Frequently Asked Questions

As the yearly appeal to all members of the ZIS community, the Annual Fund supports strategic school priorities that benefit students and the learning experience at ZIS. This financial support is essential to the success of these key initiatives. Like other international schools, ZIS relies on support beyond tuition to continue to provide challenging and innovative academic programs, utilize the newest technology to enhance teaching and learning, and offer a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities. The Annual Fund supports projects across all three campuses.

In the 2020/21 school year, Annual Fund contributions will make possible the expansion of the STEM curriculum throughout the campuses, as well as the support of extracurricular STEM learning opportunities like First LEGO League and VEX Robotics, STEM camps and workshops, and a Young Entrepreneur program. Regarding Sustainability learning, the Annual Fund will contribute to funding for a continuation of last year's initiatives, including further development of the Educating for Sustainability curriculum and the support of Living Classrooms. For more information, please visit the Annual Fund page.

ZIS is a non-profit organization and school fees cover the cost of staffing, facilities, and many other educational expenses. To keep tuition as low as possible and to support strategic priorities at the school that are the bedrock of our children's experience, ZIS relies on additional income sources other than tuition, such as donations to the Annual Fund. 

Raising tuition to the level necessary to cover all of the costs of a ZIS education would limit the number of qualified students (both corporate pay and private pay) who could afford to attend. It is important that ZIS remains affordable to its constituents, and the school therefore tries to keep fees as low as possible. Annual Fund donations of all sizes make a difference by supporting the budget in strategic areas of priority. ZIS families are encouraged to support Annual Fund projects at a level that is appropriate for them.

The school's annual operating expenses for the 2018/19 school year (most recently approved financial information) were CHF 45.5 million, of which approximately 71% is compensation for personnel and 11% is expenses for instructional materials. Remaining expenses make up rent and depreciation (15%), and administration and marketing (3%).

ZIS does not receive any operational support from governmental or other sources. ZIS did receive financial support at favorable terms from the city and canton of Zurich for the construction of the Upper School in Adliswil which opened in 2008.

Yes. ZIS is a registered charity and donations made to ZIS are tax deductible for Swiss taxpayers. Donors to ZIS will receive appropriate tax receipts for their tax returns. For US taxpayers, the Zurich International School Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization that supports ZIS. Dollar donations to the foundation are tax deductible for US taxpayers.

Many US companies match employee donations to ZIS’s qualified associated US 501(c)(3) foundation. If you would like assistance in determining whether your company has a matching gift policy, please contact Jennifer Wyss jwyss@zis.ch.

Donors may support ZIS by making a Swiss franc donation (e-banking, cash, wire transfer, payment slip), paying by credit card, or making a US dollar donation (credit card, check, wire transfer) via the Zurich International School Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization that supports ZIS. All Swiss franc and US dollar donations are tax-deductible. For more information and to donate, please visit the Giving Online page.

Donations of every size are important and help us realize our goal of high participation which in turn demonstrates to corporations and foundations that people inside the school support its fundraising efforts. Donors are encouraged to donate at a level appropriate for them. The average donation in 2019/20 was CHF 648, but many donors gave more or less than this amount. Each donation is important, appreciated and encourages others to donate.

Support of the Annual Fund is welcome at any time; however, donating early in the academic year is crucial as it provides a gauge by which to plan for the end of the year.

Community-wide participation is important for several reasons. It sends an important message to external entities (government, corporations, foundations, etc.) that our community values and supports ZIS. This is critical for showing the importance and need for international schools and pursuing financial support from these entities in the future. In addition, ZIS is a school that values community involvement. Our success depends on having engaged parents. One of the ways parents can show their involvement is by supporting the Annual Fund. Lastly, each donation is important, appreciated, and encourages others to donate.

Families who make a donation before the February break receive only one appeal. The follow-up appeal letter is sent as a reminder to those who have not made a donation by that time.

Donations to the Annual Fund support strategic priorities in the current fiscal year, so we ask our community to renew this support each year. Current and future students benefit from this annual support.

Annual Fund donations are put to use immediately to enhance programs in the current academic year. Furthermore, many ZIS parents recognize that their children are benefiting from the generosity of families who donated in the past. The Annual Fund provides them with the opportunity to keep this cycle going.

There are many ways we work together as a school community. We greatly appreciate the many parents who volunteer to help the school, such as through the Parents' Association. Just as many activities would not be possible without volunteers, so key academic initiatives for your child's education could not happen without Annual Fund donations. Both kinds of support are crucial.

Our community is very generous, and many of our parents are committed to causes that are extremely deserving of support. We hope that our families also make their children’s school a high philanthropic priority. Donations to the ZIS Annual Fund benefit your own children as well as those who will follow them through our doors in years to come.

Please visit the Support ZIS page or contact Jennifer Wyss, Head of Development, at 058 750 25 43 or jwyss@zis.ch. Past Annual Reports are also available online.

A school's endowment is its savings account. A large, well-invested endowment provides a school with another source of income other than tuition, thus providing financial stability. ZIS has a fledgling endowment based on an alumni contribution.