The YellowJacket Fund
Expanding Opportunities for Every Student
The Yellowjacket Fund, established by The W.L. Gilbert Trust in August 2025, is an unrestricted fund that supports a wide variety of activities across The Gilbert Community. From faculty and staff professional development and classroom grants to student activities, travel, athletics, and the fine arts, this fund ensures that financial barriers don't limit what's possible for our students.
As The Yellowjacket Fund grows, the opportunities afforded to students, faculty, and staff will increase each year, continually enhancing the excellent education available at The Gilbert School.
Immediate Impact, Lasting Change
Gifts to The Yellowjacket Fund have an immediate impact on the larger Gilbert Community and directly advance William L. Gilbert's founding mission while addressing a critical gap in student engagement and educational equity.
The Challenge We're Addressing
As costs continue to rise, many important educational experiences have become increasingly out of reach for our students. Trips to museums in New York City, cultural exchanges abroad, leadership conferences, STEM competitions, and other transformative opportunities often carry price tags that create barriers for families.
Over recent years, several traditional Gilbert experiences have been eliminated due to rising costs and the financial burden placed on students and families.
Even more concerning are the experiences that never happen. Staff often avoid planning enriching trips and activities, knowing that cost will be a barrier for many students. This invisible loss widens the opportunity gap and limits student growth in ways we may never fully measure.
Our Solution
The Yellowjacket Fund ensures that all Gilbert students can participate—not just those who can afford it.
Whether it's reducing the cost of a field trip, making a competition accessible, funding materials for a new program, or supporting a student's attendance at a summer workshop, this fund removes financial barriers that stand between students and opportunity.
What Your Gift Supports
Contributions to The Yellowjacket Fund create opportunities across campus:
Student Experiences
- Field trips and cultural excursions that bring learning to life
- Competition fees for athletics, robotics, debate, band, choir, and academic teams
- Leadership conferences and student government activities
- Study abroad and cultural exchange programs
- College visit trips and career exploration opportunities
Academic Excellence
- Faculty grants for innovative classroom projects
- Professional development that brings cutting-edge teaching methods to Gilbert
- New program development in emerging fields
- Classroom materials and supplies beyond the regular budget
- Guest speakers and artist residencies
Arts & Athletics
- Equipment and uniforms for all athletic teams
- Art supplies, instruments, and performance costs
- Travel to competitions, exhibitions, and performances
- Facility improvements and technology upgrades
Making Your Gift
Your contribution to The Yellowjacket Fund provides flexible, immediate support where it's needed most. Gifts of any size make a difference:
- $50 could cover transportation costs for a student to attend a regional competition
- $100 could provide art supplies for an entire semester project
- $250 could subsidize a field trip for multiple students
- $500 could fund professional development for a teacher to bring new skills to the classroom
- $1,000+ could launch a new student program or make an entire experience accessible to all
Join Us in Expanding Possibility
Together, we can ensure that every student has the chance to learn beyond the classroom, discover their passions, and grow into the engaged, thoughtful citizens that William L. Gilbert envisioned.
Questions about The Yellowjacket Fund?
Contact the Alumni Office:
Phone: (860) 379-1245
Email: gilbertalumni@gilbertschool.org
The Yellowjacket Fund is part of The W.L. Gilbert Trust Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.