Anonymous School Donations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good lord, people will find fault with anything.

What’s the problem with anonymous donations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At most private schools, it’s great that parents donate—it really helps support the school and promote diversity through financial aid. But one thing that’s always struck me as odd is that donations usually aren’t anonymous. In fact, it seems like some parents want the school to know when they’re giving a lot of money.

That’s led to a common impression that some people donate in hopes of getting special treatment for their kids. Even if that’s not really happening, just the idea of it can create a sense of unfairness.

If the main goal of donating is just to help the school, wouldn’t it make more sense for donations to be anonymous? That way, there’s less room for suspicion or favoritism.

Do some families like having their donations recognized because it gives them status, visibility, or influence within the school community? Is there a downside to anonymous donations I’m not seeing?

The people who choose anonymous are generally anonymous to the public (whether that be others in school community our in broader community). The are very rarely anonymous to the school itself.

In my kids school there is NO option to be anonymous. You don’t have anywhere to check that option and the school knows up to the last cent how much you donate. Also top donors become board members, which I find it a bit corrupt. You pay a price to have a say in school policies.

Or board members are expected to set a generous tone and so they feel comfortable picking these people because they know they will continue that trend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At most private schools, it’s great that parents donate—it really helps support the school and promote diversity through financial aid. But one thing that’s always struck me as odd is that donations usually aren’t anonymous. In fact, it seems like some parents want the school to know when they’re giving a lot of money.

That’s led to a common impression that some people donate in hopes of getting special treatment for their kids. Even if that’s not really happening, just the idea of it can create a sense of unfairness.

If the main goal of donating is just to help the school, wouldn’t it make more sense for donations to be anonymous? That way, there’s less room for suspicion or favoritism.

Do some families like having their donations recognized because it gives them status, visibility, or influence within the school community? Is there a downside to anonymous donations I’m not seeing?

The people who choose anonymous are generally anonymous to the public (whether that be others in school community our in broader community). The are very rarely anonymous to the school itself.

In my kids school there is NO option to be anonymous. You don’t have anywhere to check that option and the school knows up to the last cent how much you donate. Also top donors become board members, which I find it a bit corrupt. You pay a price to have a say in school policies.

Or board members are expected to set a generous tone and so they feel comfortable picking these people because they know they will continue that trend?

So middle class families are not generous? Maybe they are greedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At most private schools, it’s great that parents donate—it really helps support the school and promote diversity through financial aid. But one thing that’s always struck me as odd is that donations usually aren’t anonymous. In fact, it seems like some parents want the school to know when they’re giving a lot of money.

That’s led to a common impression that some people donate in hopes of getting special treatment for their kids. Even if that’s not really happening, just the idea of it can create a sense of unfairness.

If the main goal of donating is just to help the school, wouldn’t it make more sense for donations to be anonymous? That way, there’s less room for suspicion or favoritism.

Do some families like having their donations recognized because it gives them status, visibility, or influence within the school community? Is there a downside to anonymous donations I’m not seeing?

The people who choose anonymous are generally anonymous to the public (whether that be others in school community our in broader community). The are very rarely anonymous to the school itself.

Yes. It’s silly to think that anonymous donations are anonymous to the school.

[Anonymous]

This is a troll post.

[Anonymous]

A donation, in any amount, public or anonymous is a good thing. I appreciate the ability to keep my contributions anonymous because I don’t want nosy parents to complain that my contributions are too small or I’m currying favors because it’s too generous. Finally, I really appreciate families who are on financial aid contributing what they can to ensure 100% participation in our Annual Drive and to get matching contributions from others. Understandably, they tend to donate anonymously.

[Anonymous]

We are a very middle class family. Our private is Catholic, so not as expensive as other privates. I like people to see that you don't have to be UMC to UC to donate. Also, it might spur gifts from wealthier people. I mean if blue collar Steve and Susie can donate $, why can't wealthier people with better paying jobs do the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At most private schools, it’s great that parents donate—it really helps support the school and promote diversity through financial aid. But one thing that’s always struck me as odd is that donations usually aren’t anonymous. In fact, it seems like some parents want the school to know when they’re giving a lot of money.

That’s led to a common impression that some people donate in hopes of getting special treatment for their kids. Even if that’s not really happening, just the idea of it can create a sense of unfairness.

If the main goal of donating is just to help the school, wouldn’t it make more sense for donations to be anonymous? That way, there’s less room for suspicion or favoritism.

