From the School’s earliest days, the TAS community has fostered a culture of philanthropy, commitment, connection and contribution which continues just as strongly today. If you have ever been curious about why the TAS campus has the collection of beautiful buildings and facilities that it has, or how it manages to assist those families struggling when faced with challenging circumstances or how it can offer the range of scholarships it does, then perhaps a better understanding of the TAS community’s spirit of philanthropy will interest you.
What is the TAS Foundation?
The TAS Foundation has been at the heart of philanthropy since its creation in 1983. It offers tax deductible receipts for donations into the Scholarship Fund or Building Fund which are then used for buildings, scholarships and fees assistance to those TAS families in need. There are no TAS staff paid from donated funds – all donated gifts contribute to the development of TAS and its community. It relies on the generosity of our broader community that were at the very heart of the founding of the school.
How can you donate to the TAS Foundation?
This is very easy to answer. You can simply donate by following the instructions in the ‘Donate’ section of the website.
You will have a choice of projects that you can donate to. Every gift we receive is used only for that nominated project. For every donation to the Building Fund or Scholarship Fund, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. For any questions about making a donation or gift to the TAS Foundation please contact Mrs Emily McOrist, Director of Development by email on [email protected]
Annual giving projects 2026
This year’s Annual Giving is an appeal to our generous and supportive community to once again consider donating to the important projects listed below that the Foundation would like to fund in the following year.
For those of you that wish to donate directly to the TAS Athletic Hub, without being part of the TAS Foundation Stock and Crop Club.
Now you are able to do so, via the Australian Sports Foundation link, (https://bit.ly/4ujgi8y) where you can make a tax-deductible donation.
This important fund provides our Aboriginal students with access to the full breadth of co-curricular opportunities available at TAS. Application for assistance from the ISSF is made by families and students are encouraged to use this Fund to explore their potential and gain valuable lifelong experiences.
Scholarships and means-tested bursaries are essential for many families wanting to send their child to TAS. This fund is a vital component of the Foundation’s ability to support our families and community at times when it is needed most.
The TAS Foundation Building Fund helps the School maintain the stunning campus and build the necessary infrastructure needed by our students and staff. The Voluntary Building Fund donations from school fees are an essential component to this Fund, but it also relies on the generosity of donors whose generosity make the impossible, possible.
Membership to the TAS Foundation
Donations are cumulative which means every time you contribute to the Foundation, your gifts are helping you achieve a higher level of membership.
Levels of membership to the TAS Foundation:
- Member: gifts of $2,000 to $9,999 or an intended bequest $19,999
- Fellow: gifts of $10,000 to 49,999 or an intended bequest $20,000 to $99,999
- Trustee: gifts of $50,000 or more or an intended bequest $100,000 or more
- Patron: gifts of $500,000 or more
How can I leave a bequest to the school?
Leaving a bequest to the TAS Foundation or to the school itself through your Will is an investment in the future of education for our students. The provision of funds for the future ensures the school is able to provide additional facilities, scholarships and bursaries to those who most need it.
We are very grateful to all donors who intend to leave a bequest, whether an estate, cash, shares or the residue of an estate because it enables infrastructure we may not otherwise be able to build or allows students to experience a unique education that they may not have had access to.
We recommend that you seek legal advice on the structure of your Will and inform your family about your intentions in leaving TAS a bequest. It would be most helpful for us to know if you are leaving a bequest to TAS because we believe it is important to acknowledge and thank benefactors in their lifetime for the contribution they will be making to the school.
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Details for leaving a Bequest
You may need to provide these details to your lawyer if you are planning on leaving a bequest in your Will.
- The Armidale School Foundation Ltd (ACN 002 596 901/ ABN 93 326 194 937)
- The Armidale School Foundation is registered as a charity under the ACNC Act.
With thanks to our generous benefactors
TAS and the TAS Foundation are indebted to the many generous benefactors who give tirelessly to the School in their lifetimes or by leaving provision for the School in their wills. This has enabled us to provide financial needs based fees assistance to families in times of hardship, drought, flood, fire or when circumstances demand it.
