BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FUNDRAISING GUIDE
FUNDRAISING POLICY When you arrive at Blessed Trinity, you become part of a community that embraces you as part of its family. Our mission depends on every member of this family contributing above and beyond tuition to ensure that we are able to continue to offer students an exceptional education. The following guide was created to help define and prioritize fundraising expectations at Blessed Trinity. At Blessed Trinity, all gifts are unrestricted. Donors are able to direct their gift to nine different areas of the operating budget: Technology and Innovation, Curriculum and Instruction, Financial Aid, Faculty and Professional Development, Athletics, Fine Arts, Campus Ministry, Clubs & Organizations and Areas of Greatest Need. The Advancement and Business offices keep track of all “directed gifts” and thank the donors accordingly. Should directed contributions exceed a fund’s budgeted limit, the school designates the use of such funds to the Areas of Greatest Need. Any additional fundraising projects for any program must have the written consent of the Blessed Trinity administration and Office of Advancement.
Trinity Fund
ALL-SCHOOL EFFORTS
Your annual Trinity Fund donation is the most important gift you give to Blessed Trinity each year. At Blessed Trinity, tuition revenues cover the basic operations of the school. Additional requested budget items can only be funded through a successful annual fund campaign. Academic programming, student activities, faculty development and technology upgrades benefit from the Trinity Fund. We rely on gifts from the entire school community including: current parents, alumni, alumni families, grandparents, faculty and staff, and other friends. A Catholic education is an investment and an opportunity to be fully involved in your student’s campus experience. Although tuition is not tax-deductible, contributions to the Trinity Fund may be deducted from your taxes. Each year, we set a monetary goal and a participation goal, which are both of equal importance. The monetary goal provides the funds which are directed to where the school needs them most while the participation goal sends a message to the greater community as to the amount of support the school receives. Foundations often look to this percentage rate to discern whether or not they will direct their support to Blessed Trinity. They want to know that the entire community believes in our mission enough to support it. In this respect, you can clearly see that no matter the amount, all gifts are important. All Trinity Fund donations are used during that particular school year.
Capital Campaign
Periodic capital campaigns raise additional non-operating funds for major efforts like new construction of campus facilities, acquisition of large and expensive capital items and funding our endowment. These funds can significantly enhance and improve facilities which will keep Blessed Trinity at the forefront of a competitive educational marketplace. Unlike gifts to the Trinity Fund, pledges and donations for capital campaigns can be structured over several years and are not always spent in the year the donation is made.
Endowment
An endowment was established as part of Blessed Trinity’s first Capital Campaign in 2011. Each year, 10% of all donations are earmarked for the endowment and may never be used for operational budget items. Proceeds from the investment of endowment funds are earmarked for Campus Ministry initiatives, faculty development and financial aid.
TRINITY FUND RECOGNITION LEVELS Archbishop Donoghue Founder’s Society^* $100,000+ Legacy Society** $50,000-99,999 Leadership Society** $25,000-49,999 President’s Society** $10,000-24,999 Principal’s Society $5,000-9,999 Shield Society $2,500-4,999 Titan Circle $1,000-$2,499 Green & Gold Circle $500-999 Friends of Blessed Trinity up to $499 ^ - Cumulative Giving * - Lifetime top-level membership to AA & FAA ** - Top-level membership to AA & FAA
YOUNG ALUMNI LEADERSHIP SOCIETY For the first 15 years after graduation, young alumni have the opportunity to join the Young Alumni Leadership Society by making incremental gifts at a leadership level. This program allows young alumni to gradually increase their giving during the first 15 years after graduating Blessed Trinity.
0-5 years since graduation 6-10 years since graduation 11-15 years since graduation
$250+ $500+ $1,000+
All donors that contribute at the $2,500 level or above, as well as members of the Young Alumni Leadership Society, will be recognized at the Major Donor Mass & Reception.
Planned Giving
Planned giving allows donors to continue having an impact at Blessed Trinity, beyond their lifetime. It also allows donors to make larger gifts that might not otherwise be possible. It also may allow donors to increase their retirement income and receive tax advantages as an important part of their own estate planning. It is easy to make a Planned Gift. If you have already named Blessed Trinity in your Will or other estate plans, please let us know by contacting the Office of Advancement. If you have not already made Blessed Trinity a part of your estate planning, we would be happy to speak with you about what methods of giving could work for your unique circumstances.
