Who are we?

The King David Schools' Foundation (KDSF) is a registered non-profit organisation, No:005-644 NPO. We have been in existence since 1994 and operate under the auspices of the South African Board of Jewish Education. We represent the alumni network of former Davidians all over the world and we fundraise to secure the future of the King David Schools.

What do we do?

The role of Jewish education is more important than ever before, serving as a moral compass in today's complex world. In addition, circumstances and realities in South Africa have brought significant change in education which makes high-quality private schooling in this country critical.

More and more Jewish parents are therefore considering the King David option, whether or not it is affordable to them. As community schools, we must make provision to assist Jewish learners whose parents cannot afford the fees. However we cannot continue to rely solely on tuition fees from full-fee paying parents to fund the subsidy programme (currently we apply just under 10% of school fees from full-fee paying parents to a subsidy fund that affords over 500 children the opportunity to attend our very special schools). Nor can we continue to rely on the tuition fees alone to fund educational advancement or infrastructural improvement, especially in light of the fact that today the King David schools educate over 3300 learners across 5 campuses, and each campus houses a number of schools which require ongoing development and advancement in order to maintain the high standards synonymous with the name King David.

The King David Schools must therefore secure ongoing financial independence and sustainability - the objective that the KDSF strives to achieve.

The KDSF's new campaign: Dor le Dor - Generation to Generation Campaign

Dor le Dor - Generation to Generation Campaign is focused on creating an Endowment Fund - the engine that will drive a sustainable future for the King David Schools, pivotal to the longevity of the community. The campaign aims to raise an initial R100m for the Endowment Fund. Capital growth and income generated from the Endowment Fund will be applied to the following key strategic initiatives:

• 1. Continuation of our Subsidy Programme (financial assistance for Jewish learners in need)
• 2. Enhanced Development of our Teaching Programme (attracting and retaining quality teachers)
• 3. Expansion of our Learning Programme (strengthening academic, religious, cultural and sporting curricula)
• 4. Improvement of our Infrastructure (upgrading our facilities and technology)
• 5. Support of our Outreach Programme (enhancing our commitment to previously disadvantaged communities)

The KDSF has recently undergone a rebranding exercise to support its new vision for long term sustainability. The new logo strongly identifies itself with the King David schools and rests in a Magen David, indicative of Jewish heritage being the foundation of the King David schools.

Elliot Wolf, former principal of King David High School Linksfield, and Raelene Tradonsky (née Shapiro), businesswoman, former Davidian and proud mother of three Davidians,  are the KDSF's directors who are responsible for the Dor le Dor Campaign. The new way forward  is supported and endorsed by the KDSF‘s new chairman, Adrian Gore, and his fellow trustees, Brett Levy, David Frankel, Jonathan Hackner, Michael Mendelowitz, Stephen Koseff, and Steven Joffe.

Strategic fundraising initiatives are planned to build the Endowment Fund. Support of the KDSF's new direction by the community both in South Africa and abroad will ensure the existence of excellent Jewish day schools and a learning facility for generations to come, which will continue to produce graduates who will have an impact on their communities worldwide. We ask the community, and specifically King David alumni all over the world, to embrace this opportunity to help sustain the institution that nurtured them, so that future generations of Jewish children will be able to have access to the wonderful education and heritage from which they benefited.

How can you help?

To make an online donation to help build the Endowment Fund, click here. 

To make a direct deposit donation to help build the Endowment Fund please use the following details:

King David Schools' Foundation

Standard Bank Ellis Park

Acc no: 002101076

Branch code: 004605

To discuss your donation requirements, please contact our Executive Director Elliot Wolf on +27 11 480 4730 or wolfe@kdsf.org or our Fundraising Director Raelene Tradonsky on +27 11 480 4501 or tradonskyr@kdsf.org 

All donations are eligible for Section 18a tax certificates. Overseas donations are welcome. To find out how you can make an overseas donation, please contact OUR Fundraising Director Raelene Tradonsky on +27 11 480 4501 or tradonskyr@kdsf.org  

If you would like to make a non-monetary contribution to the KDSF, please see the options below:

• If you would like to volunteer to assist us with fundraising, click here.
• If you would like to volunteer to organise your Matric class reunion, click here.
• If you would like to get in touch with long lost classmates, click here.