 | Tuition alone does not cover the School’s full operating costs. The 2008-09 Annual Fund represents approximately eight percent of our operating budget. Convent of the Sacred Heart receives no financial support from the government, diocese or the religious order. The School relies on trustees, parents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents and friends to support the Annual Fund. Gifts to the Annual Fund help provide professional development for faculty, enhancements to the educational and co-curricular programs, assistance to athletic teams, the arts, financial aid for deserving students and funding to maintain the beauty of our campus.
Foundations often consider the participation rate of donors as they determine the level at which they will support our School. Gifts of any amount are greatly appreciated and aid in our goal of 100% participation.
The following giving societies have been established to recognize and honor the many donors who support Convent of the Sacred Heart at these leadership levels.
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Society
Archangels $25,000+
Angels $15,000 - $24,999
Benefactors $10,000 - $14,999
Patrons $5,000 - $9,999
Friends $2,500 - $4,999
Additional Alumnae Catagories
Founders $1,848 - $2,499
Duchesne $1,000 - $1,847
Très Bien Society $500 - $999
Congé Society $250 - $499
Green Years $100 - $249
Contributors of $2,500 or more will be invited to the annual St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Dinner in May. All donors to the Annual Fund will be listed in our Annual Report, unless they wish to remain anonymous.
Celebrate the heritage of Convent of the Sacred Heart and ensure the future of the School and its students. Not only is your gift tax-deductible to the full extent of the law, but also every dollar and donor is vital and deeply appreciated.
For more information about the Annual Fund, please contact:
Ethel Geisinger, director of annual giving, at 203.532.3572 or geisingere@cshgreenwich.org.
To make a gift to the Annual Fund, please click here.
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| | (as of June 30, 2009)
Gifts received: $1.45 million
Parent participation: 90%
Alumnae participation: 24%
Senior Class Parents’ Gift to Endowment: 100% of the Class of 2009 parents gave $163,275
Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in our successful phonathons. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Annual Fund opened July 1, 2008 and closed June 30, 2009 |
| Q. | What is the Annual Fund and why do we need it?
| | A. | The Annual Fund sustains Sacred Heart’s commitment to quality education. As with all independent schools, Sacred Heart’s tuition does not cover the entire cost of educating each student. We rely on Annual Fund gifts from current and past parents, alumnae, trustees, faculty and staff, grandparents, and friends to help close the gap between tuition revenue and the full cost of providing our superior program.
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| Q. | Why doesn’t Sacred Heart raise tuition to pay for all of the operating needs?
| | A. | Although Sacred Heart must raise tuition annually to guarantee growth in faculty salaries and educational programs, the School could not charge the full cost without seriously limiting the number of qualified students who could afford to attend. Augmenting tuition with the Annual Fund also enables the School to keep tuition at a competitive rate with the surrounding community. In addition, a gift to the Annual Fund is tax-deductible as allowed by law; tuition is not.
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| Q. | How are Annual Fund dollars spent?
| | A. | Gifts to the Annual Fund provide unrestricted support for the operation of Sacred Heart including professional development for faculty and staff, program and classroom materials, student activities and clubs, athletic programs, financial aid, and maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
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| Q. | Who determines the annual goal? If we don’t meet the goal, will the School be affected?
| | A. | Working together, the Administration, Finance Committee, Board of Trustees and the Development Committee determine the Annual Fund goal. The process is a balancing act of tuition revenue forecasting, maximizing Annual Fund potential, and an acknowledgement of the importance of the continued health and strength of our School. If we don’t meet the goal, the deficit would have an across-the-board impact, with potential cutbacks being shared by all divisions.
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| Q. | Who should give to the Annual Fund?
| | A. | EVERYONE who is a part of the Sacred Heart community. Contributions to the Annual Fund cover a wide range, from the $5 or $10 a young alumna in college might send to many thousands of dollars.
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| Q. | What is the Barat Society and what are the giving levels?
| | A. | The St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Society recognizes those who contribute between $2,500 and $25,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, endowment or designated funds. Members will be invited to the Society Dinner in May.
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| Q. | I can’t make a big gift. Does my support still matter?
| | A. | Yes. We need and value every family’s support in every way. Your gift, regardless of the amount, will provide additional resources and will often serve to encourage others to make gifts. Everyone who is solicited is asked to give generously. An appropriate gift is one in proportion to your ability to give. Corporate matching gifts enable donors to increase the value of their gifts and provide a valuable source of revenue for the School.
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| Q. | Why is percentage of participation important?
| | A. | High participation in the Annual Fund is an important way for us to demonstrate to others in our community and to prospective families the commitment and dedication of our parents, alumnae and friends to the School and our students. We aim for 100% participation. Foundations and corporations awarding grants to an educational institution often look at the level of parent, alumnae and community participation in the School’s Annual Fund.
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| Q. | Does it matter when I pledge or make a gift?
| | A. | Yes, it does matter. A gift or pledge made early in the school year is a great advantage to the School because we will know how much money will be available to support the budget. To help plan our spending, we ask that donors please make pledges by December 31, if at all possible. Pledge payments and gifts can be made through the end of the fiscal year on March 31. Once you have made your annual gift or pledge, you will not receive another Annual Fund solicitation until the next academic year.
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| Q. | How do I contribute to the Annual Fund?
| | A. | Make your tax-deductible donation in any of these ways:
- Pledge now and pay in full or in installments by March 31
- Check—made payable to Convent of the Sacred Heart
- Credit Card—Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover
- Appreciated Securities—call or e-mail the Development Office
- for transfer instructions
- Online—click here.
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| Q. | Whom do I contact for more information?
| | A. | Ethel Geisinger, director of annual giving, at 203.532.3572 or geisingere@cshgreenwich.org.
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