Annual Fund Donations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our first year at the school, we received a letter with a specific amount we were expected to donate.

That would make me not donate anything at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are parents renting musical instruments for band or orchestra classes? Are your kids classes smaller than public schools? Do your middle schoolers pay for the overnight trips? do you pay for school supplies like families due in public schools? Does your school have a nice graduation ceremony? Are teachers given great employment benefits, and shown an abundance of appreciation? Is your campus well-maintained and the technology constantly updated? Annual Funds pay for those things and much more.

Most independent schools are nonprofits which mean they can’t charge as much as they spend or they would be for-profits, like Basis or Whittle (RIP).

The answer to some of these questions is YES. Many schools have a separate fee for Books and Supplies. Trips are extra. And yes parents are supplying musical instruments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our first year at the school, we received a letter with a specific amount we were expected to donate.

What school?

If I'm paying X tuition and they expect an additional Y donation, why not just increase tuition by that amount? That's ridiculous. Literally I'd give $100 to make a point and every single time I got a call I'd tell them why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:During our first year at the school, we received a letter with a specific amount we were expected to donate.

What school?

If I'm paying X tuition and they expect an additional Y donation, why not just increase tuition by that amount? That's ridiculous. Literally I'd give $100 to make a point and every single time I got a call I'd tell them why.

This is exactly what I think too. We paid $45K, just raise it with another line item of however much you want.

I sort of felt strong-armed into giving because of the incessant calls and emails, and we have another kid in public we want to go there. Also, they publish in the annual book who donates what amount. So you could give $1.00 or $900 but you're in the same category. I would hate to give $900 and have people think I gave $1.00 though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our first year at the school, we received a letter with a specific amount we were expected to donate.

That would be an immediate no-go for me. In fact, demanding a specific amount is such a ridiculously stupid approach that I seriously question that this actually happened.