<p>We are one of those very fortunate recipients of FA from a well-endowed boarding school often mentioned here. We receive partial FA and I am wrestling with how much to contribute to the annual parent fund.</p>
<p>I am very appreciative to the school and would like show it by contributing enough to get recognized in the school’s 1st tier of donor levels and maybe even the 2nd. But, since we receive ~20% of Tuition in FA the amount required to be at first donor level is a significant percentage of the amount we receive in FA. It just seems counter-intuitive to receive FA only to turn right around and donate it back to the school. But we are intending to make this work by cutting back on some of the other places we donate while our child attends this school.</p>
<p>And I have a practical concern. I don’t know how parent fund contributions are taken into account when determining the next year’s FA. One could easily see how a contribution could give the impression that we don’t need the money and the amount gets reduced in subsequent years or worse yet disappear. </p>
<p>I think making a significant contribution like that does seem odd and it is unnecessary. It doesn’t make sense. Make a donation to show that you are establishing the habit of giving each year but do not try to be flashy it at this time. Maybe that is something to do graduation year. Or you can reevaluate ability to up the contribution amount after your student goes off to college. If you have to wait to up it until college graduation, that’s fine. I think the real sign of your appreciation is to be steady in remembering them each year. And to participate as you can during the school year. My aunt never had much money to give at her kid’s boarding school but she did all kinds of things. She organized a lot of things for then and stepped in when needed. Now she was within driving distance so that may be harder at a distance. But maybe you can do things-- like she helped with phone calling for alumni donations annually. </p>
<p>Call your development office to see how the school considers parent donations. Of course, they would like to raise as much money as possible, but there is another factor that benefactors and large supporters consider besides the amount- percent parent participation. A high percentage of parent participation indicates that the parents are happy with the school and support it- so this could encourage a donor or alumnus to support it as well. By contrast, a low percent parent participation might imply less parental satisfaction. </p>
<p>So- while your family might not be able to contribute as large an amount as some other families, the fact that you do contribute can make an impact on the school fund raising. The school is aware of your financial information, and your idea of cutting back so that you can give back to the school is gracious and reflects a gratitude and generosity on your part. I would say to give what you are able to, even if it is modest, because it is proportionally generous, and your contribution will also help in terms of you being counted in the percent of parents participating. If you can do the first tier, then great, but if that amount causes you hardship, I think the school would appreciate any amount you are able to give. </p>
<p>We are on considerable FA and make a small contribution as an automatic monthly payment. I think it is appropriate to participate in the annual drive, even if it is a one time check for 25 dollars. Our lifetime goal is to continue to contribute until we have at least given back what we have received. I don’t think, however, that it’s appropriate to donate to the level of recognition that the OP is considering while receiving FA. For most on FA, it simply isn’t possible. </p>
<p>We aren’t new boarding school parents so we understand the priority of participation vs $ amount. But I would like to give what I can while DC is attending. After DC graduates I have no plans to participate and will be leaving it entirely up to my child.</p>
<p>Frankly, we feel pressure to at least reach the first (or even 2nd) donor level. Many of the other families we associate with regularly give significantly above that. These same people also have no idea that we receive FA.</p>
<p>Was hoping to get more specific feedback from others who receive around 10 – 30% in FA and how compelled they feel to at least reach the first level of donor recognition. For us to do so require that we spend about 10% of our FA. Is this reasonable? Or are we giving too much?</p>
<p>We receive substantial FA, and I am the Annual Fund parent liaison for my daughter’s class. I’m also a former staff member of the development team at a well known NE prep school. I can tell you that the amount of the contribution does not matter, the goal is having as much parent participation as possible. Sure, all schools welcome large gifts from wealthy parents… But those on FA are certainly not expected to come up with a gift that would be disproportionate to your financial situation/info. Doesn’t make sense. Give an amount that is comfortable for you, and sign up to volunteer in other areas… Or as a annual fund parent next year, to help encourage others to give. ( it is always amazing to me how many people feel that if they are paying tuition, they need not give to the annual fund. No matter the situation, there’s no excuse for not participating… Even if the gift is $5. ). </p>
<p>I hope that all parents recognize the impact that a donation can make. Often it’s not the amount alone, but that there is a high % of participation. I would not donate amounts to make the recognition pages, but to show the support and a $20 donation is wonderful. Sometimes there are matching gifts and other goodies that come when the parents show high participation, so NOT contributing hurts in that aspect.</p>
<p>ANY amount is OK, and your contribution is private so why worry about what other families you associate with do? Where is this pressure coming from? Ironically, some FP families are so strapped from paying full-freight there is little left to give. As cameo said, large gifts from the wealthy are great, but the schools would just love to get close to 100% participation, so participate only at a level you can comfortably afford and don’t think twice about it.</p>
