March 2005 - The Gift of Giving

In a few days, you will receive a letter from me asking for your support of the Annual Fund. While it may not be the kind of communication that you necessarily relish receiv-ing, the message is essential: We need your help!

Our first appeal each year comes from the parent chair of the campaign, who writes to tell you how important the Annual Fund is to the school. It pays a portion of our teachers’ salaries, supplements the resources available for financial aid, helps us keep our buildings clean and warm and, of course, allows us to provide a variety of classroom activities. It’s an alternative to a significant increase in tuition and it comes with a potential advantage at income tax time. Several weeks later, that letter is followed by one from the president of the board, explaining why we are so dependent upon the Annual Fund. Our endowment— our “backup” resources, if you will—is very small by independent school standards. Although it yields some income, the amount is not enough to make an appreciable dent in our expenses. The message once again is that we have two alternatives: increase annual giving or significantly raise tuition. When you get that letter, we always hope you will agree that the solution is obvious—and then reach for your checkbook.

Finally, as the school year begins to wind down, a third letter comes, this one from the head of school. My letter will explore with you a third option: raising money from foundations and corporations, groups outside the school with seemingly bottomless pockets. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were someone or a group of someones out there who would increase our endowment to the point where we could pay our teachers well, support our diversity initiative fully, enrich the programs, like CS, that are so unique to PDS and so special in the world of education and throw away the bubble gum, rubber bands and masking tape that hold together some of our classrooms, roofs and furnaces? To say nothing of adding the athletic facilities our kids need, expanding the art rooms and music studios, improving our science facilities and on and on?

Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of money out there available to independent schools. Most of it is reserved for the public schools. There are a few groups, however, who consistently support independent education, albeit not at the level we need to support all of the needs of PDS. They recognize the unique contribution that independent schools make, not just to today’s students, but to the long-term health of our world and of our future. They recognize that in addition to providing good solid academic opportunities, schools like PDS offer the best way for young people to learn the art of living together as citizens. And they are prepared to support them—as long as the families who have chosen them for their children do so, too.

In the next three months, we will seek support from several of these groups. Each substantive proposal must be accompanied by an extensive school profile. What is our enrollment? How do our students achieve on various measures? How well do our families and our alumni/ae support our school and its mission? How many contribute financially to its annual fund and to its major-fund raising activities?

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) collects data annually on family and alumni/ae support of our schools. Their figure for last year cites 66.5% as the norm for parent giving to day schools and 19.1% for alumni/ae support. Both numbers were higher than the year before, suggesting that schools everywhere are reaching out to their constituents for support. Last year, 75% of our families participated in the PDS Annual Fund, a number well over the national figures. Clearly last year’s parents met the challenge well. Our alumni/ae support remains significantly below that of other independent schools.

I certainly applaud the generosity of those of you who consistently give and who have already given this year. I am grateful for the challenges we have met together, and our results are encouraging. Our Annual Fund has grown from $90,000 in 2001 to $215,000 last year. Thus far this year it stands at $106,006 with 34% family participation. Our goal is $175,000 and 100% participation. This year we have met the $25,000 goal for our Diversity Challenge match. In the last three years, our IBM families have contributed enough to access $150,000 of computer equipment from IBM through its generous K - 12 Matching Grants Program. And our alumni/ae are becoming more engaged every day. For this we all deserve a pat on the back!

I know we all try to do the best we can for our school. I also know that if we are to access outside resources, we need more help from within our own community. We need to increase parent and alumni/ae giving significantly. We must all “vote with our pocketbooks” if we are to convince others to join our effort. For those of you who have already given or who have given in the past, it would be wonderful if you could give a little bit more—make a “stretch”—and increase your contribution. For those of you new to the community or new to giving, the same principle applies. We need your gift, and we need it to be as generous as you can possibly make it. Bottom line? It is essential that everyone give. If we are to be competitive with other independent schools that will also be seeking these limited resources, we must demonstrate that the school is important to every family and every student who is or ever has been a part of it.

Please help. PDS needs your support. You should receive my letter within the week. Please open it quickly and respond as generously as you can. Your children will thank you. PDS students for years to come will add their appreciation. We depend upon one another for our continued strength and vitality.

Sincerely,

Mary Jane