Anonymous wrote:Independent schools set tuition lower than the actual cost of educating a child. Most well off families cover the gap, which is typically thousands of dollars per child.

The tuition cost is typically 80-85% of actual costs. We donate the difference per child. I actually do a corporate match so we donate half the difference and the company donates the other half.

Anonymous wrote:FA family and we give $250. We'll give more once our kids have graduated.

This I will never understand.

FA family and we give $250. We'll give more once our kids have graduated.

Non FA family here. We give between 10-20k annually. This is including gifts, auction purchases, school store merch etc etc. We try to be very involved. Only 1 kid at school other is in college.

Our giving has grown over the years along with income. It started out at $500 when DC was a little one, and last year we donated $10K, but the school had a higher need. Starting at an expensive HS next year, we will be taking it down a notch.

We are also very fortunate that my employer matched all of these donations 1:1.

I didn’t give anything this year because I was not happy with how our division head handled a specific situation (and I told Advancement this when they called me to ask me to donate - that shut them up real quick lol).

Ok, this is all very helpful. We’re a full pay family and new to DMV privates. Wasn’t sure if there was an unspoken etiquette.

Independent schools set tuition lower than the actual cost of educating a child. Most well off families cover the gap, which is typically thousands of dollars per child.

$15K to $20K.

$250/yr to the annual fund.

$500/yr.

We are full pay but have three kids in private school. We give 5K most years and up it to 10K/year for a few years when there is a building campaign. A big campaign comes around every few years at one of our schools.

We gave $50 each cycle and donated a small item to the auction. We're a 40% FA family.

People give to the extent of their ability and desire to do so. It’s really as simple as that. We give $150 most years, $1000-1500 in graduation years (class gift, etc). Plus occasional small donations to the performing arts boosters ($20-50 two or three times a year).

Of course it’s optional, but what’s actually expected on an annual basis?

Some families give 6 figures, and if blows my mind. Is that a way of helping out with taxes or a power play move in the school hierarchy?

We know of a family that will write a check for the difference of whatever the school didn’t make in their funding goals 🤯