MCS Annual Fund Q&A
What is the annual fund used for?
The Annual Fund covers the gap between the tuition you pay and the cost of a
quality Montessori education. It goes to
cover expenses including teacher salaries/benefits, classroom materials,
specialty classes (Art, Music, Foreign Language, and Environmental), classroom
and building maintenance. The alternative would be for the Board to set tuition
at actual cost.
Why Should I Contribute to the
Annual Fund if I Already Pay Tuition?
The Board
of Directors has set tuition to make the school broadly affordable. You will agree that compared to other
Montessori schools, MCS provides outstanding tuition value. The Annual Fund is your opportunity to help
make up the difference. Your benefit is
that, unlike tuition, your donation to the Annual Fund is tax-deductible. However, it only works if everyone does their
part.
How Much Should I Give?
Since Annual Fund proceeds help offset tuition, everyone has a vested interest
in seeing the Annual Fund succeed. Our
goal, then, is 100% participation on the part of school families. The Board has set a goal of $50,000 which is
about 7% of expenses. We recognize that some families can afford to
give more than others, but with every family's participation we can reach our
goal. We invite you to look at your family's
financial situation and do your part by giving as much as you can afford.
Will My Donation be Matched?
Many
employers will match employee donations to the school
dollar for dollar. That doubles your donation
and creates an avenue for corporate giving to the school that benefits all of
the children. If you're not sure whether
your company matches, check with your HR department.
How and When Can I Donate?
The program offers a lot of flexibility.
You can redeem your pledge anytime in the school year until May 2011. Payments can be made by personal check, credit
card, or even with donations of stock.
For many people there may be significant tax advantages to donating
appreciated stock. Ask your tax advisor. A pledge of $800, for instance, could be
redeemed by 8 monthly installments of $100 by check or credit card.
Can I Donate Now or Should I Wait
for a Call?
If you wish to make your donation now simply go to the donation link located on our website on
the giving at MCS page, send a donation through your bank's online bill pay, and of course mail it to or stop by the office. On the other hand, if you would prefer to talk to a parent volunteer during our pledge drive,
we'll look forward to that.
