Lausanne's Guide to Giving & Getting Involved
Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................ Page 2 Our Team ..................................................................................... Page 3 Annual Giving vs. Capital Campaigns ................................... Page 4 The Lausanne Community Fund .............................................. Page 5 The Campaign for Best ............................................................. Page 6 How To Give ............................................................................... Page 7 Giving Strategies ...................................................................... Page 8 Endowment Support ............................................................... Page 12 Giving Societies ...................................................................... Page 13 Lausanne Parent Connections .............................................. Page 14 Alumni Association ................................................................ Page 16 Lynx Store ................................................................................. Page 18 Fundraising Events .................................................................. Page 19 FAQs ........................................................................................... Page 21 Gratitude for our Lausanne Community .............................. Page 24
Last Updated on September 10, 2026
Introduction Dear Lausanne Community Members, Our Development & Community Engagement Team is so excited to be able to share our Guide to Giving & Getting Involved. In these pages, you will find important information to help guide you in your journey at Lausanne in developing incredible relationships, creating new friendships, growing our school community, and helping to invest in our future. Whether you are new to the Lausanne community or have been a current family, alumni, faculty and staff or friend of our school for years – I hope your relationships and experiences at Lausanne are truly lifelong and meaningful. Your support and investments of resources, time and kindness truly mean the world to us. Thank you for considering how you can help Lausanne and be an active member of our school’s community! Let’s Go Lynx! Zach Pretzer Chief Development Officer 2
The Development & Community Engagement Team Zach Pretzer Chief Development Officer (901) 474-1029 zpretzer@lausanneschool.com
Amber Colvin Director of Community Engagement (901) 474-1033 acolvin@lausanneschool.com
Kris Taylor Director of Development Operations (901) 591-1170 ktaylor@lausanneschool.com
Gillian Tinnin Development Specialist (901) 474-1023 gtinnin@lausanneschool.com
Ariel Spencer Director of Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, & Senior Activities (901) 474-1039 aspencer@lausanneschool.com
Ginger Reese Archivist (901) 474-1409 greese@lausanneschool.com
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Annual vs. Capital Campaigns First and foremost, every single gift to Lausanne – whether it is treasure, time, talent, or connections – matters a great deal and makes an incredible impact on our school community. Our approach to philanthropy and involvement at Lausanne is truly comprehensive and we are greatly appreciative for ALL support. During transformational times of growth and facility upgrade needs, it becomes necessary for the school’s future to embark on a capital campaign. Our current Campaign for Best serves as a wonderful example of tremendous community buyin for equally tremendous opportunities. Campaigns are always relatively short in nature, typically about 3 years or less. Support toward campaigns benefits specific projects and ensures Lausanne can grow its facilities and buildings well into the future. The Community Fund – our Annual Fund – is an operational fund we raise support for each and every year to help elevate our school’s offerings, programs, and educational needs. Our Community Fund benefits faculty support and education, financial aid, the arts, athletics and wellness, innovation, endowment growth and sustainability, and so much more! Our hope is that our Lausanne community will consider supporting our Community Fund every year, whether we are in a capital campaign such as the Campaign for Best or not. Learn more about our Community Fund and the Campaign for Best on the next two pages! 4
What is the Community Fund? The Community Fund is Lausanne’s annual giving fund – and we believe strongly in naming it the “Community Fund” because the strength of Lausanne truly lies in our community. Everything you love about Lausanne is made possible by the generosity of our community, as your gifts to the Lausanne Community Fund help ensure that all facets of a Lausanne education remain of the highest possible quality. As a donor to the Lausanne Community Fund, you can select the greatest needs of Lausanne for your gift, or, you can restrict your gift to an area that is particularly meaningful to you. This past year, the Lausanne community raised over $350,000 for critical areas of need. All gifts make a difference. See below to learn more about our 2025-2026 donors!
Who Gave?
