Pulling the Husky Sled

PULLING THE SLED Husky

Dear Flint Hill families,

Welcome to the 2023–24 school year! As a strong, relationship-driven community, it takes every one of us doing our part to ensure that this school year is the best one yet.

In particular, I want to extend a warm welcome to our newest families and hope you will join in our great tradition of volunteering with so many other Husky families.

I invite all of our families, new and returning, to take a look at the many ways you can help pull the sled this year.

I am so glad you are on this journey with us this year. Our entire Flint Hill team looks forward to continuing our partnership with you!

Go Huskies!

Patrick McHonett Head of School

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

The Parents’ Association fosters a welcoming environment, encourages active involvement, and promotes school spirit. Every Flint Hill parent and guardian is automatically a member of the Parents’ Association, and there are no membership fees.

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION DIVISIONAL AMBASSADORS

The Divisional Ambassador is a volunteer role within the Parents’ Association. Divisional Ambassadors serve by attending school events, hosting parent socials, volunteering and encouraging others to get involved. Their primary purpose is to build community among parents and guardians.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteering brings another layer of connection for families at Flint Hill. Opportunities include selling snacks in our concession stands, hosting events, helping with Admissions, organizing teacher appreciation efforts, or planning the annual golf invitational. There are many ways to get involved in our school community!

1,050

Approximate number of volunteer slots parents signed up for during the previous school year

Q&A

What’s the difference between a PTA and the Flint Hill Parents’ Association?

Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) are typically associated with public schools, operate within state-defined guidelines and frequently play the role of advocating for school resources and funding. The purpose of the Flint Hill Parents’ Association is to build community. It does not operate independently of Flint Hill School.

Do we have a Gala?

There is no Gala at Flint Hill. However, we hope you will plan to attend Night on the Hill, our adult-only, purely social, free event to celebrate the year and build community across all grade-levels!

How do I get involved?

The Parents’ Association publishes events and volunteer opportunities in the School Newsletter so they are available to everyone. Additionally, concession volunteers are needed nearly every week, either during the school day, after school, or during games.

FLINT HILL FUND

It may surprise some to learn that it takes more than tuition to pay for all that goes into opening the doors every day. To be sure, tuition pays for the majority of expenses, but there are two other important revenue sources: the Flint Hill Fund and endowment income.

The Flint Hill Fund is the school’s fundraising priority — and your willingness to help pull the sled by making a voluntary tax-deductible contribution each year is critically important. A team of volunteers from current parents to alumni, grandparents to faculty and staff work to encourage generous support to the Flint Hill Fund throughout the year.

Each year, the Flint Hill Fund brings our community together with one common goal: to make the most possible for our students. While this is a collective effort, we know that your relationship to Flint Hill is personal — and your giving to the Flint Hill Fund should be personal, too.

Give to what you love.

• Direct your gift to one or more of 9 areas (or choose to support it all).

• Make a gift in honor or memory of a teacher, coach, friend, or family member.

Within the Flint Hill Fund, you can choose where your support goes to ensure that your gift is personally meaningful to you. For more information or to get involved as a volunteer, contact Chris Kitzmiller, Director of the Flint Hill Fund, at 703.584.2349 or ckitzmiller@flinthill.org

Q&A

How can I give to the Flint Hill Fund?

There are many ways that you can participate in the Flint Hill Fund! You can make an outright gift of cash, check, credit card (one-time or monthly recurring), Venmo, PayPal, bank transfer, or a transfer of stock/securities. Gifts can be made online at flinthill.org/give at any time. Learn more at flinthill.org/ways-to-give.

Do I have to make my gift now?

No. If you let us know the amount you plan to give, we will count your commitment as a pledge. Many people plan their giving for specific times during the calendar year. With a pledge, you are counted in our totals immediately but have the flexibility to pay when it is convenient for you anytime during the school year. We ask that all pledges be paid by June 30 of each school year.

How much should my family give?

We ask all families to consider making a meaningful contribution to the Flint Hill Fund each year. Gifts range in size from $1-$50,000. The average gift for current families is $1,372 with the median gift of $500. All gifts are gratefully received and count toward your participation in this important community effort.

$1,272,861 Total Flint Hill Fund dollars contributed in 2022-23 by 1,024 donors

CAPITAL GIVING

From time to time, independent schools like Flint Hill engage in capital campaigns to address critical pressing needs, which are funded entirely through philanthropy. Capital contributions are generally larger and are made in addition to your gift to the Flint Hill Fund. They are typically pledged and paid over a number of years. Over 500 donors to the School’s most recent campaign Momentum built the Peterson Middle School and renovated Hazel Lower School.

ENDOWMENT GIVING

In addition to tuition and the Flint Hill Fund, another revenue source is Flint Hill’s endowment. The endowment is a permanent investment fund comprised of restricted and unrestricted gifts, overseen by the Board of Trustees. Interest is spent from these endowed funds assuring that there is money every year to be used from these gifts. The purpose of an endowment is to support the ongoing educational goals of the School. Support for endowment strengthens our school’s long-term financial health. New endowment funds can be established with mission-appropriate gifts of $100,000 or more.

For more information, contact Meredith Cook VanDuyne, Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement, at 703.584.2351 mvanduyne@flinthill.org.

18 Number of students who benefited from named endowed financial aid funds in 2022-23

23

Total number of endowed funds

Total restricted and endowment funds raised in 22.23