<p>Speaking as a board member at two private schools, I can tell you that most schools not only want FA recipients to donate to the Annual Fund, they really communicate its importance to new parents receiving FA. There are several reasons for this: you need to inculcate in the parent community as sense of obligation to close the “gap” and not feel like tuition is the end of the story; you want the high participation rates; and (perhaps most important) for families receiving a lot of FA-maybe even full tuition–it’s important to have them contribute to the AF according to their means so that they fell they have financial “skin in the game.” </p>
<p>I don’t know if I’d be worried about how much to contribute or not. I think most FA decisions are made based on income, debt, and other objective criteria. Don’t those calculations assume that the family will have some discretionary funds? If a family contributed a lot to the AF, I think I’d be honored that they are taking part of their discretionary spending and giving it to the school.</p>
<p>I’m new, so pardon my ignorance. How does anyone know what level you give at? Is it published?</p>
<p>As someone whose kid just received significant aid (and who would not be there without it), I am having a hard time wrapping my head around how I could give a large amount of $ and not look like my FA application was disingenuous. </p>
<p>I can see the reason for publishing the “level of giving” tiers as an incentive to raise funds, and to reward large donors, but what works well for things like arts councils and charities can have drawbacks in a school community where some students receive financial aid. </p>
<p>If one is raising funds for something like a community symphony, not giving isn’t an indication of financial need. It could be that someone just doesn’t like symphony music and prefers to support something else he/she does like.</p>
<p>But in a school community where families all recognize each other, not being mentioned as giving back could be potentially embarrassing. I can see why the OP wants to be counted as one of the parents who is supportive of the school, but it puts the OP in a difficult position.</p>
<p>I think the OP is indicating a level of giving above “honorable mention.” Some schools publish donors in tiers where, perhaps, the top three levels of giving have fancy names indicating bracketed amounts. Everyone below those named buckets is just a contributor and is listed alphabetically on the "below lowest bucket’ list. I believe the OP is asking about giving a “bucket” amount, not just the $1 that will put you on the general list, no?</p>
<p>Nwbddad & Choatiemom I think say it best. It’s participation not necessarily the amount.<br>
A real charitable person is usually the one who should probably be a little more frugal.</p>
<p>roomnacht - I understand the pressure you may be feeling about contributing to a “recognition” level. I am writing this based on two assumptions - you are a first year family in the school, most of your child’s friends parents are going to be giving at a certain level and you don’t want to look like you can’t. Aside to those who wrote in saying its the participation that is important - quite, quite true, however it is sort of a sport to check who gave how much once the annual report arrives in the mail. One of my kid’s schools sends a contributor booklet separate from an annual publication, even…So the aside over – the cynical path is to stretch and give to the first level, in the first year… and then give a small amount in the subsequent years. You will be pegged as someone who gives. And since most people will carry over that thought unconsciously into subsequent years that’s all that matters. Do expect to be hit for the senior year gift. As usual in situations like this - dont stretch too much so as not to be seen as a show off since some people will question a large gift if they realize you receive aid. Or you can take the social niceties be dammed path and give an amount that you are absolutely comfortable with, peer pressure nonwithstanding. For the years past graduation - I hope that most parents will feel good enough about the school in the future years to give a minimal amount of $25 either in their own or their kids’ names. Its important to the schools. </p>
<p>^^ Thanks for the above. You captured nearly all aspects of my dilemma quite nicely. The only thing is that we are now 2nd year, so we now know how much all the other families give. We gave to the first level last year, trying to figure out whats appropriate/expected this year. Unfortunately, even at the first level we are among the smallest contributors so we feel pressure to give more, but it just seems counter-intuitive since we are on FA.</p>
<p>OP: Are you saying that your kid’s school publishes all donation amounts per family in the annual report, or just by tier? I can’t imagine that any school would publish every family’s exact donation amount.</p>
<p>Funny timing–about 30 minutes ago, I got e-mail from the Choate alumni relations group with a draft version of the parent donor roll for the upcoming annual report. The e-mail states, “Let’s make our goal of 100% Parent Participation” and shows a graph of parent participation percentages by class year and the donor list to date, but it is a single non-tiered list with names listed alphabetically, no brackets, no amounts. I would be appalled if I ever saw our names and donation on any public list. That would be my last donation to the school, ever.</p>
<p>I certainly intend to make a small contribution each year for the sake of participation, but we are going to be stretched to the limit. How can a school justify giving FA to a family that can afford a large additional donation? Honestly, it will be up to our son to pay back the school’s investment in him; we can’t afford to.</p>