Areas of Support
29% Parents 9% Grandparents 8% Faculty & Staff 15% Alumni 7% Parents of Alumni 38% Community Partners 4% Friends
63% Greatest Need 16% Academic Programming 8% Endowment 7% Special Projects 3% Arts & Athletics 2% Financial Aid 1% Faculty Continuing Education
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The Campaign for Best Capital campaigns at Lausanne – such as our Campaign for Best – allow for transformational growth. The Campaign for Best serves as an inspirational example of the power our community can have when we rally together around a mission and future we truly believe in. Lausanne has continued to have the very best students, faculty and curricula; however, what we have lacked is the best facilities. Our Lausanne community has raised nearly $8 million in support to date for The Campaign for Best. This philanthropy has been deeply impactul and has allowed Lausanne to begin the process of creating the best educational spaces that our students, faculty and community deserve. We aren’t done, though... we have so much more to accomplish together! Up next is the creation of the very best Middle School. We need your support to make this possible! Visit campaignforbest.com to learn more about how you can invest in our future. 6
How to Give Give or Pledge Online Lausanne Community Fund: lausanneschool.com/give The Campaign for Best: campaignforbest.com
Mail a Check, Payable to ‘Lausanne Community Fund’, to: Lausanne Collegiate School Attn: Development 1381 West Massey Road Memphis, TN 38120
To discuss gifts, pledges or giving strategies in your support of Lausanne, please contact Zach Pretzer, Chief Development Officer, at (901) 474-1029 or zpretzer@lausanneschool.com.
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Giving Strategies One-Time Donations via check, credit card/ACH or stock can always be made to Lausanne via mail, online or in-person! Whether your donation is for the Lausanne Community Fund or The Campaign for Best, this is always a simple way to give. Questions about gifts or pledges? Contact Zach Pretzer at (901) 474-1029 or zpretzer@lausanneschool.com.
Pledges can be made to the Lausanne Community Fund or The Campaign for Best as a strategic way to make a large impact by extending a donation out over months or years. For example, a $5,000 pledge can be paid over a five-year period at $1,000 per year. Lausanne receives notice of your full commitment on the front end, and you receive tax credit for all payments made in a given calendar year. Questions about gifts or pledges? Contact Zach Pretzer at (901) 474-1029 or zpretzer@lausanneschool.com.
Monthly or Recurring Gifts are a smart and increasingly popular way to contribute regularly to Lausanne. You can easily set up a monthly or quarterly recurring gift by contacting the Development Team! Questions on setting up a recurring gift? Contact Kris Taylor at (901) 591-1170 or ktaylor@lausanneschool.com.
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Giving Strategies Gifts of Stock or securities are an easy way to make a gift to Lausanne. Securities which have appreciated in value and which you have held for more than one year are an especially attractive gift because you can take a charitable deduction for the full-market value and avoid taxes on your capital gains. In order to qualify for this benefit, you must donate your stock directly to Lausanne prior to sale. Questions about gifts of stock? Contact Zach Pretzer at (901) 474-1029 or zpretzer@lausanneschool.com.
Matching Gifts can be tremendously impactful when your company has a matching gift program in place to support qualifying non-profits such as Lausanne. Contact your employer to see if they offer a matching gift program, and double the impact of your gift! Questions about matching donations? Contact Kris Taylor at (901) 591-1170 or ktaylor@lausanneschool.com.
Gifts-in-Kind are generous donations such as computers, software, office furniture, classroom supplies, library books, athletic equipment, artwork and various other items related to the educational programs and needs of Lausanne. Gift and tax credit are provided for in-kind gifts! Questions or need help? Contact Ariel Spencer at (901) 474-1039 or aspencer@lausanneschool.com.
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Giving Strategies Shop Online or In-Person! By shopping in-person at our on-campus Lynx Store or online via the Lynx Store OR Louie Shop online, the net proceeds go directly to the Lausanne Community Fund! Our physical store, located in the Main Gym lobby, is always stocked with the latest trends and seasonal gear. Online, we have options for both in-store pick-up and direct-to-door sales. View Page 17 in this guide to learn more, or visit lausanneschool.com/lynx-store. Questions? Contact Gillian Tinnin at (901) 474-1023 or gtinnin@lausanneschool.com.
Grocery Shopping at Kroger can provide support to Lausanne! It's easy to enroll in Kroger Community Rewards®. To get started, sign up with your Plus Card by visiting kroger.com/account/communityrewards. From there, you can select ‘Enroll” or “Change Organization” and then in the search bar either type “Lausanne” or “QL393.” Click “Enroll” and then a portion of your grocery shopping will support Lausanne. Questions or need help? Contact Ariel Spencer at (901) 474-1039 or aspencer@lausanneschool.com.
