Anonymous
11/03/2025 20:48
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What I find more worrisome is the annual list of donors that is published. While recognizing donors is nice, the reverse of shaming families for not donating or not donating enough is bizarre. Welcome to private school.
Don’t worry. Some people give anonymously. Just because a name isn’t on the list, doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t give.
Many schools list by grade and say Anonymous (1) or Anonymous (3) for example. So if a grade doesn’t list Anonymous, and a family isn’t named, you also know they don’t donate.
Also, the families who DO donate generously often get invited to special events. So if you’re a family who acts super rich but NEVER attends these events (or whose name isn’t on an invite), we know you don’t donate. Just FYI.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 19:19
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:I've never gotten a letter like this. Do they think I'm poor? Lol
Right? Some people are offended by the ask. Others are offended by not being asked. Fundraising is a tough work.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 19:16
Subject: School donations
I donate my money to unicef. None of the kids in my private school are in desperate need and they will do fine without my money.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 19:13
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:What I find more worrisome is the annual list of donors that is published. While recognizing donors is nice, the reverse of shaming families for not donating or not donating enough is bizarre. Welcome to private school.
Don’t worry. Some people give anonymously. Just because a name isn’t on the list, doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t give.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 15:25
Subject: School donations
I would direct my donation where I wanted it to go. Certainly not teacher development.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 15:25
Subject: School donations
If you wish you could donate more cash than you have on hand... check your corporate matching. My company will match up to 5k. Our school is a very small, very modest private and that kind of gift really makes an impact.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 15:09
Subject: School donations
Specifying where the money will be directed is mostly meaningless. Money is fungible. If you specify an area, then the school can just direct undesignated funds to a different area, to get back to the school’s desired allocation.
Anonymous
11/03/2025 00:02
Subject: School donations
To answer the question that was actually asked, we are asked to donate this same amount at both of my kiddo’s schools. The donations at one school are split between funding the teachers’ professional development and improvements not covered by tuition - technological improvements like new white boards, security enhancements, etc. At the other, the donations are split between supporting financial aid and supporting teachers’ professional development.
Anonymous
11/02/2025 16:58
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What I find more worrisome is the annual list of donors that is published. While recognizing donors is nice, the reverse of shaming families for not donating or not donating enough is bizarre. Welcome to private school.
Totally agree. I guess is the “art” of fundraising.
It’s also the “art” of corruption.
Is your school corrupt?
Handing out certificates of excellence to students which lower grades and parents who donated thousands. Students with highest grades get nothing. I invite you to infer.
I hate this could even be considered, but maybe that's just not the place for you. (From someone who thinks this entire thread is ridiculous and will not be coerced into donating)
If you’re the head of school, maybe a school is not the place for you to fill your pockets with other people’s money and shaming adults and kids for not fulfilling your nonsense expectations. If your school is Catholic, God will find a corporation where your needs can be fulfilled.
You picked a great school, didn’t you? Nice work.
Anonymous
11/02/2025 15:43
Subject: School donations
I'm happy to donate to our schools. However, I decide how much will be donated and I also specify where it should be allocated, ie. academics, teacher enrichment, technology etc.
Anonymous
11/02/2025 14:26
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:We recently got a letter from the school suggesting a donation with a specific amount, $5,000. Parents involved in fundraising told me that the school sets this number based on what they think families earn, where they live, and other personal circumstances. Isn’t that a bit too much? Shouldn’t the amount of any donation be a completely personal decision?
I also wonder where this money actually goes. Does it really help families in need, or is it sometimes directed to upper-middle-class families the school randomly selects for scholarships?
How does it work at your school? Do they “suggest” a donation amount, or is there no pressure at all on how much to give?
I would rather donate that money as winter gifts to individual teachers.
Anonymous
11/02/2025 14:16
Subject: School donations
Three schools so far, none has ever suggested an amount to us. But we also only give $150-200 per year ($1500-2000 in a graduation year), so maybe they just know not to bother.
Anonymous
11/02/2025 14:14
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What I find more worrisome is the annual list of donors that is published. While recognizing donors is nice, the reverse of shaming families for not donating or not donating enough is bizarre. Welcome to private school.
Totally agree. I guess is the “art” of fundraising.
It’s also the “art” of corruption.
Is your school corrupt?
Handing out certificates of excellence to students which lower grades and parents who donated thousands. Students with highest grades get nothing. I invite you to infer.
I hate this could even be considered, but maybe that's just not the place for you. (From someone who thinks this entire thread is ridiculous and will not be coerced into donating)
If you’re the head of school, maybe a school is not the place for you to fill your pockets with other people’s money and shaming adults and kids for not fulfilling your nonsense expectations. If your school is Catholic, God will find a corporation where your needs can be fulfilled.
Anonymous
11/02/2025 13:56
Subject: School donations
I've never gotten a letter like this. Do they think I'm poor? Lol
Anonymous
11/02/2025 13:20
Subject: School donations
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not even "wealthy" but now I am older I am getting really annoyed by extra "asks" naming large amounts from places I donate to annually. Worse yet, asking me to leave them money when I die.
Eff off.
They might be concerned about your health.
Then those letters are even more offensive! I have switched a lot of my giving the or just this reason. Similar purpose, not sending buzzards to circle yet.