How much do you contribute to the School Fund?

[Anonymous]

We gave 2.5K in DC’s first year at the school. We got a tote bag and get a little extra email, have been invited to a couple of “receptions.” Development staff says “hi” whenever we are at a school event.

[Anonymous]

$250. That’s it. We have the money, but don’t look like it. Drive old cars, etc. we choose to pay full and then donate to other causes that are more important to us. We pay the first week of the giving kick off so they never look at our name again. Our kid is at a hades boarding school and it is funny to see the development director chasing around the big names. While we sit happily in the corner and no one is asking us for money all the time. We might give a big check at the end.

[Anonymous]

$250 for a school that costs $58k. We are full pay.

[Anonymous]

Historically $5K. Senior this year, so will double it.

[Anonymous]

Financial aid family. We give $100 per kid.

[Anonymous]

$250 to the annual fund and we also volunteer a bunch and participate in whatever small fundraisers throughout the year. We're full pay, but it's tight for us.

[Anonymous]

Typically 2500/kid which dh’s job matches, with 3 kids at 3 schools

but this year we are giving 5000 to one school plus the 5000 match to be at 10k giving level after talking with development

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We give $5k/kid. At that fairly minor level, you get assigned a staff member . I direct our donaton to a specic projec that wil beneft our kids (like updating the lower school gym).

NP here. What exactly do you mean by “ you get assigned a staff member” ? What does the staff member do for your family at that level? Just curious ( and obviously clueless ) .

They don't do anything really. Just when it's time to donate, you contact them and discuss any projects (if you want) and arrange the donation through them. A bit more personal than clicking "Give" on the school's website.

This is pretty common for any kind of nonprofit donations. We give to a university, and a few local charities of various types (food bank, social causes) and once you give more than a certain amount per year, which varies by charity but seems to be $2-5k, then you get assigned a person. They may invite you to "special" events, and in the case of the university as they're not in this area, the person invites us to lunch along when she's in town.

In short, it's nothing special... like you're not getting great "value" for it, but I guess it comes with it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Financial aid family. We give $100 per kid.

Same here. They want 100% participation and it's fine, but it feels weird to donate to the same fund that is giving us FA.
FWIW, I intend to keep donating a small amount after graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Financial aid family. We give $100 per kid.

Same here. They want 100% participation and it's fine, but it feels weird to donate to the same fund that is giving us FA.
FWIW, I intend to keep donating a small amount after graduation.

Same, but if you think about it, the fund also provides FA to other families, including families who need more aid than you do. So, you’re helping other FA families too.

I plan to continue donations post-grad indefinitely at a similar amount

[Anonymous]

We’ve been giving $1K. We are going to see how college admissions go for our DC before we decide how much this year.

[Anonymous]

$2500, which I’ve learned is just enough to get development up your butt about setting up coffee to hear about our summer and how things are going

[Anonymous]

About $300 a year. I’m also a teacher at the school.

Participation is more important than the amount. In years I can give more, I do. In years I’m short on cash, I still aim for about $250. We have a lot of great kids and programs that benefit from the money.

[Anonymous]

We will give 5k. Full pay family. 1 kid in 9th. It’s all we can afford this year. Next year will try to double it.

[Anonymous]

Less than they want me to and more than I want to.