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Giving Strategies Planned Giving empowers you to support Lausanne during your lifetime in a way that ties into your financial or estate plans – this benefits your philanthropic goals and helps secure Lausanne’s future. A few examples of common ways to make a planned gift to Lausanne include the following: Bequest Gift: You name a specific amount our percentage of your estate to be left to Lausanne through a will or living trust. We celebrate your commitment to Lausanne during your lifetime, and your support later benefits generations of Lausanne students and educators! Retirement Plan Assets: You designate Lausanne as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other retirement account. Additionally, when Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are required from a traditional IRA at age 73, donating these RMDs to Lausanne is a tremendous philanthropic and tax strategy! Life Insurance: You can name Lausanne the beneficiary of your life insurance policy, transfer ownership of your life insurance policy or create a new policy that names Lausanne the owner and beneficiary.
Contact Zach Pretzer, Chief Development Officer, at (901) 474-1029 or zpretzer@lausanneschool.com.
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Endowment Support Gifts to Lausanne’s endowed funds have helped grow our overall endowment and will continue to sustain Lausanne into our next 100 years! All gifts – including bequests and planned gifts – can be designated to help build our endowment.
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Giving Societies The Lausanne Way Leadership Society This society recognizes donors who contribute $1,200 or more to the Lausanne Community Fund during a given fiscal year. Recognition includes an invitation to our annual Leadership Soirée and other benefits!
The Walter Coppedge Heritage Society Named for the former Headmaster who helped transform Lausanne into the distinguished college preparatory school that it is today, this society honors those who have generously provided for Lausanne in their estate plans.
The Lausanne Loyalty Society This society recognizes donors who have contributed to Lausanne for 5+ consecutive school years, with additional recognition for those who have contributed for 10+ and 20+ consecutive years! Questions? Contact Kris Taylor at (901) 591-1170 or ktaylor@lausanneschool.com.
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Lausanne Parent Connections Every Lausanne parent or guardian is automatically a member of Lausanne Parent Connections (LPC)! Building upon our joyful sense of family and community, LPC provides meaningful, rewarding, and inclusive opportunities which celebrate and enrich the Lausanne experience for all. LPC meetings generally take place on the first Thursday of each month (September – May) from 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. in the Alumni Dining Room. A recording is made available after each meeting for those who cannot attend. Meetings are an opportunity enjoy school updates, sneak peeks into upcoming events, presentations from special guest speakers, and more! LPC offers many opportunities for involvement! The success of these initiatives relies heavily on our volunteers, so we encourage all parents to get involved in an area that suits both their schedule and talents.
2026-2027 Meetings September 3 October 1 November 5 December 3 January 7 February 4 March 1 April 1 May 6
Connect with LPC Email: parentconnections@lausanneschool.com Instagram: @lausanneparents LPC on Facebook: facebook.com/LausanneParentConnections
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LPC Leadership 2026-2027 Lausanne Parent Connections Board Keara Nevels, Executive Director Rebecca Lee, EC Co-Coordinator Kimberly Pappas, EC Co-Coordinator Melissa Purcell, LS Co-Coordinator Wendy Rylee, LS Co-Coordinator LaShawn Hampton, MS Co-Coordinator Briselda Van Lieshout, MS Co-Coordinator Tan Henry, US Coordinator Asima Farooq, Alumni/Community-at-Large Chair Shannon Arthur, ArtsLynx Chair Viktoria Jansson, Co-SportsLynx Chair Lars Pasedag, Co-SportsLynx Chair Nicole Henning, New Families Chair Chuck Frith, Social Co-Chair Nga Huynh, Social Co-Chair Michelle Cross, Campus Co-Chair Erin Watson, Campus Co-Chair Questions? Contact Amber Colvin at acolvin@lausanneschool.com or 901-474-1033.
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The Lausanne Alumni Association Your connection to Lausanne doesn’t end at graduation! There are a myriad of ways to stay involved – and stay connected – after graduating from Lausanne. Once a Lynx, Always a Lynx! Ways to get involved as an alum at Lausanne include being a guest speaker at campus events and participating in alumni panels and school education, volunteering your time to Lausanne through service and expertise, attending Alumni Weekend & Homecoming Weekend and Reunions, contributing updates to our Alumni Magazine, mentoring Lausanne students for internships and donating to the Lausanne Community Fund and special campaign initiatives, such as the Alumni Agora!
