GIVINGguide to
Welcome
We warmly welcome you to New Canaan Country School, where our unwavering commitment to fostering a joyful and active learning environment is at the core of everything we do. This commitment remains steadfast, ensuring every student’s educational journey is filled with joy, curiosity, and meaningful experiences.
We encourage your participation in our community, as we believe that the whole family’s involvement makes a positive difference to each student’s learning. In addition to myriad opportunities for connection and volunteering, your generous financial contributions lend valuable support to school programs while modeling the school’s ideals of lifelong learning and giving back. Everyone — parents, alumni, alumni families, faculty, staff, grandparents, and friends — has a role in our warm and vibrant community. Each contribution is valued and appreciated.
This guide is designed to inform and engage our community about how you can support Country School. It outlines our giving opportunities, explains the importance of the Annual Fund, and underscores how your contributions significantly impact our students’ educational experiences. We hope this guide inspires you to participate and contribute to the continued success and growth of NCCS. We welcome you to be in touch with our Advancement Team to discuss any aspect of giving at NCCS.
2024–2025 Board of Trustees
Executive Committee
President: F. Tucker Golden ’90
Vice President:
Arman C. Gokgol-Kline
Treasurer:
Lauren W. Greig
Secretary:
Heidi Locke Simon
Head of School:
Aaron C. Cooper
Members-at-Large
Tara J. Coniglio
Douglas A. Ryder
Jawanda P. Staber
Members
Arlety Bowman
Christopher L. Brigham ’78
Ryan Marie Brooks
Daniel J. DiBiasio ’92
Alex Figueroa
Michael M. Godina
Taylor B. Gould ’06
Jamel A. Keels
Thank you for making Country School a philanthropic priority and helping ensure that NCCS’s future remains bright.
Sarah Young Kilcullen ’98
Jennifer L. Kline
Matthew F. LeBaron
Lacey B. Ramsey
John V. Ricotta
Elizabeth Schmitt
Rebecca C. Thornton ’92
Sarah W. Vrabac
Darby E. Webber
Aaron Cooper, Head of School
Tucker Golden ’90, President, Board of Trustees
A Community of Support
Philanthropy at NCCS is rooted in our commitment to our mission: We create an active, joyful learning environment where children are challenged to think deeply, question confidently, and act generously so that they may lead lives of impact and purpose.
Core Values: Our mission and core values are the words we live by every day. They are the foundational principles that shape our school’s purpose and culture.
Community
We seek, respect, and celebrate diversity and ignite a sense of belonging so everyone thrives.
Courage
We take risks, make mistakes, assume responsibility, and champion those around us.
Curiosity
We explore, investigate, and discover — inspiring a life devoted to endless learning.
Kindness
We foster a culture of compassion through our daily words and actions.
Like most independent schools, tuition does not cover the full cost of educating each child. Our sole sources of income are tuition, charitable giving, income from invested reserves, and proceeds from special activities and events, so we must raise additional funds beyond tuition to balance the budget and provide for the future.
Giving Opportunities Annual Fund
The Annual Fund is the primary way parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends directly support our annual operations. Your contributions help NCCS implement programs that keep a Country School education dynamic — both within and beyond the classroom — while keeping tuition increases modest.
Gifts to the Annual Fund have a significant impact on all aspects of a Country School education supporting innovative teaching, engaging curriculum, robust professional development, state-of-the-art educational technology, tuition assistance, arts, athletics, sustainability initiatives, and facilities maintenance.
Annual Fund donations made early in the school year have the greatest impact, as they can be put to use immediately between July 1 and June 30. They help bridge the gap between tuition income and the cost of our high-quality education, which is approximately $7,500 per student. We encourage everyone to participate at a level that feels right for them, whether $50 or $25,000 or more.
We are grateful for all contributions from all community members and aim for 100% participation from our current school families.
Major Giving: Multi-Year & Planned Gifts Capital Campaigns
While the Annual Fund supports our everyday operations, campaigns support specific initiatives or projects that accomplish our long-term goals and require incremental funding.
Campaigns are targeted fundraising efforts over a specific time period, and help fund projects above and beyond the operating budget, such as the construction of new facilities, renovations of existing space, and targeted growth of the endowment. Campaign gifts are often multi-year commitments, and pledges may be paid over three to five years.
Gifts to a campaign are considered above and beyond ongoing support of the Annual Fund, which is always the school’s top priority.
Country School has had three successful capital campaigns over our 100+ year history, building our strong endowment and funding various important capital projects. Two recent examples include the Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall and Commons and the Athletics and Wellness Center.
We concluded the Boldly Forward campaign in 2022 and are planning our next campaign, which will focus on growing our endowment and enhancing our outdoor learning spaces.
