G uide t o G iving
THE ST. JOHN’S MISSION A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear St. John’s Community,
At St. John’s, we are fortunate to partner with wonderfully supportive families. None of the tremendous success the school enjoys could be achieved without the active participation of all those who love St. John’s. We are deeply grateful to those who bless us with a gift of their financial support, time, or talent each year. Together, we support a thriving learning community where every child can excel. Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to St. John’s. With gratitude,
Hugh Jebson | Head of School
For more than 70 years, St. John’s has prepared each of its students for lifelong learning and spiritual growth by delivering an exceptional education within a nurturing Christian environment.
Renowned for our core belief in the potential of our children and the sanctity of childhood, St. John’s delivers an unparalleled, values-driven preparatory education. Our campuses exude an atmosphere of positive energy, inclusiveness, optimism, respect, and kindness. Hard work, faith, honesty, and a commitment to excellence allow our graduates to thrive in high school, college, and beyond, as students are Empowered to Lead, Inspired to Serve.
THE ST. JOHN’S DIFFERENCE
At St. John’s, our funding model is different. Tuition fully covers the cost of educating each child, eliminating the need to ask parents and others to fund ‘the gap’ - the term used to describe the practice of deficit spending. At St. John’s, every gift directly supports our faculty and staff and enhances the children’s experience in and out of the classroom.
A CULTURE OF GIVING
Each St. John’s student enjoys the benefit of an exceptional education thanks in no small part to the support of families who came before them. It is within this spirit of paying it forward that we call upon our school community to support St. John’s continued success and sustainability for the benefit of all.
There are three primary ways to support St. John’s mission: financial support, a gift of time, or serving as a volunteer. Your generosity helps deepen the culture of giving at St. John’s and creates endless opportunities for generations of students.
ST. JOHN’S MISSION GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
How can I support the students and faculty of St. John’s?
At St. John’s, there are many ways to support our students and faculty such as the Eagles Fund, the Capital Campaign, special events, and planned gifts. Every gift, regardless of how you choose to contribute, helps us maintain excellence in education by offering students and faculty the best possible environment to thrive.
What is the Eagles Fund?
The Eagles Fund is our annual giving program that supports initiatives such as the professional development of our faculty, innovative programs, and leading-edge technologies that directly impact the classroom. These gifts are made annually and can be increased over time. Eagles Fund priorities are determined by school leadership at the beginning of each school year.
What is St. John’s Capital Campaign: A Place To Grow?
St. John’s Capital Campaign: A Place To Grow is the name of the largest and most ambitious project in our school’s history. As guided by our Strategic Plan, St. John’s is building for the future. The school will transform the S Plant Ave Campus into state-of-the-art facilities that maximize our thriving urban setting. We envision a campus that supports unprecedented opportunities to transform the lives of generations of children.
Should I support both the Eagles Fund and the Capital Campaign?
Yes, it is important to give to both. Contributing to both funds is vital to address the immediate and long-term needs of St. John’s. The Eagles Fund is the foundation of giving at our school. Participation from parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff, administration, partners, and friends demonstrates a personal and collective commitment to the experience and needs of each child and every teacher.
The Capital Campaign supports the school’s facilities master plan and construction of the new campus on S Plant Ave. Gifts to the Capital Campaign are made in addition to your Eagles Fund commitment and may be fulfilled over multiple years.
PROGRAM WHAT DOES IT IMPACT?
EAGLES FUND Provides essential resources for the school as determined by school leadership
Annually
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Supports the school’s facilities master plan and construction of the new campus on S Plant Ave Periodically
SPECIAL EVENTS Supports initiatives such as classroom enhancements and financial aid Annually
PLANNED GIFTS
Legacy gifts that help ensure the sustainability of the school
ST. JOHN’S MISSION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: A PLACE TO GROW
St. John’s has embarked on a facilities master plan that will support current and future generations of St. John’s students. From this master plan has come the need for a capital campaign to support the completion of this vision.
Modern facilities are crucial to support the programmatic growth and space our faculty and students desperately need and deserve. St. John’s envisions a campus that supports unprecedented opportunities to transform the lives of generations of children.
Gifts to St. John’s Capital Campaign: A Place To Grow are used solely to support the school’s facilities master plan and construction of a new Grades 1-8 Campus. Capital Campaign gifts are a tax-deductible, long-term investment in the future of St. John’s. Capital Campaign gifts may be made over an extended period of time up to five years.
ST. JOHN’S MISSION EAGLES FUND: STUDENT SUCCESS
The Eagles Fund helps fulfill the greatest needs and dreams of our school. Your support for the Eagles Fund inspires the people, sustains the place, and enhances the program integral to a superior educational experience for every student.
The Eagles Fund is crucial for attracting and retaining exceptional faculty, offering financial assistance, enhancing school security, supporting new and innovative curricula and programs, implementing leading-edge technology, and more!
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EAGLES FUND LEVELS
Platinum Eagle
Golden Eagle
Head of School Circle
$25,000 & Above
$10,000 - $24,999
$5,000 - $9,999
Crimson Eagle $2,500 - $4,999
Patron $1,000 - $2,499
Benefactor $500 - $999
Supporter < $500
• Platinum Eagles donors are invited to a private dinner with our Head of School at your convenience.
• Donors giving $2,500 or more are recognized during an exclusive cocktail party hosted in the spring.
• All gifts are listed in the school’s annual Impact Report.
ST. JOHN’S MISSION CELEBRATIO PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
A popular way to support the school comes through volunteering with the Parents’ Association. St. John’s is blessed with an incredibly supportive parent community.
