Influence of donors in schools
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Anonymous
| I am new to the U.S. private school system, but one thing I have noticed is its heavy reliance on donations. While in principle there is nothing wrong with that, and I don’t particularly mind having buildings named after philanthropists, I sometimes wonder whether donors have influence over the school’s agenda. For instance, do they ever push for specific policies that go beyond what the school would normally adopt, such as positions on antisemitism or LGBTQ+ rights? In your experience, do donors typically request certain policies on social issues, or do they give money with no strings attached? I just want to better understand whether donations might come with conditions that parents are not aware of. |
Anonymous
|
Who do you think runs universities, colleges, private schools, and so on?
The board. This is how the world works. The board is comprised of the large donors. So the donors are actually in charge of all of it. |
Anonymous
| My question is, what strings, if any, are attached to large donations? Or are they ultimately inconsequential? |
Anonymous
| A school is not going to change its worldview based on a donor. Find a school that matches your beliefs and go from there. |
Anonymous
Disagree. Seen it first hand get push back from donors as they have the HOS's ear at private donor dinners. private events that only donors are invited to. Yes they have influence and so do their friends. |
Anonymous
Name the school. |
Anonymous
If you want to go, then pay up. They aren’t that exciting. Or just schedule a meeting with the head of school yourself. You are naive if you are just now learning how the world works. |
Anonymous
| If they have influence it's around the edges. A school that otherwise would be hostile or open to LGBTQ kids isn't going to flip that position for a big check. |
Anonymous
The HOS humors them but they aren't making major changes over these whispers. The school works hard to cultivate a culture and they aren't going to make any significant changes to that just bc a couple donors want them to. |
Anonymous
Wrong. Board can and do fire the HOS. They have that authority. |
Anonymous
First of all, just being a large donor is not the same as being a board member. Second, look at the size of the board at your school and realize how many people are on it. The overall performance of the HOS is not going to be impacted by the fringe interests of one donor or even a board member. Please think through ideas more before you post. |
Anonymous
You are naive. Yes there is a subset that does influence the HOS and they may be a minority but a strong vocal group. Yes they are on the board and often friends of those on the board which the HOS knows. Personally witness a small group of 4-5 board members cause a complete override of a school's mission. This is well known. So before you post obnoxious replies - maybe realize you are not in the know as much as you think you are. |
Anonymous
4-5 board members is very different from one donor. I’m not sure how you view these as equivalent. |
Anonymous
| Think it depends on the size of the school. We went to a midsized k-12 private in New York, midtier in terms of prestige, but one family at the school was part of the orignal family who founded the school. They basically wrote a check to cover whatever deficit the school had in terms fundraising goals. As you can imagine they had a lot of power. Not sure if that sort of dynamic is normal, but if you have one family donating millions every year.. the board would be quite flexible and amenable to their suggestions. |
Anonymous
| Yes OP, that's how private schools work in the US..it's pay to play. |