Inspire Campaign for Maranatha

Maranatha Christian Academy Mission Statement

We are an influential school of collaborators, innovators, and explorers grounded in Christian faith, empowering co-creators of tomorrow.

Inspire

Vision Statement

Our vision is for every Maranatha student to be highly educated, Christcentered, and a biblically anchored world-changer.

Established in 1978, Maranatha Christian Academy is a Prekindergarten through Grade 12 private Christian school. But it is not your average, ordinary private school. It’s a community that challenges and inspires its students. A place where a generation of change agents learn how to design and build a better world, prioritizing compassion and integrity while acting in concert with God’s purpose for their lives.

Over the last four decades, Maranatha has produced thousands of students and alumni bold enough to make a difference in their school, community, and world. We have positively impacted our neighborhoods and workplaces, started families, founded businesses, and even returned to teach the next generation. The Inspire Campaign for Maranatha will build on this legacy through an ambitious $20 million fundraising campaign that will update facilities and create new spaces that optimize learning, wellness, and fellowship. Good thing we do ambitious well!

Inspire

Dear Friends of Maranatha,

The cornerstones of Maranatha Christian Academy are a love of God, the desire to design and build a better tomorrow, and a commitment to helping young people reach their spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical potential. We can point to a long history of achievements, thought leadership, and innovation, but it is not our mindset to rest on our past accomplishments. Rather, we will focus on preparing students for a future full of promise.

Maranatha’s goal is to give our students an exceptional education, developing their spirit, soul, and body. Thus, creating faith-filled, compassionate critical thinkers who will make a difference in this ever-changing world. As a community, it is vital that we come together to Inspire one another and ensure that Maranatha’s mission remains undeterred.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul praised the Macedonians’ selfsacrificing giving, attributing it to the grace of God. He reminds us that giving should be motivated by gratitude and that generosity shown to others is evidence of our sincere love for the Lord. Said most simply, when we give something away, we do not lose. We gain. We gain the joy of knowing that others benefit from our gifts.

As we approach our fifth decade of service, aging buildings, evolving student interests, and an ever-changing educational landscape dictate the need for updated facilities, improved technology, and spaces where young people can grow and thrive, whether their passion lies in the chemistry lab, playing in the Chapel Band, or behind home plate. The Inspire capital campaign aims to enhance the physical space, support innovation initiatives, and expand the school’s endowment fund.

Let’s give today’s children – and tomorrow’s – every opportunity to learn, grow, and follow God’s path. Please continue reading to learn more, then prayerfully consider joining us as we strive to Inspire the next generation to change the world one Maranatha graduate at a time.

Serving Him together,

Ms. Deb Larson Head of School

Maranatha Christian Academy

Inspire Campaign for Maranatha will ensure that the Academy will continue to:

• Inspire a love of learning.

• Inspire creativity.

• Inspire compassion.

• Inspire the development of the whole person.

• Inspire a strong and foundational Christian faith.

INSPIRED COMPASSION

45+ Years

875

8

33% Students Athletic teams Faculty Years average tenure

30

75

Service hours per student on average (toal of 5600 hours per graduating class on average)

75

25+

Extracurricular Activities Churches Advanced degrees.

126

INSPIRED BY OUR LOVE OF LEARNING

Our Challenge

A strong biblical foundation is a constant of the Maranatha curriculum, but we never stop looking for ways to improve teaching and learning. As the world changes, so must we; periodic examinations of our offerings and viewing all we do through the eyes of Jesus are critical to keeping the Maranatha comprehensive program relevant. In recent months, the Executive Team, staff, consultants, parents, alumni, and friends met, collaborated, prayed, and emerged with an Inspired five-year plan, ensuring Maranatha’s future as a leader in Christian education.

Enhancing the Student Experience

Employing the latest technology and providing an aesthetically pleasing environment is important. But what really matters at Maranatha are student-centric educational programs and experiences designed to shape spirit-driven leaders of tomorrow, ensuring they respect, value, and serve others as Christ would do. We teach our students to be:

Impactful innovators. Every student is inspired to become a keen observer of today’s needs in a complex, rapidly changing world. By incorporating designthinking concepts into classes and conversations, students think outside the box, ask challenging questions, collaborate, and design innovative solutions. Genesis 1:1-31 (emphasizing 1:27)

Critical thinkers. Students are challenged to ask why and how, fostering intellectual curiosity that leads to a sense of wonder and sparks great ideas, preparing them to achieve significant impact and influence with discerning wisdom, understanding, and resilient Christian faith. Proverbs 4:5,7

