What is Giving Day?
Our first-ever Giving Day will take place on 1 October 2025. We’re excited for you to join us!
Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising event for the whole ESMS community; students, parents, former students, former staff and friends of the School all around the world, can get involved and give what they can towards enhancing student wellbeing through outdoor spaces at both sites.
Students and staff are organising a packed day of activities and competitions which we will share on our Giving Day website and through social media.
We have some very generous donors who have agreed to some match funding, so every single pound you donate really matters.
Every Step Matters and every gift makes a difference. Whatever you can give, your generosity will help generations of ESM students to play, build friendships and grow in spaces that spark their imagination and support their wellbeing.
What difference will my donation make?
Every gift makes a difference. Whatever you can give, your generosity will help generations of ESM students to play, build friendships and grow in spaces that spark their imagination and support their wellbeing.
With thousands to unlock in matched and challenge funds, gifts go even further than usual. All gifts, of whatever size, add up and make a significant difference. Having a large number of donors encourages others to support us too, so we would love as many members of our community to participate in our Giving Day as possible.
Gifts during Giving Day will be matched pound for pound by some generous donors, doubling the impact of your donation.
6 gifts of £26 could purchase a planter to enhance our green spaces on either site
12 gifts of £50 could purchase a picnic bench for Queensferry Road or Ravelston
12 gifts of £100 could purchase monkey bars for Ravelston
8 gifts of £250 could purchase a zig-zag balance bridge for Ravelston
How can I make my gift?
We’d love you to join in on 1 October 2025, but we understand that your schedule might not allow you to participate during the Giving Day itself.
If you would like to make an early gift to our Giving Day, the best way to do this is through the ‘
Give Now’ button.
If you cannot give online, you can still give early by post. Please contact
development@esms.org.uk or on 0131 311 1131 to request a Giving Form.
Is my payment secure?
Yes. All payments through our Giving Day website will be securely processed by a secure, off-site payment processor called Stripe
www.stripe.com/gb/privacy.
Is there a minimum donation?
The minimum online gift amount is £1.
6 gifts of £26 could purchase a planter to enhance our green spaces on either site
12 gifts of £50 could purchase a picnic bench for Queensferry Road or Ravelston
12 gifts of £100 could purchase monkey bars for Ravelston
8 gifts of £250 could purchase a zig-zag balance bridge for Ravelston
We have a beautiful, bespoke giving tree, where donations over the following amounts will be acknowledged with a leaf that you can personalise with an engraved dedication:
£200 for a bronze leaf
£350 for a silver leaf
£500 for a gold leaf
There are also four donor plaques available for donations over £2000.
Finally, you can purchase a dedicated bench with a plaque acknowledging a loved one for a donation of £2500.
Can I claim Gift Aid on this donation?
Yes - if you are a UK taxpayer and have paid as much Income Tax and/or Capital Gains tax as the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year, Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools can reclaim the basic tax rate (25%) on your gift, with no extra cost to you. So, for example, your donation of £100 will be worth £125.
Can I donate tax-efficiently?
Gifts from the USA: Tax-deductible contributions can be made via the British Schools and Universities Foundation
www.bsuf.org America which is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organisation. If you make your gift via the Erskine Stewart’s Melville School Giving Day platform and select ‘Donate in USD’ you will be directed to our US donation form.
How can I help spread the word?
Your support will make a huge difference to ESMS’s Giving Day 2025. Post about our Giving Day using the hashtag #ESMSGivingDay on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram - and don’t forget to tag us! Make sure to tell your friends about this exciting day to get involved and make a difference.
My question hasn’t been answered. How can I get in touch?
Feel free to get in touch with the Development Office on
development@esms.org.uk or on 0131 311 1131.
Can I connect using WhatsApp?
Yes. Send a message, stating who you are, to 07923 020 493 and we can take it from there.
Can I make a gift before Giving Day?
Yes! We know that not everyone’s schedules will allow them to participate during the Giving Day itself. You can make your gift through our Giving Day platform anytime from now until 31 October. Alternatively, please send your gift by post or make a gift online through the ESMS school website.
Can I give anonymously?
Yes. When making your gift, tick the relevant box in the ‘Gift Visibility’ section of the form.