Do some families like having their donations recognized because it gives them status, visibility, or influence within the school community? Is there a downside to anonymous donations I’m not seeing?

The people who choose anonymous are generally anonymous to the public (whether that be others in school community our in broader community). The are very rarely anonymous to the school itself.

In my kids school there is NO option to be anonymous. You don’t have anywhere to check that option and the school knows up to the last cent how much you donate. Also top donors become board members, which I find it a bit corrupt. You pay a price to have a say in school policies.

I'm the PP you are replying to. This is the same at all three schools we have been with. Although - you can opt to be anonymous in school publications....even though you are not anonymous to the school. That said, the reason i put "rarely anonymous" is because I am sure there are other ways a person could donate outside of the normal process anonymously. BUT I highly doubt this would ever be someone with a current student there. And yes, donating can make a difference. We know HS families that did it to gain admission. Some curry favor and magically have great college admissions too (even with poor grades/rigor). But it also makes a difference for attention if help ends up being needed for HS placement. And a k-8 will surely share to HS whether you are a strong donor candidate - even if you are not strong enough to be in the "buy yourself into the big leagues" category.

[Anonymous]

Tell me you’re new to private school culture without telling me you’re new.

If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In my kids school there is NO option to be anonymous. You don’t have anywhere to check that option and the school knows up to the last cent how much you donate. Also top donors become board members, which I find it a bit corrupt. You pay a price to have a say in school policies.

Wow, you sound really bitter....and a bit ridiculous. I guarantee you that anyone can send a donation as anonymous. to any school. You are either making that up, obfuscating important details, or otherwise misinformed. Secondly, there is a general expectation that Board members are going to provide some level of support to the school at a level that they see as personally meaningful. In my last school board, I could afford it and donated five figures. Other trustees whose families were on financial aid or otherwise didn't have the funds, gave $100 and no one batted an eye. The only ask was to give whatever you could afford and lead by example. And for the record, I was never given any "favors".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At most private schools, it’s great that parents donate—it really helps support the school and promote diversity through financial aid. But one thing that’s always struck me as odd is that donations usually aren’t anonymous. In fact, it seems like some parents want the school to know when they’re giving a lot of money.

That’s led to a common impression that some people donate in hopes of getting special treatment for their kids. Even if that’s not really happening, just the idea of it can create a sense of unfairness.

If the main goal of donating is just to help the school, wouldn’t it make more sense for donations to be anonymous? That way, there’s less room for suspicion or favoritism.

Do some families like having their donations recognized because it gives them status, visibility, or influence within the school community? Is there a downside to anonymous donations I’m not seeing?

The school knows who gives the anonymous donations. The “anonymous” label is just for the community - what gets printed in annual reports, etc. But the development staff and leadership are well aware of who the big donors are, even if those donors choose to remain anonymous to the public.

[Anonymous]

When you donate to charities there is the option to provide a fully anonymous donation. That’s not an option in private schools.

The point of visible donations to elicit more donations from everyone else is strange.

I think top Donors do get something in exchange for their donations, like a seat at the board or some perks not available to the rest. That’s why I think the system its a bit corrupt. A fully anonymous donation would be simpler and better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you donate to charities there is the option to provide a fully anonymous donation. That’s not an option in private schools.

The point of visible donations to elicit more donations from everyone else is strange.

I think top Donors do get something in exchange for their donations, like a seat at the board or some perks not available to the rest. That’s why I think the system its a bit corrupt. A fully anonymous donation would be simpler and better.

This is stupid logic. I’d love to donate $250K to my school but I can’t. If another parent can afford to make that donation, and the school makes her a board member or gives her special plaque, that’s fine with me. It’s not corruption because the alternative is we get nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you donate to charities there is the option to provide a fully anonymous donation. That’s not an option in private schools.

The point of visible donations to elicit more donations from everyone else is strange.

I think top Donors do get something in exchange for their donations, like a seat at the board or some perks not available to the rest. That’s why I think the system its a bit corrupt. A fully anonymous donation would be simpler and better.

This is stupid logic. I’d love to donate $250K to my school but I can’t. If another parent can afford to make that donation, and the school makes her a board member or gives her special plaque, that’s fine with me. It’s not corruption because the alternative is we get nothing.

Why? People cannot donate anonymously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a troll post.

Not at all. I think the system of the donations is a race to the bottom where you sell influence in the school for money. I see the main donors in my kids school pretty incompetent leading to board decisions that are detrimental to the school.

An anonymous system would help to reduce a bit of corruption.