WHAT
Trinity Fund
SCHOOL FUNDRAISING AT A GLANCE
FREQUENCY WHAT IT DOES
Every year
Capital Campaign As needed Planned Giving
Once
Provides additional funds allowing BT to expand its budget Funds needs of the school which are too large to be budgeted for annually Helps insure the financial future of the school
WHAT IT FUNDS Variety of school operating expenses Campus additions and facilities improvements Donor’s intentions
PARENT-ORGANIZATION FUNDRAISING
Blessed Trinity is compliant with the Archdiocesan guidelines and best practices for all fundraising. Per these guidelines and the Blessed Trinity policy, all fundraising activities are run through the Office of Advancement or are sanctioned exclusively through the parent organizations. These organizations are listed below. Any additional fundraising activities must be approved by the Blessed Trinity administration and Office of Advancement.
Athletic Association
Home & School
The Blessed Trinity Athletic Association (BTAA) exists to promote the growth of all our athletic programs and the involvement of all BT families during their student’s athletic experience. The BTAA mission is to offer financial and volunteer support for all student-athletes attending Blessed Trinity.
The Home and School Association (HAS) strives to improve the overall quality of campus life and spiritual life by providing programs and activities that encourage participation by the whole school community. HAS provides hospitality, refreshments and services to parents, students and faculty for school wide events.
At Blessed Trinity, there are no individual sport booster clubs. Blessed Trinity is one school with one athletic department funding ALL student athletes’ needs. The BTAA raises funds through an annual membership drive, a golf tournament, and annual physicals. Funds from the BTAA are used for officials’ fees, team transportation, team uniforms, weight room upgrades, entry fees, upkeep and improvements to grounds and equipment... whatever the coaches and teams NEED based on their budgets.
HAS sponsors: BT Mom’s Connect Catholic Schools Week BT Blood Drive Book Club Used Book Sale
Fine Arts Association
The Blessed Trinity Fine Arts Association (FAA) is a group of dedicated parents and faculty with a common goal to promote the Fine Arts community through volunteerism and financial support. Funds are generated through memberships and activities and are used to enhance the students experience in the Fine Arts Department through curriculum enrichment, repair and purchase of new instruments, funding of guest artists, upkeep of theater and lighting equipment, framing and permanent artwork display maintenance, sponsoring of student spirit events, and awarding of summer student scholarships.
G.R.A.C.E. Scholars, Inc.
OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School participates in the G.R.A.C.E. Scholars program, a state-approved Student Scholarship Organization (SSO) established by the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In 2008, the state of Georgia passed legislation which allows Georgia residents to re-direct a portion of their state income taxes to a private school of their choice for use in providing financial aid to qualifying students.
Employer United Way Campaigns
Many people work at companies where they strongly encourage participation in their United Way Campaigns. At many companies those donations can be directed to Blessed Trinity rather than to agencies within the United Way. If you already participate in a United Way Campaign at your work, please ask if your donations can be directed to Blessed Trinity.
GIVE AT NO COST TO YOU! Employer/Employee Matching Gift Programs
Employer / Employee matching gift programs help many Blessed Trinity donors increase their gifts to the school. There is a list of current Matching Gift companies on the Blessed Trinity website. Please check to see if your employer is a participant. If your employer is not on the list we encourage you to contact your HR department and see if a matching gift program exists.
Kroger
Visit Kroger.com and register your Kroger Plus Card. Then log into your Account Summary and scroll down to the box entitled Community Rewards where you can edit your beneficiary organization. The Kroger number for Blessed Trinity is 43493
Publix
If you are a Publix shopper, through Publix Partners, you can support Blessed Trinity. To support our school, sign up for Publix Partners through your Publix.com account (if you don’t already have one) and select Blessed Trinity Catholic HS. Then, enter your phone number at checkout each time you make an eligible purchase.
AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Blessed Trinity every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Blessed Trinity. Shop using AmazonSmile!
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School exists to provide a nurturing educational environment that transforms lives in Christ, integrating spiritual formation, academic excellence, artistic sensibility, and athletic achievement.
Ways to Make a Gift Online at btcatholic.org/Advancement Check Through FACTS Matching Gifts Securities Make a pledge online or by mail
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School Office of Institutional Advancement 11320 Woodstock Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 (678) 277-9083 www.btcatholic.org
Blessed Trinity Catholic High School’s fiscal year is July 1 - June 30 All gifts received by June 30th will be counted toward that school year Blessed Trinity Catholic High School is a 501 (c)3 non profit organization Tax ID Number 58-2602641