2026-2027 Alumni Events
Connect with Lausanne Alumni
Centennial & Alumni Weekend: October 2-3, 2026
Instagram: instagram.com/lausanne.alumni
Young Alumni Week & Panel: January 11-15, 2027
Facebook: facebook.com/lausanne.alumni
Chair of Ideas: March 1, 2027
Lausanne Alumni LinkedIn Group: linkedin.com/groups/1864260
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Alumni Leadership 2026-2027 Lausanne Alumni Board Jarred Reed ’09, President Alex Scarbrough Fisher ’05, Vice President Sharwil Bell ’08 Mackenzie Brown ’18 Dee Dixon Buhr ’74 Emma Whitehorn Fleming ’17 Jessica Green ’09 Christine Odom Kreilick ’15 Suvi Murti Lodhia ’03 Jessica Reed ’14 Hillary Weiss Samuels ’10 Maya Todd ’14 Sally DePriest Whitehorn ’82
Have questions or want to get involved? Contact Ariel Spencer at (901) 474-1039 or aspencer@lausanneschool.com.
2026-2027 Lausanne Advisory Council Alex Scarbrough Fisher ’05, Chair Evan Bailey ’09 Linda Carter Barnhardt ’58 Alex Carpenter ’07 Jim Clark ’85 Asena May-Gauchet ’05 Kathryn Chapman Morelli ’77 Ruhi Natarajan ’19 Courtney Robison Semisch ’87 Christina Sigler ’20 Ryan Thornton ’08 Ambria Williams ’20
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Lynx Store Our Lynx Store offers the latest Lausanne gear and swag while supporting our school in the process! All proceeds from our Lynx Store benefit the Lausanne Community Fund. We now have three convenient ways to shop:
In-Person at our Lynx Store Hours: Wednesdays from 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. & 3 - 5 p.m. and during select campus events
The Lynx Store Online (In-Store Pick-Up) Shop online anytime for the same great items you’ll find in-store! Place your order online and pick up during the next in-store operating hours. The online store is always up to date. If it’s out of stock in person, it’ll show online too. Visit lausannelynxstore.square.site to shop.
The Louie Store Online (Shipped To Your Home) Looking for something fun or limited edition? The Louie Store features one-off items like athletics gear, Middle School House gear, themed shirts and other special releases. These will be shipped directly to your door! Visit louies.lausanneschool.com to shop. Questions? Contact Gillian Tinnin at (901) 474-1023 or gtinnin@lausanneschool.com.
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Fundraising Events Exciting events are held throughout the school year to bring both the fun and the fundraising to Lausanne! Two of our biggest fundraising events include Fall Carnival in late October and the Lausanne Auction in the spring. Additionally, we’ll be celebrating our Centennial on Saturday, October 3, 2026! Other Lausanne community events include Alumni Weekend, Spaghetti Dinner & Night of Broadway, Kite Fest, Grandparents Day with Family & Friends and many other fun events that occur throughout the year with the goal of – most importantly – bringing our Lausanne Community together while supporting a cause and mission we believe in deeply! Questions? Contact Amber Colvin at (901) 474-1033 or acolvin@lausanneschool.com.
