Annual Giving

Annual Giving

Q & A: Annual Giving Why should I invest in The Kew-Forest School?

What constitutes Annual Giving?

Your yearly investment in The Kew-Forest School gives our educational institution the opportunity to grow from good to great, and make what is already great at Kew-Forest even better.

There are three major components to Annual Giving:

A well-balanced budget and properly priced tuition covers the cost of an outstanding Kew-Forest education. To sustain our position as a top school, however, we must look to those improvements that will have a positive impact on our current and future students.

For this to happen, Kew-Forest requires constant investment of philanthropic dollars from our community beyond tuition.

Kew-Forest has educated thousands of students, many of whom are now leaders in their fields. We able to maintain our commitment to academic excellence and student achievement thanks to the support of many caring people, from our faculty and staff to our parents, alumni and alumnae, trustees, and friends.

1. The Ad Summum Fund (Unrestricted or Restricted) 2. The Gala & Benefit Auction (Event) 3. The Capital Gift (Restricted)

What is the expectation of me when it comes to Annual Giving?

Each member of our School community is encouraged to participate in Annual Giving at Kew-Forest by making a meaningful investment in the School through an annual, tax-deductible donation to the Ad Summum Fund and Capital Gift, in addition to supporting the Gala & Benefit Auction.

One School: Three Ways To Give The Kew-Forest School, like all non-profit, independent schools, colleges, and universities, relies on charitable donations to support its ongoing operations and priorities. With Annual Giving, there are three ways to contribute to Kew-Forest:

The Ad Summum Fund

Through the Annual Fund, named the Ad Summum Fund in 2013, the Kew-Forest community comes together annually to support major projects to enhance the school. Every dollar, which many have given so generously in the past, has gone to our physical plant, our programs, and our people.

The Ad Summum Fund Drive for current families takes place over 100 days, starting in November, with a goal of at least 100 families participating. The drive consists of direct appeals in the form of letters and phone calls to parents. The drive also reaches out to Faculty, Trustees, alumni/ae, and friends of the School, until the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The goal of the Ad Summum Fund is to exceed $100,000.

The Gala & Benefit Auction

An evening of community and fun, the Gala & Benefit Auction raises funds in four ways, including ads in the Gala Journal, ticket sales, raffle ticket sales, and auction revenue. The Gala is the School’s largest fundraiser.

Every year, money raised at the Gala has helped Kew-Forest advance projects and initiatives critical to the School’s success.

The Capital Gift

The Gala & Benefit Auction culminates with the community coming together to support one specific Capital project at Kew-Forest. This yearly milestone is known as the Capital Gift. The tens of thousands of dollars raised for these specific appeals have transformed parts of the campus so we may better serve our students. The Capital Gift is the bookend of Annual Giving.

Recognizing Your Contribution Annual Giving Levels

The Kew-Forest School accepts and appreciates gifts of many different types and sizes. All monetary donations to the Ad Summum Fund and The Capital Gift are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

As you plan for your contribution to Annual Giving, please review K-F’s different giving levels, which will appear in the School’s Annual Report. These yearly cumulative totals are comprised of your contribution to the Ad Summum Fund and the Capital Gift.

The 1918 Club

While Kew-Forest appreciates donations of all sizes, large gifts from individual donors have a significant impact on what we can accomplish. The 1918 Gift Club provides special recognition to our Annual Giving leaders. As Kew-Forest was founded in 1918, the School celebrates donations to the Ad Summum Fund and Capital Gift that total $1,918 and above in a school year with this special designation.

• Founders’ Circle: $5,000-$9,999

In recognition of recent graduates’ desire to give back to Kew-Forest, the School offers a special opportunity to every alumnus/a who has not yet celebrated his or her fifth K-F Reunion to join the 1918 Club with a donation totaling $19.18 or more in a school year.

• K-F Patrons: $1,000-$4,999

Donor Appreciation Event

• Leadership Gift: $10,000 and up

• Headmaster’s Club: $500-$999 • Friends of Kew-Forest: $250-$499 • K-F Sponsors: $249 and under

Every May, Kew-Forest hosts a Donor Appreciation Event at the Headmaster’s home that honors our most generous donors who have given a total contribution to the Ad Summum Fund and Capital Gift of $500 or more in the current school year.

More Ways to Support K-F Volunteering

With so much happening at The Kew-Forest School, the staff depends on volunteers to help plan and staff events and programs that build community and create connections.

There are many ways to be involved and members of the School community can sign up for volunteer opportunities that fit into their schedules and align with their interests. Involvement strengthens and supports the K-F community.

Planned Giving

The term “Planned Giving” refers to significant and/or deferred gifts that support the mission of our school and set an example of leadership and vision. Typically, these include specifying The Kew-Forest School as a beneficiary in a will, or naming The Kew-Forest School as a beneficiary or annuitant of a charitable gift annuity, an IRA, a Life Insurance Policy, or a Charitable Remainder or other form of trust. No matter what form they take, Planned Gifts help ensure that K-F’s tradition of excellence will continue to enrich the lives of future generations of students.

The Kew-Forest School is an incorporated not-for-profit in the State of New York and is tax-exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code of the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts to the School are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

The Kew-Forest School does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation in the administration of its admissions, employment or educational programs or policies.

The Kew-Forest School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New York State Association of Independent Schools, and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation and is approved by the New York State Department of Education. The Kew-Forest School is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the Secondary School Admission Test Board.

What Annual Giving Makes Possible...

Financial contributions to Annual Giving at The Kew-Forest School provide the resources to invest in programs that further inspire our students to achieve.

When you invest in Annual Giving, you create opportunities for KewForest to invest in its people, including: • Professional development for our Faculty that translates to an even richer, strengthened academic program • Improved salary and benefits to ensure we are able to recruit top educators to Kew-Forest

When you invest in Annual Giving, you create opportunities for KewForest to improve our physical plant. In the last four years, we have raised funds, and completed projects, to: • Restore the school’s exterior (Phase I, 2010) • Build a new playground (2011) • Renovate the US and LS libraries (2012) • Refurbish indoor sports facilities (scheduled for 2014)

Thank You For Your Continued Support

W

here parents choose to send their children to school is one of the most important decisions families make. I am delighted that you have chosen The KewForest School, and it has been special for me to start to get to know you and your family this year.

In my short time at Kew-Forest, I have seen first hand our students flourishing in their academic work, extracurricular clubs, and in sports.

The work done by Kew-Forest Faculty, along with the support of parents through tuition, volunteering, and contributions to Annual Giving, has created tremendous opportunities to strengthen our educational institution.

Before we look ahead, I wanted to pause for a moment to thank you for your past support; it has truly allowed us to build strong programs at Kew-Forest. Thank you!

I look forward to further developing the Office of Institutional Advancement at Kew-Forest in partnership with Headmaster Mark Fish, and with support from Erica Lin ’05, Alumni/ae Relations and Social Media Coordinator, and Michele Hoyos, Advancement and Database Associate.

With a team in place, we reach out to you for your time, talent, and financial support. I look forward to meeting each of you this year and building a partnership with you.

— James David, Director of Institutional Advancement

A Look Ahead...

On November 10, 2013, The Kew-Forest School will kick off its Ad Summum Fund Drive with an invitation to make an online donation at www.kewforest.org/giving.

In mid-November, you will receive Kew-Forest’s newsletter, which will include names of those who contributed to Annual Giving during the 2012-2013 School Year.

In late November, Kew-Forest will announce the Gala & Benefit Auction theme and ways to support this fun, community-building event.

Ad Summum!