Mercersburg Academy Leadership Giving

LEADERSHIP

William Mann Irvine

Mercersburg Academy’s founder, Dr. William Mann Irvine, launched the school in 1893 at the tender age of 28. In 1918, the student editors of the Karux yearbook dedicated that year’s edition to Dr. Irvine and described his philosophy for the school as:

“Lofty ideals, great faith, noble integrity, and a ceaseless devotion to a mighty task, these are among the things which account for the meaning of Mercersburg.”

Today, the school remains true to these guiding values, which have endured over our 129-year history, while boldly embracing a future in education that reflects a complex, changing world.

The financial support of 1893 Club and William Mann Irvine Society members underpins these ideals and secures the Mercersburg Academy experience for today’s students.

Leadership Transforms Lives

Dear Mercersburg faithful,

Leadership giving plays a pivotal role in Mercersburg Academy’s academic and financial success. Philanthropic gifts underpin the entire Mercersburg experience and ensure that the school remains a leader in education. Gifts from loyal alumni, parents, and friends bridge the gap between the actual cost of educating a student ($82,000) and the cost of tuition ($66,900). From the Annual Fund to the endowment to campus facilities, private funding expands our capacity to deliver excellence in everything we do so that we do not have to pass those associated expenditures on to our students and their families.

The careful stewardship of our school from one generation to the next is a hallmark of our history and a defining characteristic of our culture. This year, I hope you will consider a gift to the 1893 Club or the William Mann Irvine Society.

Sincerely,

Andy Alpert ’82, P ’14 Member, Board of Regents Chair, William Mann Irvine Society and 1893 Club

As an active member of my class and the Board of Regents, I know how important every gift to the school is. Leadership contributions are particularly crucial to providing the financial power that extends access and flexibility to such a singular educational experience.

– Tom Hadzor ’72

Philanthropy at Mercersburg Academy

Exceptional institutions reflect their strength through their Annual Fund. At Mercersburg, 10 percent of the operating budget comes from the Annual Fund, which provides responsive funding that allows our talented faculty to reinforce classroom lessons through trips, expert guest speakers, hands-on/experiential learning, and other instruction. The Annual Fund complements the school’s endowment to fuel institutional excellence. Approximately 86 percent of our Annual Fund comes from gifts of $1,893 or more, making leadership support a critical partner to the work of our faculty and staff.

Operating Budget Revenue Sources

Net Tuition and Fees

Annual Fund

Endowment Draw

Auxiliary Activities

36%

10%

52%

2%

The William Mann Irvine Society is named in honor of Mercersburg Academy’s founder, Dr. William Mann Irvine, who launched a school devoted to the full person—mind, body, and spirit. Irvine Society members provide generous philanthropic support that empowers the school to boldly reimagine excellence in education, creating an academic and residential experience that inspires students to lead and serve in their communities around the world.

Members ensure that Mercersburg remains true to its enduring values while embracing and navigating a complex, changing world. Your Irvine Society gift affirms your belief in the transformative power of the Mercersburg experience for today’s students. Members of the William Mann Irvine Society receive special communications and event invitations in recognition of their important commitment, as well as connectivity with Board of Regents and school leadership.

For more information, please visit mercersburg.edu/wmis.

$100,000+ Founder’s Circle $50,000 Regents’ Circle $25,000 Head of School’s Circle $10,000 Member

The 1893 Club is named in honor of Mercersburg Academy’s founding year and celebrates a rich history of excellence in education. 1893 Club members join a legacy of philanthropic leadership that has sustained the school for more than 125 years. This special group of donors provides foundational support that enables Mercersburg to prepare the next generation of leaders.

Your 1893 Club gift affirms your belief in the life-changing power of the Mercersburg Academy experience and invests in the promising future that our students represent. Members of the 1893 Club receive special communications and event invitations in recognition of their important commitment.

$5,000 Fidelitas

$1,893 Virilitas

$1,000 Integritas (up to 10 years after graduation)

Frequently Asked Questions

As a parent, I provide for my child through tuition. Why make a leadership gift?

Tuition alone has never covered the full cost of educating each student. A rich history of philanthropy at Mercersburg from alumni, parents, and friends has ensured that Annual Fund support bridges the gap between student needs and tuition dollars. The Annual Fund directly benefits every student at Mercersburg on a day-to-day basis.

As an alum, I’m having a reunion this year. How will making a leadership gift impact my class reunion goal?

For most alumni, there are few places that transcend time and space in the way that Mercersburg does. Students have a unique shared experience during their formative years at the school, and the bonds that they forge endure over a lifetime. A leadership gift honors that connection while simultaneously providing support for today’s students. Keep in mind that your class reunion gift is a gift to the Annual Fund and perhaps to another area if your class has chosen to support a specific endeavor, so supporting the Annual Fund with a leadership gift is a special way to honor a reunion milestone.

When my reunion came along, it reinforced all the incredible friendships I’d made at Mercersburg and how much this community has meant to me. I wanted to do something to recognize that and made a five-year commitment so I could support our class goal.

– Steve Pessagno ’88

Mercersburg has such a strong sense of community, even in the midst of a global pandemic. The school has delivered on its promise to provide students with an incredible educational experience. The dedication of the faculty and staff to shaping each student’s unique talents makes us want to do more to support the school community.

– Lucy and Jeffrey Short P ’23

Strategies for Giving

Gifts of appreciated stock are a tax-wise gift strategy, allowing you to avoid capital gains tax while taking a charitable deduction on the full market value of the stock.

A multi-year commitment allows you to plan several years in advance. During a reunion, this is an especially smart way to further your class gift totals.

Gifts through a donor-advised fund may streamline giving for households.

U.S. taxpayers who are age 70 ½+ may make IRA gifts without counting those funds as part of your adjusted gross income. Consequently, you do not have to pay taxes on the gifted amount. Distributions, which count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD), must be made directly from the IRA trustee to Mercersburg, and the individual maximum is $100,000 per calendar year. This is a great reason to make a gift using your IRA instead of cash.

Employer-sponsored matching gift programs can further amplify your commitment.

For more information on how to maximize your gift: mercersburg.edu/giving.

Make a provision to support Mercersburg Academy in your estate plan and become a member of the Marshall & Irving Alliance. For more information, contact Carolyn Yeager P ’20, ’21 at yeagerc@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6219.