Giving
Fourteen students. No state funding. One school that said yes anyway.
Your gift helps keep their seats open.
The Need
19% of our school is unfunded.
Of the 73 students enrolled at J.W. Reed Christian Academy for the 2026-27 school year, 59 receive an Iowa Education Savings Account. Fourteen do not. Some missed the ESA application window, and some are not old enough to qualify.
Their families could not cover the difference, so we did not ask them to. When school opens on August 24, those fourteen children will walk in alongside everyone else, enrolled, expected, and known by name, because the cost is carried by people who may never meet them.
That cost is $114,072 for the 2026-27 school year. Roughly 95% of our families would qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. When we say a Christ-centered education should be within reach, these fourteen seats are what we mean.
Where Your Gift Goes
Every amount below is a real number.
Iowa's Education Savings Account provides $8,148 per student for the 2026-27 school year. For our fourteen unfunded students, that is the gap donors fill.
Fourteen monthly sponsors at $679 closes the gap entirely. One church, one student. One family, one student. One business, one student. You may also designate a gift to on-site mental health services, classroom resources, or the area of greatest need.
Sponsor a Student →What Your Support Builds
Three seniors. Thousands in scholarships. One school that did not let go.
Our 2025 graduating class shows what consistent investment in a child can produce:
- ArMani Brown earned a Presidential and Music Scholarship to Drake University, where he is minoring in Jazz Studies.
- AyDain Hill received the Promise Scholarship at Cornell College.
- Matthew Ratliff was accepted to Grand View University and is building his own business.
We are a Cognia-accredited school serving Preschool through twelfth grade on Des Moines' east side. Our building can hold 125 students. Space is not what limits us, teachers and resources are.
Ways to Give
Choose the giving path that is right for you.
J.W. Reed Christian Academy is able to receive support through a variety of charitable giving options.
By Check
Mail a check to J.W. Reed Christian Academy, 1619 E. University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316.
Donor Advised Fund
Recommend a gift from your donor advised fund to support JWRCA.
Stock, Securities, or Real Estate
To explore a gift of appreciated securities or real estate, please contact the Academy before making arrangements.
Planned Gifts
A gift through a will, trust, or estate plan can make a lasting difference for future generations of JWRCA students.
Matching Gifts
Many employers offer matching-gift programs that can increase the impact of your donation.
Legacy Circle
Build a legacy that supports future generations.
J.W. Reed Christian Academy provides an education that seeks to honor Christ through both academic and spiritual growth. The JWRCA Legacy Circle recognizes supporters who choose to extend that mission through a planned gift.
Gifts made through a will or estate plan may be unrestricted, residual, or contingent, and may define a specific amount or a percentage of an estate. Common planned gifts include trusts, life insurance, IRAs, annuities, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts.
If you have already arranged for a planned gift, please let us know so we can honor your support. We can also provide suggested bequest language for you to discuss with your attorney.
J.W. Reed Christian Academy welcomes planned gifts through bequests, charitable trusts, or life insurance as a way to invest in the school's future.
For more information, contact the Academy at (515) 265-6208, or email Admin@jwreedchristianacademy.org or D.Woods@jwreedchristianacademy.org.
Sample Bequest Language
Bequest of Estate Remainder
“I give, devise, and bequeath to J.W. Reed Christian Academy, [all or state the fraction or percentage] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, for its general charitable purposes.”
Bequest of a Specific Amount
“I give, devise, and bequeath $_____ to J.W. Reed Christian Academy for its general charitable purposes.”
These examples are intended as general information and should be reviewed and adapted by legal counsel. Please contact the Academy for its current legal name and tax identification details before finalizing a gift.
Start a Conversation
Talk with us about planned giving.
Share a little about your interest, and the Academy will follow up with the next step.
Take the Next Step
Fourteen seats. That is the whole ask.
Not a campaign. Not a building. Fourteen children who are already here, already enrolled, and already ours.
Responsible Stewardship
Responsible stewardship of your contribution.
J.W. Reed Christian Academy is dedicated to the responsible management of all donations entrusted to the school. As our strategic initiatives progress, JWRCA will maintain transparent communication regarding the impact of your support and the advancements made possible through the generosity of our community.
J.W. Reed Christian Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 37-1906688.