Unlike other international schools Graz International Bilingual School (“GIBS”) is a state school that does not charge tuition fees for students. However, as a multilingual and international school striving for academic excellence while offering the Austrian Matura as well as the International Baccalaureate (“IB”) the school incurs expenses which are not always covered by government funds. Examples of these expenses include:

• Support the school financially to have language assistants as co-teachers
• Student events
• Advanced education for teachers
• Financial support for student trips abroad
• Specialized learning material for GIBS not covered by public funding guidelines
• Maintenance of an extensive, multilingual school library

The GIBS Foundation (Verein zur Förderung der GIBS) has the purpose to support the students of the school by covering non-government funded operating costs, equipment and initiatives to help the school to at least maintain its high international standards. The GIBS foundation finances itself through membership fees paid by student families as well as sponsor support.

The GIBS foundation has had charitable status in Austria since its foundation. As of 31/12/2024 additional donations to the foundation beyond membership fees are tax deductible (see below).

Membership fees amount to €450,- per child per school year for the school year 2024/25. Each member could pay voluntarily a higher contribution of €650,- to support the school and its educational excellence. As of 31/12/2024 the difference of €200 was tax deductible and the Foundations’ process tries to ensure the voluntary higher contribution is automatically recognized when the member files its tax return.

On the other hand, our guidelines provide for a reduction of fees for families in financial need as well. Members are strongly encouraged to seek financial help for school trips etc. via the Elternverein first (see section financial support application).

Payment will be taken by direct debit in November of every school year. In order to make it as easy as possible from an administrative perspective we ask you to authorise a direct-debit mandate (Einzugsermächtigung) to VF-GIBS. Please complete the form and return it to kassier.vf@gibs.at.

Alternatively, your child can hand in the form to the school office or a form teacher.

The membership fees and grants will be used for the following support measures in accordance with the budget planning for the 2024 / 25 school year:

In line with the school’s guidelines and the purpose of the Foundation, the largest amount will be used to pay the language assistants, who make a significant contribution to the education provided by GIBS, which is the only public bilingual school in Styria. The costs for events, projects and trips are also a large item. This covers cultural events (cinema, theater, opera), sporting events (swimming in the Auster, climbing), excursions (Vienna, Mauthausen, Flavia Solva) and much more. These costs, as well as rental costs for photocopiers and rooms, and the parents’ association fee, are usually collected individually in other schools, while we try to make administration as easy as possible for parents and teachers using the Foundation.

We are particularly pleased that in October 2024, the Austrian tax authorities recognized the GIBS Foundation as a charitable organization with retroactive effect from 1 January 2024. This can significantly help to keep the level of membership fees constant over a longer period of time, offer even more and better services for the school, and finance specific projects through fundraising campaigns without overburdening the regular Foundation budget.

Donations can be made to the following donation account.

Account information:  Verein zur Förderung der GlBS
IBAN: AT70 3800 0001 0246 6977
BIC: RZSTAT2G

Please include the word “Spende” (donation) as the purpose of the transfer. It is not necessary to specify the exact purpose, but it is possible.

Both companies and private individuals (not just parents of pupils) can donate.

What do you need to bear in mind?

You are donating as a private individual:

So that we can report your donation to the tax office, we need your first name, surname and date of birth. Your donation will automatically be taken into account as a special expense in your (employee) tax assessment. If you do not wish to provide the following data as part of the bank transfer, please send us your first and last name (according to the population register) and your date of birth by e-mail to kassier.vf@gibs.at by January 31st of the year following your donation payment.

Please note that membership fees are not deductible as a donation (but any voluntary additional amount is).

You are donating as a company:

Donations from business assets to the GIBS Foundation can be deducted as a business expense up to a maximum of 1% of profits in accordance with Section 4a (1) EStG. In this case, no data transfer is required. We will be happy to issue you with a corresponding donation receipt. In this case, please send an e-mail to kassier.vf@gibs.at.

If you require further information, in particular on the deductibility of donations, please also send an e-mail to kassier.vf@gibs.at.

Students in need of financial support for excursions abroad are encouraged to the Parents’ Association (Elternverein) who runs the process. You can find information on the process and documents on the website section of the Parents’ Association https://www.gibs.at/pdf/parents/GIBS_EV-Support-Antragsformular_DE.pdf

General enquiries: vf@gibs.at
Enquiries regarding fees/payments: kassier.vf@gibs.at