Kingdom community builders. Students are inspired to know Jesus personally and love others based on biblical truth and mutual respect, cultivating a community that reflects the Kingdom of God. It is this Christ-centered culture that sets Maranatha apart. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Courageous change agents. Students are challenged to be strong and courageous change agents by standing on God’s word, speaking the truth in love, and being bold enough to make a difference in their school, community, and world. Deuteronomy 31:6

Compassionate problem solvers. Focusing on others and finding solutions that create win/wins are the kind of problem solvers we launch at Maranatha. Empathy challenges students to see others through the eyes of Christ, bringing more kindness, compassion, and Biblical truth to the world. 1 Peter 3:8

For me, coming to Maranatha was a miracle from day one. Year after year, the Lord continues to provide. It’s through your kindness and generosity that my Maranatha story continues. Whether you realize it or not, your gifts are making a difference in my life and are the driving force the Lord uses to map out my future.

AN INSPIRED PLAN

Maranatha Christian Academy Campus Facilities

The Inspire Campaign’s vision for Maranatha Christian Academy will be realized in a carefully thought-out plan that will enhance our facilities to better serve students in academics, arts, athletics, and outdoor learning spaces.

Maranatha nurtures and challenges the whole student while providing spaces conducive to learning and collaborate. Sports, clubs, and extracurricular options for all ages are essential to student life at Maranatha Christian Academy as we strive to unleash creativity, discover and develop gifts, and uncover passions.

The $20 Million Inspire Campaign will support the construction of stateof-the-art classrooms and vital spaces like a gymnasium and sports playing fields by investing $18 million

Maranatha Christian Academy Endowment

A robust endowment is essential for Maranatha to be consistently strong and remain viable through the years. Like

many private schools and colleges, Maranatha Christian Academy relies on the steady income from its endowment funds to provide longterm secure funding for its most important needs: competitive salaries for faculty, need-based tuition assistance, and investment in new programs.

We are currently underfunded relative to our peer and competitor schools. An endowment will allow us to remain competitive in the independent school market. The future is full of challenges and opportunities for Maranatha Christian Academy, and a stronger endowment will ensure we have the security to meet them head-on!

The $20 Million Inspire Campaign will contribute an initial $3 million to The Maranatha Christian Academy Endowment. The objective is to grow the pool of funds organically, thus providing a permanent monetary foundation, safeguarding its strength and stability, and ensuring it continues to grow and flourish.

I lead in faith by serving others. My faith is a huge part of my life, so being around people who support me in that makes the school what it is. All of the teachers and students are supportive. It’s just a great place to be.

- MCA Student

Maranatha’s learning environment is a source of inspiration that enhances the spiritual, intellectual, and social development of our community.

As our institution grows and scope, we also strive for innovative, high-quality academic programs that are relevant to our students.

COLLABORATIVE/FINE ARTS STUDIO

Campaign Priorities

Our beautiful campus serves as a catalyst for our students to reach their full potential and become future changemakers. We have identified eight key campaign priorities:

This 28,300-square-foot addition will connect seamlessly to the current building. It will feature the innovation hub and include ten new classrooms. The new building will have a two-station gym, physical education/athletics locker rooms, a fitness center, restrooms, an elevator, and a state-of-the-art entrance with advanced safety/ security measures.

Maranatha’s Collaborative/Fine Arts Studio will be a central hub to encourage artistic creativity, collaboration, and education across various fine arts fields. Its primary purpose is to provide a dedicated space that brings artists, performers, and creative students together. This space will foster exploration, nurturing, and showcasing of talents. The studio will encompass a variety of creative disciplines, such as visual arts, music, theater, dance, film, and multimedia arts. Moreover, the center is intentionally designed as a multipurpose space to maximize its utilization for other purposes.

FPO FPO FPO FPO

COMPETITTION GYM

The outdoor spaces and new playing fields cover approximately five acres and allow the establishment of a new artificial turf field. This field will accommodate baseball, softball, soccer, and football. The improvements will entail earthwork, sub-base and base materials, perimeter drainage systems, storm sewer connections, fencing, posts/ goals, field lighting, scoreboard/ sound system, and utilities. It will feature fencing, netting, backstop, bleachers, batting cage, and mound/bases/plates for baseball. Furthermore, the project encompasses the building of two dugouts.

A new exterior pickup/drop-off area will conveniently be near the main entrance. Adding a new secure entrance and outdoor plaza will enhance safety and security for students and staff. This new entrance will feature a temperaturecontrolled vestibule with safety check-in features, connecting students and visitors to a new concession area, a new welcome center, and a secure reception desk.

