027).

• How do I know if I have given at the Captains Club level for this year?

  Please contact Kristina Jones, director of development operations, at kristina_jones@woodberry.org or 540-672-6078 to confirm your giving history.

• How do I join the Walker Society?

  The Walker Society honors donors who sustain the mission of the school through planned and estate gifts (see examples of qualifying gifts). Please contact Dodie Chavez ’85 P’23, director of planned giving, at dodie_chavez@woodberry.org or 540-672-6036 to become a Walker Society member or with any questions about membership.

• How do I join The 1889 Society?

  Membership to The 1889 Society is automatically granted to donors who meet the following three criteria: a member of the Walker Society, a current member of Captains Club, and a consecutive donor for 10 or more years.

  
  

  To join The 1889 Society, follow the criteria above for joining Captains Club and the Walker Society, and give consecutively to Woodberry for 10 or more years. If you have already been giving consecutively to Woodberry, those years will be factored in.

• How do I make a gift?

  To make a gift, give online now or review other options for making a gift.

• Does giving to any area at Woodberry count toward giving society membership?

  Yes, gifts to any area at Woodberry count toward giving society membership.

• Does my monthly recurring gift count toward giving society membership?

  Yes, recurring gifts count toward giving society membership as long as the total given reaches the society’s threshold over the course of the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Recurring gifts are especially impactful, providing a steady and reliable source of support that allows Woodberry to sustain the programs and experiences that define the school.

• Do pledges count toward giving society membership?

  While pledges do not count toward giving society membership, pledge payments received during the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) do count.

• Do matching gifts count toward giving society membership?

  Yes! We are grateful that you are having your employer match your gift. The employer’s match must be received within the same fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) as the initial gift to be counted toward giving society membership.

• May I remain anonymous?

  Yes, please write “Anonymous” in the “Additional Notes About My Gift” field on our online giving form, in the memo field on a check, or if you are making your gift another way, inform Kristina Jones, director of development operations, that you wish to remain anonymous.

• Whom should I contact with additional questions?

  Please contact Eliza Broaddus, director of donor relations, at elizac_broaddus@woodberry.org or 540-672-6008.