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Frequently Asked Questions I’m already paying tuition. Why should I give to the Lausanne Community Fund? Your gifts support everything that sets Lausanne apart – talented and dedicated teachers, a diverse community of students, small class sizes, as well as exceptional offerings in academics, the arts and athletics. Like every other independent school, Lausanne relies on this fundraising to make these enhancements possible. The money we raise for the Lausanne Community Fund this year will enable us to plan for next year. What if I can’t make a large gift? All gifts, no matter the size, are critical to Lausanne’s mission. Consistent, smaller gifts have a huge impact on Lausanne’s ability to educate our student body, hire standout faculty, and employ the most innovative teaching and learning technologies. We encourage all donors to give at whichever level they find most meaningful! Why should I give to Lausanne when there are other organizations that need support? There are many worthy organizations in which members of the Lausanne community are personally involved. In accordance with The Lausanne Way, we build character in our students through their service to others, thus we offer a wide variety of service-learning opportunities for students. A gift to LynxServe supports such initiatives and serves as an investment in our students, which will help them to become leaders and innovators in a global environment. What is giving participation? Why is it so important? Participation is the percentage of our Lausanne Community (parents, alumni, faculty etc.) who make a gift of any size in a given year. This percentage is a key indicator of the strength of the school community and can also have an impact on giving from outside sources; many foundations consider participation rates before agreeing to make a charitable gift to a school. We aim for 100% participation each year from our entire community. 21
Frequently Asked Questions Does it matter what time of year I make a gift to Lausanne? While any time is a great time to support Lausanne, yes! A gift made early in the school year is a great advantage, as it allows us to plan for the following year. We encourage donors to make their gift or pledge by December 31, with pledge payments due by May 31, which serves as the end of our fiscal year. Once you have made a gift or pledge, you will not receive another Lausanne Community Fund solicitation until the following school year. I want to support both the Lausanne Community Fund and the Lausanne Auction? Am I able to do that? Absolutely! The Lausanne Auction is our largest annual fundraiser, and there are several ways to get involved – sponsoring the event, volunteering on the planning committee, donating auction items, attending and/or mobile bidding and more! I have supported The Campaign for Best. If I support the Lausanne Community Fund as well, what is the difference? Our Lausanne Community Fund is the annual fund which supports Lausanne’s efforts each and every year. When Lausanne is in a capital campaign such as The Campaign for Best, this support is focused around very specific and transformational changes and growth on campus, including new buildings, fields and school facilities. These efforts work together in harmony as we hope our supporters give to Lausanne annually and also consider making an lasting impact with our capital campaigns. They serve different purposes and both exist to make Lausanne the best possible school, with the best possible facilities - for our students, educators and community.
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Frequently Asked Questions Is my gift to Lausanne tax-deductible? Yes! All gifts to Lausanne are 100% tax-deductible. Lausanne’s tax identification number is 62-0517292. How are donations and pledges recognized? We thank and recognize Lausanne’s donors in a number of ways, including our Annual Report, on our Community Engagement and Development website and in person at stewardship events such as our annual Leadership Soirée or other giving society events. As a donor, you always have the option to give anonymously if you wish! When will I be asked to make a gift to Lausanne? Our fiscal year begins on June 1 and ends on May 31 at the conclusion of each school year. You can give to Lausanne at any time! However, Lausanne Community Fund solicitations begin in the early fall, typically in September, each school year. Asks for support to our campaigns such as The Campaign for Best are always separate from Lausanne Community Fund appeals, and we are very mindful of timing, privacy and efficiency of materials. I’m a former parent (or grandparent), and my child graduated from Lausanne. How do I stay involved? Just as is the case with our alumni, every single member of our Lausanne community is a member for life. Please stay involved by attending our fundraising and social events, athletics events and arts productions. Please support our efforts, mission and cause at Lausanne by donating your time, talents or treasure. Attend our monthly LPC meetings, or visit campus and say hello! You are truly always a part of our community family, and the strength of Lausanne will always lie within our community.
Additional Questions? Contact Zach Pretzer at (901) 474-1029 or zpretzer@lausanneschool.com.
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Gratitude to our Lausanne Community Our Development & Community Engagement team is extremely grateful to all who make our work to uplift, support and sustain Lausanne into our next 100 years possible. We thank our parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, friends and community partners for everything you do to make the Lausanne experience so special for our 900+ students, from 2 years old through 12th grade.
2026-2027 Lausanne Board of Trustees – Development Committee Rebecca Schulter (Committee Chair) Mike Derrick (Chair, Board of Trustees) Ambika Ahuja (Trustee)
As we celebrate The Lausanne Centennial during the 2026-2027 school year, we continue to be grateful for each and every one of our supporters, volunteers, and community members. We’re also deeply appreciative of our 175 faculty and staff members who work so incredibly hard to educate, nurture and mentor our students and future alumni. Our faculty and staff – and our Board of Trustees – lead by example in supporting Lausanne in all ways, and this helps to make the wonderful culture of philanthropy and volunteerism we have at Lausanne possible.
Brian Barbeito (Trustee) Jonathan Campbell ’99 (Trustee) Saurin Chokshi (Trustee) Erin Everitt (Trustee) Himani Gupta (Trustee) Keara Nevels (LPC Executive Director) Larry Magdovitz (Trustee) Nathan Pappas (Trustee)
We extend additional thanks to the Lausanne Development Committee for its support and advocacy for Lausanne!
DeRonda Terry (Trustee) Stuart McCathie (Headmaster) Zach Pretzer (Chief Development Officer)
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