The Innovation Hub is designed to surpass the limits of the curriculum. It serves as an enterprise that aims to promote an entrepreneurial spirit, foster creative thinking, and generate practical solutions to relevant problems. Additionally, the Innovation Hub has the potential to include STEAM, Robotics, and Drones, thereby expanding its scope. We plan to incorporate up to ten new learning spaces designed to maximize natural light, creating an environment conducive to learning. All the learning spaces will have convenient access to a central flexible area where students can actively engage in collaborative activities and pursue independent learning. These classrooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, such as smart TVs and markerboards, catering to small and large group settings, accommodating team projects and individual study.

A wellness studio will be available for physical education classes and extra-curricular activities like dance and cheerleading. It will have various fitness equipment and flex spaces to meet the needs of all students.

We are constructing an 11,000-square-foot gymnasium at MCA to significantly improve the physical education program and sports teams. This multipurpose facility will have a divider for two separate stations, designated floor markings for basketball and volleyball courts, and motorized basketball hoops. In addition to that, retractable bleachers will be installed to accommodate about 1,100 spectators, including ADA-accessible seating. The gymnasium will also have dedicated space for special education learning programs for PreK-12 students.

The new gym allows us to strengthen our physical education curriculum. Additionally, by adding student locker rooms, a training/first-aid room, and a concessions space adjacent to the lobby. The new indoor walking track will accommodate the needs of students and families during the school day and various activities before and after school hours. The existing gym will be updated, providing much-needed flex spaces for programs and gatherings.

OUTDOOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION

WELCOME PLAZA AND SECURE ENTRY

MARANATHA INNOVATION HUB

WELLNESS STUDIO

INSPIRED BY OUR LEGACY

Endowment

Endowments are charitable funds that offer a source of stability for institutions. They are critical to the financial health of schools and are essential to support institutions as they work to offer high-quality, affordable, accessible education.

Donors to the endowment portion of the campaign can give directly with cashor-securities or through a variety of planned giving vehicles. Contributions, which can be unrestricted or designated for specific purposes, are invested with earnings supplying resources for school priorities, including faculty salaries and professional development, student financial aid, and the extraordinary academic, athletic, and arts programs that set Maranatha apart.

Maranatha Christian Academy Scholarship Fund

Christ’s love and selfless example compel our culture of service and compassion. Maranatha’s mission to “be an influential school of collaborators, innovators, and explorers grounded in the Christian faith, empowering co-creators of tomorrow” depends on making the Maranatha Christian Academy experience available to all students, regardless of their financial resources. Generous scholarships enable us to open our doors to student leaders whose talents and achievements will have a wide influence.

Inspire Campaign will invest $1,500,000 in an Endowment Scholarship Fund.

Christian Academy Innovation Fund

The Maranatha Christian Academy Curricular Innovation Fund will support, accelerate, and motivate our programs and culture around innovation, creativity, and fresh perspectives.

Focusing on curricular innovation and excellence, we continue to align professional review and professional growth to support our teachers. New and upgraded facilities will allow for cutting-edge teaching methods, foster project-based, experiential collaboration, and currently provide much-needed and space for experiential learning and collaboration.

Inspire Campaign will invest $1,500,000 in a Maranatha Christian Academy Curriculum Innovation Fund.

We recognize that every student doesn’t learn the same, so we have an innovative approach to all of our subjects so that students get what they need for their learning.”

- MCA Teacher

Maranatha

SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN NEEDS

The Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy

Capital Investment

• New Academic Wing

• New Athletic Complex/ Competitive Gym

• Athletic Fields

• Outdoor Physical Education Space

Endowment

• Scholarship Fund

• Innovation Fund

Inspire Campaign Goal

$18,000,000

Inspiring the next generation of world changers

The Maranatha experience is about more than just preparing students to perform at the highest level after graduation. MCA’s mission is to empower our students to engage with the world as they are today. Their passion comes from who they are as unique creations, and our deepest desire is to ensure that everyone has every advantage while they become their best self - the next generation of world-changers.

$2,000,000

$20,000,000

AN INSPIRED CASE FOR CHANGE

We feel deeply honored to lead the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha, which carries a $20 million fundraising goal that will deeply influence the future of our school.

As Maranatha Christian Academy (MCA) parents, we have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the unwavering dedication to the vision that each student should become highly educated, Christ-centered, and firmly anchored as world-changers, with all their heart and soul.

With our years of volunteering and engaging with MCA, we have had the experience of seeing how Maranatha has adapted and evolved to provide an extraordinary learning experience for the future leaders that are now MCA students. We believe that this is achieved through an innovative approach to education, always grounded in the bedrock of our Christian faith.

