keep in mind that your annual giving donation is tax deductible, your tuition is not.

i too had heartburn with the gap concept, and found it ridiculous…but after having a few years under my belt at our school, I understood the business side of the gap…tuition stays the same for years and years…but costs fluctuate, admissions, etc.

i agree with the poster who explains that any amount is appreciated, give what you can…the school is looking for % of participation…they will also probably put in an amount of giving suggestion at the ask time i your letter.

My DH objects to the "gap" idea because it is a way of disguising that the contributions actually go to financial aid. He thus insists that we designate our funds for individual campaigns, which most schools have.

We give about $20,000 annually, but we can afford it. When we were younger, we gave about $1000.

We at least fund the gap for our own kids and typically add more to help fund someone else's gap.

Most families do not give the amount of the gap and the schools do not expect that they will.

Anonymous wrote:Some schools are pretty clear about how much it costs to educate each student versus how much tuition is. Our independent says there's a $3000 gap. So, we like to contribute to the annual fund at least the amount it costs to educate our kids plus more to help fund the gap of others who can't afford more.

Wait, let me understand.

Tuition for your child is, say $20K. Gap is $3K.

You contribute enough to cover your child's tuition plus the gap plus another's gap? Meaning $26K, or do you mean $6K?

Either way, that is not "expected" at all. Schools would love it, but certainly aren't budgeting based on most families giving that amount. No reason to scare the OP!

Some schools are pretty clear about how much it costs to educate each student versus how much tuition is. Our independent says there's a $3000 gap. So, we like to contribute to the annual fund at least the amount it costs to educate our kids plus more to help fund the gap of others who can't afford more.

Most of these schools will obviously love a large gift amount, but if you're not able to do that on your budget than don't feel obligated. What they really want is to show the % of participation in order to qualify for grants, etc. Essentially, they want to show that 100% of their parents (or as close to full % as they can get) support the school so this foundation or organization should also support. If you are only able to give $20 then definitely do that in order to get the % numbers. Don't think that because your amount will be so small that it won't do any good - it will still help them! Give more when and if you are able.

$500 is fine. If you feel like donating more they will take it. And ask for even more the next year (like every charity).

Is this true at all the schools, including the DC schools? We are starting K next year at an often named school on this forum and are wondering how much extra to budget for this. 5k?

There is no set amount. As long as you participate in annual giving, you'll be fine. Give whatever you feel comfortable with.

Thank you!

from what i have heard (about other schools, not congressional) $100 - $250 is fine (or more than fine). they do want to be able to show 100% participation, so the participation is more important than the amount

/What's considered acceptable? $500? $1000? $2500?

Schools like 100 percent participation in the annual fund, so giving something is great. But it doesn't have to be a lot ...

My husband and I are crunching the numbers for the Congressional Schools of Virginia. One piece of paperwork indicates that the school expects parents to donate to their annual fund. Can someone give me a ballpark estimate of what this donation would be? Are there other big fundraisers during the year? We're trying to determine exactly how much it would cost to send our DS there for preschool.

TIA!