Wholehearted Support

“LIKE MOST INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, ST. MARTIN'S RELIES ON PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE OUR EXCELLENT PROGRAMS WHILE ADVANCING THE SCHOOL’S MISSION."

by LAUREN SIMS DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

It’s not every day you start a new job during a global pandemic. Officially beginning on April 1, 2020, it wasn’t exactly a quintessential first day. In fact, my welcome note and beautiful flowers were accompanied by a facemask, and you guessed it, hand sanitizer! Despite the armor of supplies, rigorous protocols and masked faces, I witnessed a strong community of committed faculty and staff willing to be vulnerable and nimble for their students. Things were changing daily, and although the days were long and often uneasy, the faculty and staff quickly affirmed I made the right decision to join the St. Martin’s Episcopal School community. Fundraising in the midst of a global pandemic is a somewhat daunting challenge. Yet, I continue to witness commitment on a level I have never experienced before. The SMES case for support unfolds right in front of me every day. It would be so easy for our teachers to become sidetracked. Distraction is inevitable and constant; however, their genuine love for our students shines bright and is unlike anything else. You don’t see that just anywhere. And that is the reason I have faith in what we are doing and believe in our community’s willingness to make charitable giving to St. Martin’s Episcopal School a top priority.

OUR MISSION IS THE SECRET SAUCE

So what is advancement? And why does The St. Martin’s Fund matter? Why don’t we increase tuition? And more importantly, why do we expect families to contribute above and beyond the cost of tuition? Like most independent schools, St. Martin's relies on philanthropic support from our community to sustain and enhance our excellent programs while advancing the school’s mission. The Advancement Department exists to develop relationships between the school and our families to create a philanthropy culture. Philanthropy plays an essential role in the vitality of SMES and is also part of our Episcopal identity.

Without a doubt, The St. Martin's Fund is our greatest giving priority, and the most significant way the school covers costs that tuition cannot. Accounting for five percent of the operating budget every year, the school depends on these unrestricted funds to support the school’s daily operations during each academic year. The funds help ensure our teachers have what they need to teach in class or remotely, enable the school to remain agile in the face of unforeseen needs and strengthen our tuition assistance for families with unexpected financial challenges. So why not include philanthropic giving when considering tuition rates? At St. Martin’s, we strive to keep tuition manageable to make an exceptional education accessible to more families. Raising tuition would make it unobtainable for many, which is contrary to our mission and values. The St. Martin’s Fund fills the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a St. Martin’s education in a tax-deductible way. Tuition, while expensive, never covers the full cost of educating a child at an independent school. As a result, all schools such as ours raise philanthropic dollars to help cover the remaining costs. A strong annual fund is vital to provide the excellent education our families expect and receive. Annual fund dollars help support every aspect of the school, including academics, performing and visual arts, athletics,

Employer Matching Gifts

Did you know? Employer matching gifts are counted toward your giving level. For example, if your employer matches your $1,000 gift one to one, your contribution would be considered a Leadership Circle gift of $2,000. Check with your employer today to see if it offers matching gifts or go online to the St. Martin’s website to see a list of matching gift companies. community service, the library, technology and professional growth. Support of The St. Martin’s Fund plays a critical role in providing the margin of excellence in facilities and programs that help prepare our graduates to be successful in life well beyond SMES. As a practice, parent participation is tracked and helps provide a barometer of community support to external funding sources. So the higher our parents’ participation, the more likely SMES will receive critical funding from foundations. That is why we ask every family to support the St. Martin’s Fund at a comfortable level. Participation really does make a difference! Ultimately, The St. Martin’s Fund is much greater than an essential operating budget revenue stream, and it allows us to make choices rather than compromises. Support of The St. Martin’s Fund is essential to being the school we want to be! On a personal level, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to experience this for myself as our family (Jack, Beginners with Mrs. McCormick and Alice, Owls with Ms. Morales) has been so warmly embraced by the SMES community. I hear so often about all the incredible amenities offered in the Beginners program through the eyes of my three-and-a-half-year-old. Who knew caring for a hamster (Hamilton) or learning the colors of a rainbow during art class could encourage a jumpstart to our weekdays. My children are excited to start their day because they have grown fond of the faculty and staff that pour love and knowledge into them each day. I hope that every SMES family witnesses a measurable level of joy, love and academic excellence here at St. Martin’s. So while almost everything “feels” different these days, take comfort in knowing that the community we all fell in love with is thriving. The warm and nurturing atmosphere provides a sense of normalcy for our children while ensuring they receive an unsurpassed education. Fortunately, St. Martin’s will always be that special place.

“THE ST. MARTIN'S FUND FILLS THE GAP BETWEEN TUITION AND THE ACTUAL COST OF A ST. MARTIN'S EDUCATION IN A TAXDEDUCTIBLE WAY."