This topic has become a big deal at our school.

We pay full freight, and have not given to the annual fund until this year. In the past, we have felt that since we could pay full freight, we would do it (a stretch on one income), but not ask for financial aid (merit-based). We only have one child. The school starts offering 50% remission with the first sibling, and it goes on from there. The scene becomes a bit more hazy given the large number of administration, faculty and staff with kids attending the school, many with three to four kids. All are FA-eligible.

The fallout from the families with remission arrangements vs. those of us paying full single-student tuition is really starting to erode the fabric of the school, especially since there is a new capital campaign on for school expansion. Those families with remission arrangements give just enough in Annual Fund and campaign dollars to make certain they are placed on certain committees and make the contributor ledger boards. Those families that pay full fare but don't contribute to the Annual Fund face a certain kind of social Siberia.

We have broken down and given this year, because we are concerned that the capital campaign will really strain the current operating budget for the school. We also made a moderate donation to the capital campaign. People are scrambling for their names to be placed on the donor boards, so the Annual Fund is taking a hit.

Personally, since even those families who are on tuition remission are eligible for FA, we would just prefer to see an increase in the tuition to keep the operating budget in the black. But that is not likely to happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have given every year, but now that I realize that it goes for FA, I am not enthused. We are full pay on a government salary, and apparently FA is going to folks making more than we do. I would rather give money to a charity.

+1
I was all for it and did my part when I thought it covered the gap between tuition and actual costs. I thought the school action funded FA. We are same as above and making sacrifices to go independant so it is frustrating when I find out someone is on FA (they shared this info it is not gossip) and has a 1+ million dollar house and goes on multiple vacations every year. I would rather spend my charitable contributions elsewhere.

I am certain that the case described above is an exception and not the rule. Further, you should understand that the draw from endowments at these schools often offsets some of the cost that full fee paying parents are covering. And the endowments only exist because of the generosity of others. So before you get high and mighty about not contributing to FA, remember that most families that receive are actually needy and you are also the beneficiary of the largess of others.

The family that I know on FA is t needy, they live in A really good public school District, but want to send their kid to private because they don't like public schools and they don't make a lot of money in their professions. Certainly not needy. They live in a really fancy zip code (though in an apartment) and have three kids. They went to private themselves, but chose low paying professions, and now they are using the financial aid Dollars that you think are going to "needy" people. They are smart and nice people, but not "needy." They had every opportunity in the world, but chose low paying professions.

Haha, this is hilarious. The school wants these kids and this family as part of their community (and they sound great!). Three kids in an apartment for god's sake! Working non-profit instead of big law. This is exactly who financial aid if for.

Parents should not feel obligated to contribute to the annual fund. It is NOT tuition.

Nothing this year