Sustaining Excellence (2000–2002) • $12M
Living the Mission (2006–2011) • $23M
Boldly Forward (2016–2022) • $25M
Endowment
Our endowment is a significant investment portfolio that ensures our long-term stability and enhances our ability to fulfill our mission.
Consistent with peer schools, Country School draws four percent each year from our endowment for operating expenses in support of each fund’s intended purpose, while the principal is held in perpetuity and invested for long-term growth and future use.
As of June 30, 2024, our school endowment totaled $64 million, with over fifty funds supporting a range of school programs and needs and $7.4 million dedicated to our Horizons at NCCS program. A robust endowment helps NCCS better withstand economic fluctuations, changes in enrollment, and unforeseen financial challenges. It provides a cushion that allows us to maintain programs and services even during difficult times, and enables school leadership to dream big and launch new initiatives.
New endowed funds may be established with a gift of $100,000 or more and structured over time as multi-year pledges. Gifts of any amount may be directed to existing funds in accordance with donor interests and school priorities.
In the 2023–2024 academic year, NCCS endowed funds for financial aid provided over $1 million in need-based tuition assistance. This crucial support helps sustain our vital financial aid program, ensuring that a diverse range of students can benefit from an NCCS education.
Your family has the opportunity to create named endowed funds to support the people, programs and school priorities that are important to you.
Scan to learn more about Country School’s endowed funds
Planned Giving
In 1996, the Board of Trustees established the Welles Society, named after the school’s first Headmaster, Henry H. Welles, to recognize and honor those individuals — more than 65 to date — who have made special provisions in their estate plans to support the school.
Planned gifts are often deferred and might include establishing a trust, real estate, or life insurance, or naming the school as a beneficiary in your will or pension plan. This form of giving can offer donors significant tax and income benefits while ensuring a vibrant future for NCCS.
Last year, Country School received three planned gifts totaling more than $3 million. One gift established the new Albert Perry Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to help make NCCS accessible to students and families who may not otherwise have the opportunity to be part of the School community. This new fund has since garnered additional support from more than 50 other community members who gave in Al’s honor.
To read more about the Al Perry Scholarship Fund, scan the QR code below or visit countryschool.net/the-al-perry-scholarship-fund
Albert Perry Scholarship Fund
Last year, Country School received three planned gifts totaling more than $3 million.
Scan to learn more about the Welles Society + planned giving
“Mr. P” taught English, History and Anthropology in the Upper School for 21 years before retiring in 2003. A longtime baseball coach, he also made an impact on the playing fields. An ever-cheerful Mr. P always knew how to entertain a classroom of kids, making laughter an essential part of any lesson plan. Mr. P’s dedication to making learning fun is at the heart of the NCCS mission; thanks to this fund, his impact will continue to be felt by future generations of Country School students.
Scan to learn more about the Al Perry Scholarship Fund
Ways to Give
Whether you are considering your first NCCS gift or one among many over the years, we are here to help you find ways to give that fit your needs.
• Credit Cards: Use MasterCard, Visa, Amex or Discover on our secure website.
• Gifts by Check: Checks payable to New Canaan Country School may be mailed to:
New Canaan Country School 635 Frogtown Road
New Canaan, CT 06840
• Gifts of Securities: Please alert a member of the Advancement Team in advance of making a gift of DTC eligible stock or securities, and use the following contact information for the transfer.
Bank name: Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
DTC Number: 0571
Credit Account: G42-0024262 New Canaan Country School, Inc.
Phone: (203) 975-2006
• Wire Transfers: To electronically transfer funds, please contact our team for wire instructions.
• Donor Advised Fund: Support NCCS and receive favorable tax benefits by donating via a DAF. To learn more about DAFs, please visit our website.
• Matching Gifts: Company matching can double your gift to NCCS. If you or your spouse are affiliated with an organization that will match gifts to independent schools, please forward the matching gift form (obtained from the organization’s personnel office or matching portal) along with your gift to NCCS. Please visit our website for our matching gift database. Our Tax ID Number is 06-0646765.
• Planned Giving: Making a bequest to NCCS involves no immediate loss of capital or income and may provide tax benefits to one’s heirs. Donors are advised to consult with their own legal, tax, and estate planning professionals when considering gifts other than cash.
Our Advancement Team
We are here to help and look forward to speaking with you!
Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 Director of Advancement (203) 801-5687 • hcasella@countryschool.net
Diane Briggs Associate Director of Advancement (203) 801-5619 • dbriggs@countryschool.net
Lexi Cimmino Director of Alumni Affairs & Advancement Events (203) 801-5633 • lcimmino@countryschool.net
Brooke Cavanaugh Reed ’01 Advancement & Alumni Associate (203) 801-5637 • breed@countryschool.net
Nanette Gantz Advancement Database Administrator (203) 801-5600 • ngantz@countryschool.net
Scan or visit our website to make a gift today! 635 Frogtown Road New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 801-5600 www.countryschool.net/give