Building Fund
We also wish to thank all of those donors who have contributed to the School campus over the past 130 years. Without these donations, our School would not be what it is today.
Named Scholarships and Bursaries
These bursaries are established in memory of Neyle Kingsmill Cameron, a prominent Grafton businessman and TAS Old Boy who attended TAS from 1936 – 1939. The bursaries are awarded to families in need of financial assistance who will benefit from a TAS education and make the most of the opportunities the school provides.
Where possible, each bursary is awarded to a student from the Clarence or North Coast area. These bursaries were established by his sister Lisa Elaine Cameron and her generosity has resulted in many TAS students receiving an education they may not have otherwise had access to.
The Aberbaldie Trust was established by Stephen Scammell (UK) in association with Bob Hyman (Tamworth) to provide bursaries for students whose family is principally involved in the agricultural sector.
Fees assistance is made available through the investments of the TAS Foundation, as a result of generous benefactions and donations of past and present generations of the TAS family.
These are awarded from a Trust fund set up in 1962 by Keith Mackay. The funds are awarded to “students of more than average ability who might not have otherwise been able to enrol at the school”.
For students entering Years 7 to 11 who are the sons or daughters of members of the Old Armidalians’ Union.
Scholarships are to provide for such children of the clergy (including deceased Clergymen) of the Anglican Church within the said Diocese of Armidale and/or such sons of Old Armidalians of The Armidale School.
Allocation from the Centenary Foundation.
During his 21 years as Headmaster at TAS, Murray Guest had an indelible impact on thousands of students and hundreds of staff, educating, supporting and inspiring them to be the best they can be.
His influence on generations of boys and girls will be life-long and under his visionary and innovative stewardship, The Armidale School has grown and flourished to become one of the leading co-educational boarding schools in the country. His tragic loss has been devastating, but his rich legacy will live on.
In his memory, the TAS Foundation is launching the Murray Guest Scholarship which will be available to assist a worthy student attend TAS, who otherwise would not be able to do so.
The Molesworth family have established a new scholarship called the ‘Rick Molesworth Scholarship’ in honour of Rick who tragically passed away in 2020. This scholarship will be awarded to a new Year 9 student who best exemplifies a desire to participate in the full co-curricular life of the school. We would like to encourage donations to this fund in the hope that it can assist many families in future years to send their son or daughter to TAS.
The Rex Budd Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of TAS Old Boy and long standing member of the TAS Foundation, Rex Budd.
The Graham Macdonald Memorial Trust Scholarship supports a student from rural NSW who would otherwise be unable to attend TAS.
Established by the OAU this scholarship is for the son or daughter of an Old Boy from a geographically isolated area showing genuine need. In memory of long time staff member George Crossle.
Operation of the Foundation
The Foundation operates out of the school’s Development Office and is responsible for raising funds and support for the Foundation and the school itself. The Foundation operates two tax-deductible funds for accepting donations; the Building Fund and the Scholarship Fund.
There are several projects that fall within these two funds and each year we ask members of our community for gifts to these funds through our Annual Giving.
Responsibility for the operational management of the Foundation lies with the Director of Development, Mrs Emily McOrist who can be contacted at [email protected].
Governance of the Foundation
The TAS Foundation has its own Board of Directors as well as a number of Committees that oversee the essential functions of the Foundation.
The Investment Committee is responsible for the astute and responsible investment of the Foundation’s funds using independent financial advice from local professionals. The Membership and Planning Committee oversee the initiatives designed to raise the profile of the Foundation while the Bequest Committee seeks to ensure the future financial security of the school through its bequest program.
Contacting the Foundation
If you would like to speak about the Foundation or any of the fundraising projects TAS is raising money for, please contact Mrs Emily McOrist, Director of Development on (02) 6776 5800 or by email to [email protected].