Each year, the Parents’ Association Board helps to connect our school community by planning and organizing student parties, enrichment activities, faculty and staff appreciation gifts, and social gatherings for our families.
Celebratio is a celebration of our school community and annual fundraiser dedicated to supporting the needs of St. John’s. In partnership with the school, Celebratio is a parent-led, volunteer-driven event and we are immensely grateful for those who create this fun and welcoming experience for all our families.
There are many opportunities for families to support Celebratio, including:
• Securing silent or live auction items
• Sponsoring the event
• Underwriting event expenses
• Serving on the Planning Committee
• Volunteering at the event
ST. JOHN’S OPEN DADS’ CLUB
The Dads’ Club provides father and father-figures an opportunity to connect with one another while participating in their child’s school experience.
Members take an active role in volunteering and supporting activities on each campus and beyond such as:
• Community service projects
• Pancake breakfasts
• Cookouts
• Dads’ Club annual fundraiser, St. John’s Open
The St. John’s Open is the Dads’ Club annual fundraiser to support our school while bolstering camaraderie among parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends.
There are many opportunities to support the St. John’s Open, including:
• Sponsoring a hole
• Registering to play in the tournament
• Serving on the St. John’s Open Planning Committee
• Volunteering at the event
ST. JOHN’S MISSION
GIFTS ALUMNI
For more than 70 years, St. John’s has prepared children for success in high school, college, and beyond, while cultivating a diverse and accomplished alumni community. Alumni giving plays a key role in sustaining the vibrancy and growth of St. John’s. Your generosity fosters a sense of community and continuity, nurturing a legacy of support that strengthens the foundation of St. John’s for years to come. Alumni giving not only fuels tangible improvements to the school we all know and love but also deepens a culture of giving back and investing in the future of all St. John’s students.
St. John’s hosts an annual alumni reception where we welcome back graduated families to hear about the development of the school, mix-and-mingle with longtime friends, and reminisce about the good old days at St. John’s!
Planned gifts provide a lasting impact that transcend generations. Planned gifts include life insurance, bequests, and life income gifts. By including St. John’s in a planned gift, you help secure our sustainability, ensuring that students benefit from the same superior experience enjoyed by those before them. These thoughtful gifts lay the groundwork for continued innovation and foster a legacy of educational excellence at St. John’s.
For more information, contact Sara Miller, smiller@stjohnseagles.org or 813.736.3275.
WAYS OF GIVING
St. John’s offers several ways for interested parties to make a gift. While cash gifts provide the most direct and immediate support to the school, there are other creative strategies that can address your desire to support St. John’s and provide increased income and tax benefits.
OUTRIGHT GIFTS
CASH AND PLEDGES
You may pay by cash, check, or credit card. You may also pay a pledge payment monthly, quarterly, or annually. St. John’s allows campaign pledges to be paid over the course of a maximum five year period to enable donors to make significant gifts that might not be possible with a one-time contribution.
MATCHING GIFTS
Many employers have established matching gift plans that allow an employee’s charitable gift to be matched by the company. This could double or triple your investment. Check with your personnel office or human resources department to see if your employer has a matching gift program. They will provide the form to complete your matching gift. If you need assistance completing the form, please contact the Advancement Office at advancement@stjohnseagles.org.
REAL ESTATE
Real estate that may have appreciated over the years and is readily marketable may offer the donor a way to make a gift of greater value than is possible in cash or securities. Gifts of real estate or a bargain sale transaction may be desirable, subject to review and approval of St. John’s Board of Trustees.
APPRECIATED SECURITIES
If securities you hold have appreciated significantly and would create unwelcome tax consequences if sold (ex: capital gains taxes), they represent a wonderful gift opportunity..
STOCK
In addition to cash, St. John’s encourages donors to consider giving gifts of stock that may afford significant tax benefits. Stock certificates can be assigned directly to the organization or they may be transferred electronically through your broker. The amount of your contribution is the fair market value on the day of transfer.
QUALIFIED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
If you’re age 70½ or older, one way to make charitable contributions to St. John’s is through qualified charitable distributions from a traditional IRA. A qualified charitable contribution can satisfy your required minimum distribution for the year and reduce your income taxes.
PLANNED GIFTS
LIFE INSURANCE
There are two ways to use life insurance to benefit St. John’s. You could purchase a policy and make St. John’s the beneficiary, or assign a policy already in effect to St. John’s as both the owner and beneficiary.
BEQUESTS
A bequest is a transfer, by will, of property as cash, securities (stocks), or tangible property to an individual or a charitable organization. We recommend that you check with your tax advisor for details regarding this method of donating to the campaign.
LIFE INCOME GIFTS
Tax laws permit donors to place assets into a variety of trust vehicles that benefit both the donor, the donor’s family or heirs, and St. John’s. The three most popular approaches used at schools and colleges are: Charitable Remainder Trust, Charitable Lead Trust, and Charitable Gift Annuity.
KEY CONTACTS
SARA MILLER Director
CINDY FENLON Director
cfenlon@stjohnseagles.org
ccox@stjohnseagles.org
St. John’s prepares each of its students for lifelong intellectual and spiritual growth by providing a superior educational experience within a nurturing Christian environment. Situated in Hyde Park and near Downtown Tampa, St. John’s is a co-ed, Episcopal K(4)-8 independent school with a rich tradition of exceptional academic achievement. Founded in 1951, St. John’s is Tampa’s oldest Episcopal school.