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INVESTING IN FACULTY GROWTH & RECOGNITION
ANNUAL GIVING “BRIDGES THE GAP” KATHLEEN MURPHY, ANNUAL FUND DIRECTOR
The Annual Fund effort facilitates parent-to-parent conversations every year, at every grade level, with every family in our school community. Parents who serve as Annual Fund Ambassadors dedicate hours every week during the fall and winter educating themselves about St. Luke’s and reaching out to fellow parents to connect and invite their support for SLS. The time and passion that Annual Fund Ambassadors bring to this effort raises essential funds for the school and strengthens our relationships with one another. Annual Giving is the primary way for alumni, parents, and friends to support the exceptional teaching and learning that happens every day on the Hilltop. This unrestricted funding provides school leadership with the flexibility to say “yes” to innovative program ideas, seize new opportunities, and respond to pressing needs or challenges when they arise. The Annual Fund is an ongoing, continuous effort designed to offset annual operating expenses. This largely volunteer effort, led by my talented and dedicated partners, Annual Fund parent Co-Chairs Amy Bibb (Jasper ’15 and Sarah ’20) and Kristen Staikos (Sofia ’24 and Alex ’22), raises critical funds to address the difference between tuition revenue and the actual cost of running the school. This difference or “gap” is typically around $3,000 per student, which, this year, equates to more than $1.6 million dollars. “We know private school is a major financial commitment,” Staikos commented.
“Even so, independent schools cannot operate on tuition dollars alone. Committing to support the Annual Fund means our donation will have a direct and immediate impact on our children and their experiences at the School. Programs like J-Term and the retention of exceptional faculty would simply not be possible without the Annual Fund.” The operating budget “gap” is found at nearly every independent school in the country, and it exists by design. It allows schools to keep tuition several thousand dollars lower while securing a school’s ability to operate competitively. By mitigating the cost of tuition, the Annual Fund helps to keep independent schools accessible to a broader population of families while still being able to recruit and retain top faculty with competitive salary and benefits packages. It should also be noted that unlike tuition payments, donations to the Annual Fund are tax-deductible. Fundraising isn’t usually thought of as an experience that brings people together, but after leading St. Luke’s Annual Fund for the past 12 years, I beg to differ. The Annual Fund effort facilitates meaningful conversations between parents about shared values, beloved teachers, and our supportive community, all while raising money to support the School’s work. My role at St. Luke’s is rewarding and meaningful, and I am grateful.
Investing in our Environment Great teaching and learning happen in an environment that suits learning goals. Spaces can transform learning. Research demonstrates a direct correlation between school design and improved academic outcomes. Our recent addition was designed with that research in mind. Of course, environment includes more than physical spaces. It encompasses the emotional wellbeing of the people who work and interact at St. Luke’s, and who will feel the impact of working for a secure, sustainable organization within a diverse and compassionate community.