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Q
What does the School financially expect of us?
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A
In addition to making tuition payments on time, we would hope that you would choose to:
•Participate in the Annual Giving Fund to the extent that you are financially able
•Volunteer for, underwrite with a donation, or take part in the special events sponsored by Westminster, such as the Westminster School Auction
•Support capital campaigns that may be necessary to pay for new facilities, the remodel of existing buildings, or the growth of endowment funds.
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Q
My family is already paying tuition. Why should we donate money as well?
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A
Your financial gift supports the people and programs that make Westminster School such an exceptional place for children to learn. Financial gifts allow Westminster to have talented teachers, small classes, and reading, math, science, and foreign language resources that many schools simply cannot afford. Financial gifts allow Westminster to offer top quality in everything from the arts to athletics. This all results in your child receiving more personal attention and increased intellectual stimulation while at school.
With an operating budget of $5.6 million, financial gifts are necessary because tuition only pays approximately 85% of the cost of a Westminster education. For that reason, we must turn to current parents, grandparents, past parents, alums, and friends for additional financial support.
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Q
Why doesn’t Westminster School charge the full cost of my child’s education in tuition, and not ask for gifts, much like a business would cover its full costs in the price of its product?
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Westminster does not increase tuition to cover the actual cost of all programs because it would make the School unaffordable to many families. A for-profit business, whose mission is to make money, is not an appropriate model for Westminster whose mission is to provide children with a fine education. By nature, a high-quality school like Westminster is labor-intensive and people-oriented. We would not choose to become more efficient by combining classrooms, reducing staff, or cutting programs which you want your child to have.
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Q
Are there more reasons to give?
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Absolutely. Unlike tuition payments, financial gifts to Westminster School are tax deductible. In addition, nearly everything we have at Westminster is the result of previous gifts from friends of the School. As these previous donors have provided for our student population, we must also provide for our children today and for future generations.
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Q
How does financial aid fit into the fundraising picture?
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Westminster trustees have allocated 11.75% of the expected tuition revenue to fund its financial aid budget. But without donations sufficient to meet operating costs, more tuition dollars would have to go to operations–leaving fewer dollars for financial aid. Your financial gifts make Westminster affordable for a wider range of students, bringing your child the many benefits of social and economic diversity.
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Q
How much of a difference can my gift really make?
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Westminster School, by its nature, is a smaller community. As a result, the size of our pool of supporters is naturally smaller. Because our giving community is smaller, every financial gift counts even more. For this reason, many families make Westminster School their philanthropic priority. They know their gift truly matters and again, their gift is tax deductible.
Westminster aims for 100% participation from current parents, trustees, and faculty and staff in its fundraising efforts, including the Annual Giving Fund. High participation is a vote of confidence and a sign that parents are investing in their children’s welfare and supporting the School’s mission. This percentage can also have an impact on gifts from outside sources. Westminster asks for support from foundations and businesses, but most foundations and businesses consider parent participation rates before agreeing to donate funds to a school.
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Q
Can we make our charitable donations in installments or on-line?
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Yes. Monthly, quarterly or semi-annual payments can be made. These tax-deductible donations may be drafted from either your checking account or credit card (VISA or MasterCard).
On-line giving can be made by going to:
http://www.westminsterschool.org and clicking on “support ws.”
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Q
How much should we give?
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Only you can decide. We ask you to remember that your contribution, along with those of all our donors, will directly enhance your child’s education. We hope that every member of Westminster’s community will participate. The only gift too small is no gift at all!
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Q
Giving Opportunities: What are they?
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Annual Giving Fund
What it is: Money for Westminster’s operating expenses. Annual gifts help make up the difference between what tuition covers and the actual cost of running the School. Because the Board of Trustees is committed to keeping tuition as reasonable as possible, increasing income through gifts to the Annual Giving Fund is one way to accomplish this. Also, gifts to the Annual Giving Fund are tax deductible, unlike tuition, and they also may be paid with a credit card or on-line. Annual Giving is the most important and largest fund raising activity each year. We seek 100% parent participation.
What it buys: Teacher salaries and benefits, library acquisitions, teaching tools, educational technology and equipment, continuing education for staff, necessities from furniture to light bulbs, and the Annual Giving Fund also makes a yearly contribution to the School’s endowment funds.
Time: September through December 31
Capital Campaign Giving
What it is: Gifts to meet building and endowment needs which the School cannot pay for out of tuition funds. Capital Campaign giving is in addition to our Annual Giving Fund because we must continue to meet our operating costs, even as we make major improvements.
What it buys: New facilities, major renovations of existing facilities, and additions to existing endowments.
Endowment Giving
What it is: Gifts to any or all of Westminster’s endowment funds–the Faculty/Staff Endowment Fund, the Financial Aid Endowment Fund, and the Maintenance Endowment Fund. These gifts take the pressure off the School’s operating budget. Endowment principal remains intact as Westminster uses only a percentage of the interest income.
What it buys: The security to invest in faculty and staff salaries, need-based financial aid, and facility maintenance.
Special Event Giving:
What it is: Gifts to help underwrite the cost of the March Auction or the donation of actual items or the underwriting of or participation in any other special events.
What it buys: Items in the operating budget and support to the Faculty/Staff Endowment and Financial Aid Endowment Funds.
Planned Giving
What it is: A gift vehicle that allows donations via a trust, annuity, insurance policy, or most commonly, a bequest.
What it buys: The long-term security and financial support for future generations of children.
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Q
Does your employer offer a Matching Gift Program?
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More than 550 American corporations match their employees' philanthropic monetary contributions. Matching Gifts allow you to double or triple your gift to the School.