GIVING AT A GLANCE GIVE
Dear AOS Parents and Families,
At AOS, we are proud of our sense of community. We want you to feel welcome and included. Your engagement at AOS is critical in helping us achieve our mission and be the “School for Hearts and Minds.” AOS encourages our families to participate in the daily life of our School and provide financial support beyond tuition.
The nation’s finest independent schools have strong fundraising programs and active parental involvement—AOS is no exception. AOS benefits from a tradition of generous giving. We depend on the combination of tuition and fundraising revenue to support our daily operations and to provide our students with an outstanding educational foundation. Fundraising revenue includes yearly contributions to our AOS Annual Fund, endowment income and other fundraising events, often sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Club (PTC) and the Dads Club. Throughout the year, there will be many opportunities and invitations to participate and support the life of our School. The highest fundraising priority for the School each year is the Annual Fund.
Your family will make lifelong friendships during your AOS years. Our parents make extraordinary things happen for our students and for that we are incredibly grateful. We hope that you will make AOS a priority in the giving of your time and resources. As always, thank you for investing in AOS!
Jill Buja Director of Advancement
The Annual Fund is vital to the daily operations at AOS. It provides essential, unrestricted income to support the School’s current-year operating budget for items not covered by tuition.
The AOS PTC is the coordinating body for many parent activities. The PTC hosts student and family activities like the Back to School Breakfast, Book Fair and Spaghetti Dinner, Teacher Appreciation Week, Olympics, and more.
The AOS Dads Club supports the school’s mission while encouraging and enjoying the fellowship of other fathers within the school community. The Dads Club hosts programs and fundraisers and participates in schoolsponsored events for dads to get more involved with their children and their education.
Capital and restricted gifts are designated for a specific purpose. Examples include gifts towards a new building or gifts to purchase equipment. Gifts may be used only for the designated purpose approved by the School.
A percentage of the endowment income provides cash toward annual operating expenses. A common way for a school to grow an endowment is through a planned gift such as a bequest. A planned gift is any gift that a donor includes in his or her estate planning.
Memorials and honorariums recognize friends, family members or teachers and staff.
The AOS Grandparents & Special Friends Club is a way for grandparents and special friends to support AOS through a financial gift and to be more involved with our school.
The Annual Fund runs on the school’s fiscal year calendar starting July 1 and ending June 30. Gifts are encouraged to be made during the 100% in 100 Days campaign, running September through December.
Annual Fund gifts are unrestricted. They are used during the year received to support the operating budget.
Book Fair (October), Olympics (May), Gala (every other March during years ending in even numbers)
Golf Tournament (December)
Specific requests are made when needs arise.
Endowment and planned gifts are accepted year-round.
Memorials and honorariums are accepted year-round.
Gifts are accepted year-round by making a donation to the Annual Fund or to the General Endowment.
The School solicits contributions to the Annual Fund through mail, email and follow-up by the Annual Fund Committee.
Gifts to the Annual Fund may be made by cash, check, credit card, or stock transfer.
In addition to underwriting PTC events, the Book Fair benefits the school library, Olympics supports the physical education curriculum, and the Gala benefits faculty and technology development as well as classroom enhancements.
The Dads Club Golf Tournament provides funding for other Dads Club community-building events and special projects. Funds are designated to projects per their board’s approval with guidance from the School.
Designated for a specific purpose. Endowment funds are unrestricted or donor designated in accordance with the amounts set in our Gift Acceptance policies.
The PTC solicits funds through email and invitations. The Dads Club solicits funds via email. Solicitations are often made through personal meetings with school leadership.
Gifts to the PTC may be made by cash, check, credit card, or stock transfer.
Gifts to the Dads Club may be made by cash, check, credit card, or stock transfer.
Gifts may be made by cash, check, credit card, or stock transfer.
Contact the Advancement Office at 713-470-5650 or advancement@aoshouston.org.
Gifts to the endowment may be made by cash, check, credit card, stock transfer, or planned gifts (i.e. bequests, real estate, life insurance, retirement plans, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts).
Most memorials and honorariums are designated to an existing endowed fund. To inquire about a named endowment fund, please contact the Advancement Office. Gifts to the club are designated for the Annual Fund or the General Endowment.
AOS does not solicit for these donations. Donations may be sent to the Advancement Office.
The School solicits contributions through mail and email.
The Annual Fund provides support for a wide range of expenses including professional development for our faculty and staff, technology at all grade levels, support for the fine arts and athletics programs, and much more.
The PTC contributes a percentage of funds raised each year to be used at the School’s discretion. They help fund special projects, specific needs and many important AOS traditions: Classical Countdown, Fine Arts Week, Teacher Appreciation Week and more.
The Dads Club supports special projects and capital improvements that are not part of the school’s budget. Technology enhancements and new artificial turf are examples of recent past support.
Capital gifts and restricted gifts can have a significant impact on the school community. The AOS campus would not be possible today without the past generous support of families who invested in the future of AOS.
A strong endowment creates a source of income beyond tuition and serves as a permanent asset that improves the financial stability of AOS. Gifts will benefit future generations of AOS students.
Gifts may be made by cash, check, credit card, or stock transfer.
Gifts may be made by cash, check, credit card, or stock transfer.
Memorial and honorarium gifts often help fund our General Endowment enhancing the educational experience of our students.
AOS grandparents and special friends are an integral part of our school family. All donors who join this club will receive information on various ways to connect with AOS throughout the year.