Forum Index
»
Private & Independent Schools
If you receive financial aid, do they expect you to contribute to Annual Giving?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
The title says it all really.
Do you just give a token amount so it counts that you participate? |
Anonymous
| yes, even if it's only $50-$100 |
Anonymous
|
Many schools get matching funds or pledges for additional amounts if everyone in a classroom contributes. It's always good to give something - it can be small.
I should mention that there are many ways to contribute to the well-being of a school - and not all in monetary means. Materials donations, access to resources and volunteer time all count. |
Anonymous
| yes - in addition to the points above, participation is a big metric and builds momentum for schools to get more big donors. small token amounts from those on aid are very welcomed and needed for the participation metrics. most schools also show faculty participation as well. |
Anonymous
| Absolutely! Everyone should contribute to the extent that they are able. Schools understand that families have different financial means. Make a gift that works for your family's budget. I guarantee you it will be greatly appreciated! |
Anonymous
|
We have not applied for financial aid even though I am sure we'd get at least $5,000. When I got the fundraising call last year, a followup to a letter,, I explained we couldn't contribute much and mentioned our approach. He said he didn't see the connection. What am I missing here. A donation is a function of cash flow and disposible income, etc. So is financial aid. I think schools should recognize this approach. Maybe the problem with that is that people could use it as an excuse. We are definitely not using it as an excuse. This is our reality.
|
Anonymous
| We attend a smaller k-8 that is generous with financial aid. It is an amazing school and the teachers and administrators bend over backwards to work with parents, recruit an amazing staff and support diversity in every way - all things that our parent population values. Unlike larger schools, we, and many schools like ours, do not have the large endowments of the K-12 or 3-12 schools. When I see the number of classrooms that do not have 100% participation - I am mystified. With few exceptions, I am certain that these parents can afford a small contribution. If nothing else, it would demonstrate appreciation for a school that is offering so much to their childen, and, to a lessor degree, the other parents that are paying full tuition and making sacrifices in order to up their contributions. |
Anonymous
| We always contribute a small amount, even though private school is a huge stretch for us even with financial aid. We also volunteer a lot of time. |
Anonymous
| Everyone can give something -- $25, $10, $5. All gifts count toward participation, which as a PP mentioned is important for schools to leverage with other funders. We are super strapped and get FA but find a way to come up with a gift every year. |
Anonymous
I get what you're saying, but I think how you said it is what probably made it confusing. There are many parents for whom tuition is a major stretch, but with very very few exceptions they should still be able to make a small Annual Fund gift - $10, $25, $50, $100. This year I would leave your potential ability to receive aid out of it and just say that you are really stretching to pay tuition, but still want to support the school, so you are making a gift of X, which is the most you feel you can do at this time. |
Anonymous
| Hi. I actually said we'd give something (we gave $500 I think) and that I hope the school recognized our not applying for aid as well. He said he didn't think the two were connected. I do. We're one of those families whose parents (students' grandparents) help with tuition. That feels shakier than it did two years ago with the loss in value of their real estate and retirement savings. |
Anonymous
It's not connected in the sense that a. Not applying for financial aid doesn't count for the school in terms of saying you participated in annual giving. It also doesn't count for you in terms of a tax deduction. I'm also guessing his point was that most schools probably don't lineup their list of financial aid families and their list of donor families to see if there is any correlation. So, I understand what you're saying, but it doesn't have anything meaningful for the school in the form of a metric to document. |
Anonymous
| I understand there's no metric to document this savings to the school, but conceptually there's a connection, at least in my mind. Maybe we should get $5,000 in aid and contribute $5,000. Then they'd see my point! |
Anonymous
| Conceptually it's all the same - and I agree with you -- it's money. But, the Development Office and the Financial Aid office in most schools are completely separate, including their line items in the school budget. So even if that development officer gets that there's a "connection", it's that one person on the phone nodding their head and that's the end of it. No means for noting it. No means for acknowledging you. In fact, for them, it's a "loss" if you don't give even $5, so it's very likely that the development person won't recognize the connection. |
Anonymous
|
A few years ago I was offered financial aid at the YMCA day care, and a requirement of acceptance was donating at least $25 to the YMCA fund raising campaign. I found it a bit odd to give money, and require a gift, in essentially the same transaction (aid award letter specified the requirement).
DC didn't go there for other logistical reasons. |