A Legacy of Generosity

Hilton College was established on land that was donated and most of our buildings were paid for by benefactors. School fees cover operational costs only, while scholarships and bursaries are funded by donors.

We welcome donations to any of the four main causes we advance. In addition, we gratefully accept donations towards any project that doesn’t specifically fit into any of these categories.

The Lift Up Your Hearts Fund

The Lift Up Your Hearts Fund grants financial aid (bursaries and scholarships) to boys of families for whom our school fees are out of reach. This includes the sons of Old Hiltonians.

The Pinnacles Fund

Our school has magnificent grounds and amenities, including a 450-seater theatre, state-of-the-art music centre, museum, and enviable sporting facilities, set on a 1,600-hectare property, which is arguably beyond compare. These assets contribute to the exceptional and unique learning experience we offer our boys. To remain a pre-eminent school, we must maintain our campus and build new facilities when required. The Pinnacles Fund supports the upkeep of our school campus and funds new infrastructure projects.

The uMngeni Fund

Generations of Hiltonians fondly remember exploring the Gwens Valley with its beautiful waterfalls, tubing down the uMngeni River, or spending lazy days at Pinnacles or Rolling Stones. Our estate and nature reserve have cultivated in our boys a deep appreciation for wildlife and conservation. In this time of climate change and environmental degradation, our estate offers a unique educational experience. The uMngeni Fund supports the maintenance of our estate and funds conservation and educational environmental projects.

The Vula Fund

The Vula Programme is the Hiltonian Society’s community service initiative, created to raise the teaching standard of high school mathematics and physical science at schools in disadvantaged communities. The only organisation of its kind in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, it has a reputation for delivering relevant, meaningful and cost-effective educational interventions and development opportunities since 2001.

Other ways to give

In addition to the four funds detailed above, ways to give back include legacy gifts in the form of bequests and the donation of shares. We also welcome donations towards any cause that is meaningful to you.

Give regularly or once-off

You can make your donation by EFT, debit order, or through our secure online payment platform. If you want to make a recurring payment (locally or internationally), we support Mastercard and Visa credit cards.

Substantial donations

If you’d like to make a substantial donation towards any of the four funds, or towards any need the school may have, please email advancement@hiltoncollege.com.

Donate shares

As your company grows, our foundation could benefit from capital appreciation and dividend distributions. Consider donating shares in your public or private company to the Hilton College Endowment Foundation. For tax benefits, you can only deduct public shares that you donate (not private shares).

Make a bequest

Ensure your legacy lives on to benefit Hilton College and its learners for decades to come. A bequest is a specific provision in your will directing certain assets in your estate to a beneficiary. Also known as a planned or deferred gift, a bequest allows you to enjoy your assets in your lifetime but share their benefits once you pass on.

Sponsor an ox

Joining our Cattle Project by sponsoring an ox is an excellent way to support your alma mater. It’s also fun to watch the estate management team expertly caring for your ox – and stand to win the grand annual prize and trophy! Launched in 2009 with the donation of 40 oxen, our cattle project has contributed significantly to the Hilton farm and endowment fund, which in turn contributes to the Lift Up Your Hearts Fund offering financial aid to families of boys who can’t afford our fees. We’ve converted all our maize lands to Kikuyu pasture and increased our carrying capacity to between 700 and 850 oxen per season. This growth has happened through weaner sponsorship and the reinvestment of project profits.

Support the Hiltonian Travel Service

Created as a mechanism to give back to the school, the Hiltonian Travel Service pays a percentage of its profits to the Hiltonian Society Bursary Fund. The Hiltonian Travel Service was conceived of by Old Hiltonian Craig Goodenough (1988, Churchill), the owner of XL Howick Travel and Bundu Bashers. Since 2012, staff, parents of Hilton boys, and Old Hiltonians have supported The Hiltonian Travel Service by entrusting to it their travel arrangements. They have enjoyed competitive prices, excellent service, and the satisfaction of contributing to our school’s bursary fund.

You can reach Craig Goodenough on:

Property Developments

Gwens Stream Estates (GSE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hilton College Endowment Foundation and was established with the express intent of developing residential estates on limited areas along the boundaries of the Hilton College Estate.

All proceeds derived from these developments are directed towards the Endowment Foundation and will assist materially in the provision of bursaries to Hilton College.

The Gates at Hilton was the first development by GSE. It is regarded as a pre-eminent residential estate in the Midlands, and The Dairy, launched in 2024, is poised to build further on that reputation.

If you have any questions about giving back to Hilton College, please contact:

Amanda Pistorius

Alumni & Donor Relations

Peter Storrar

Director of Advancement

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