From our parental viewpoint, MCA consistently delivers a demanding college-preparatory curriculum within a nurturing Christian environment. The strong emphasis on instilling biblical values, fostering character development, and cultivating a rich, diverse culture are just a few of the things we love. All of this is underpinned by ideal teacherstudent ratios that nurture academic excellence. Young people at MCA benefit from the wisdom and guidance

of highly qualified faculty, as well as from each other, and they are encouraged to embark on journeys of self-discovery, asking profound questions and seeking answers deeply rooted in the truths of God’s word.

The Inspire Capital Campaign is specifically designed to provide every one of our students with the physical space and programs they need to shine in their unique academic and athletic pursuits.

In essence, this is the moment for a heartfelt and soulful investment in the future of MCA, its students, and its staff. It’s a time for all those who genuinely care about Christian education and Maranatha to unite and create a substantial impact.

We are genuinely enthusiastic about what the future holds for Maranatha Christian Academy. Your prayerful contribution to our $20 million campaign will play an indispensable role in enabling Maranatha to continue its forward journey, ensuring that every student reaches their highest potential in all aspects of life.

Thank you in advance for contemplating an offering of your support to the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy.

Inspire Campaign Chairs Michael and Shawna Matheson

Be Inspired with Us

Your generous support of our $20 million Inspire campaign will help students achieve the next level of success and inspire a new generation of leaders.

At Maranatha Christian Academy, we strive to give students the tools to do school well and, perhaps most importantly, to do life well. The exceptional academic journey we offer equips students with the knowledge and skills to thrive spiritually, academically, and emotionally, positively impacting the community, our region, and the world for Jesus Christ.

As you prayerfully consider supporting the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy, we ask you to reflect on the vital role a Christian College Preparatory school can have in our community. Your pledge or gift will impact the students we serve and attract families who desire a high-quality Christian education for generations to come.

When a donor makes a gift to the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy, the money is invested, temporarily restricted until it is allocated to approved programs.

All gifts are tax-deductible, and Maranatha Christian Academy is recognized as a fully qualified, not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the [a]love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. 8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.

2 Corinthians 8:6-8

When I first learned of the campaign, I was aware that we were embarking on an unprecedented journey that would have a significant impact on student’s education for generations to come. What an exciting three-year journey to be a part of! When I was asked to co-chair the campaign with Shawna, I was humbled and honored to be entrusted with the leadership of a campaign and have another opportunity to collaborate with so many amazing families and inspire the future of Maranatha’s students. The call about the campaign brought me back to the 2016 call inviting me to be on the Parent Council and chair the annual fund. I quickly agreed to invest my time and give back to a school that had given so much to my family! I hope we continue to hear yeses as we progress through the campaign - Michael Mathison, Inspire Campaign Co-Chair

CAMPAIGN GOAL: $20 MILLION

Our goal is $20 million, Inspire Campaign is about much more than new buildings and groundbreaking numbers. It’s about empowering new generations of leaders, designers, and innovators for a world we can’t yet imagine.. It’s about giving more bright students access to an exceptional education. It’s about freedom and flexibility, creativity and opportunity, history and innovation—for our students, teachers, and school.

- Deb Larson, Head of School

PHILANTHROPY

Support the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy to ensure we achieve our goal. There is no greater investment than in children, our future, who are developing a biblical worldview. We cannot do this alone.

Gifts of Cash and Cash Pledges

Gifts of cash may be mutually beneficial, providing funds for the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy and tax savings for you. Pledges covering three to five years are most welcome since the campaign goals and objectives are expressed over this time frame. Some donors may wish to consider longer or shorter arrangements. Flexibility is provided.

Gifts of Stock and Other Securities

Appreciated stocks, bonds, U.S. Treasury notes, and mutual funds make excellent gifts to the Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy while also resulting in additional tax savings for you. Contribute increased value securities and avoid capital gains tax incurred when you sell appreciated assets. You’ll also get a charitable tax deduction for the total market value of the assets, regardless of what you paid for them.

Give from your Retirement IRA

The IRA Charitable Rollover is a popular way for donors to make charitable gifts. It allows individuals aged 70 1⁄2 or older

to transfer up to $100,000 per year directly from their IRA accounts to qualified charities without incurring federal income tax on the withdrawal. The direct transfers to charity also satisfy the person’s required minimum distribution.

Naming Opportunities

Our Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy offers a wide variety of recognition opportunities to encourage the fulfillment of our campaign objectives and to recognize significant commitments.

Commemorative opportunities will include named endowments and program funds, and donor recognition. In addition, you may wish to associate your name permanently with Maranatha Christian Academy or honor a family member or friend. A list of naming opportunities is available, and campaign staff will assist you in determining a suitable form of lasting remembrance.

For more information on Ways to Give, contact:

Chris Barber

Director Development

Inspire Campaign for Maranatha Christian Academy 9201 75th Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 54428

Telephone: 763-488-7900 www.mcamustangs.org/inspire