YOUR SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT MATTERS.
WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT ST. PAUL’S
A Message from Andrew Myler, St. Paul’s Head of School
Welcome to St. Paul’s! I’m eager for you to experience Christmas programs, daily and weekly chapel, outstanding academics, and everything that makes St. Paul’s a special place. In the months ahead, I hope you will find opportunities to get involved and support our mission of creating confident learners, ethical leaders, and compassionate, engaged citizens.
To pay for salaries, programs, and experiences, we primarily rely on tuition. But tuition does not cover the full cost of the St. Paul’s experience. Every year, we need additional revenue, and the Spartan Fund (our annual fund) is an important part of our operating budget.
If you are already paying tuition, why should you donate to the Spartan Fund? The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) explains this well,
The bottom line is this: Your gift supports the people and programs that make your independent school so special.
Gifts are necessary because tuition doesn’t cover all the opportunities your student receives. Your independent school has many fewer supporters than a university or a large charity does.
Because the number who will give is small but the need is large, every gift counts more. This reasoning leads many families to make their children’s school their philanthropic priority. They know their gifts are an investment that truly pays off.
I personally give to the Spartan Fund every pay period. 100% of our faculty and staff give annually, and I hope you will join them this year.
Sincerely,
Andrew
GET CONNECTED PARENTS’ GUILD
The St. Paul’s Parents’ Guild volunteers plan special events, support fundraising efforts, and contribute to our school’s welcoming and inclusive community.
DID YOU KNOW...
• Every St. Paul’s parent is a member of the Parents’ Guild and pays dues annually.
• Parents’ Guild volunteers plan inclusive and memorable experiences for students, teachers, and families on and off campus.
• Parents’ Guild meets once a month. These meetings typically include event information and updates from school leaders.
When is a school more than just a school? When you get involved.
St. Paul’s values and encourages parent engagement. By sharing your time and talents, you will find your place at St. Paul’s and form strong relationships with teachers, administrators, and fellow parents. Through volunteering, friendships are forged, good work is done, and all aspects of our school community are enhanced.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We understand that every parent has a different schedule and availability. Whether you are available for an hour a week, a day, a month, or more, we have a volunteer opportunity that will allow you to actively participate. Below are a few areas where we ask for parent volunteer support.
• ROOM PARENTS
• AUCTION COMMITTEE
• FACULTY APPRECIATION
• LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
• SCHOOL CARNIVAL
• SCHOOL BOOK FAIR
For more information on how to get involved, please contact Michelle Rodriguez, Director of Development, at mrodriguez@speds.org.
It’s more than just volunteer work; there’s also time for fun! Here are some key events that also support our school’s mission.
Parent Events
Auction
Dads’ Group BBQ
Pickleball Tournament
Trivia Night
Auction Kick-Off Party
Moms’ Happy Hour
Lunch & Learn Programs
Family Events
Buddy Breakfasts
School Carnival
Fall Sports Spirit Night
Grandparents’ & Special
Friends’ Day
School Book Fair
STEAM Fair
We understand that tuition is a significant investment for our families, but like all independent schools, tuition only covers a portion of the actual cost of a St. Paul’s education.
We rely on generosity and support from parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, and friends to raise the remaining funds needed to provide our students with outstanding teachers and unique programs.
SPARTAN FUND
EVERY FAMILY. EVERY YEAR.
The Spartan Fund is our highest giving priority and the first gift we ask of our community. Our goal is for every family in the St. Paul’s community to contribute at a level that is meaningful to them.
SPARTAN FUND DOLLARS:
• Support academic, extracurricular, cultural, and innovative programming.
• Provide competitive faculty salaries and professional development.
• Promote an inclusive community by making tuition assistance available for qualified students.
• Bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a St. Paul’s education.
• Address St. Paul’s most pressing needs.
The Spartan Fund allows us to offer faculty professional development, tuition assistance, and classroom experiences that help our students learn, grow, and make a difference in the world.
FUND-A-NEED
PARENTS CREATING CHANGE
Every year, the Parents’ Guild picks one special project or initiative to fund through the Auction. These projects often enhance our school campus or underwrite entirely new programs.
Recent Fund-a-Need Projects:
• Renovating the school’s multipurpose room and adding a new music classroom.
• Adding streetscaping and safety signage to Walnut Street.
2nd Floor Commons
• Installing new bleachers and mascot graphics in the school gym.
• Purchasing new STEAM curriculum resources.
SPONSORSHIPS
One excellent way to support St. Paul’s is to become an event sponsor. Corporate and family sponsorships include event tickets and are taxdeductible for any amount beyond the ticket value. Sponsors are recognized at the event, in school communication, and on campus banners. It’s a great way to support St. Paul’s while promoting your business to our entire community.
For more information on becoming an event sponsor, please contact Michelle Rodriguez, Director of Development, at mrodriguez@speds.org.
WAYS TO GIVE
CASH OR CHECK
The simplest and most popular type of gift that is tax-deductible.
PLEDGE
Break up a gift over time. This option provides flexibility and extends tax benefits over a time period of up to three years.
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
These charitable giving accounts help manage charitable donations on behalf of organizations, families or individuals. Through a donor-advised fund, you may recommend grants to any qualified 501(c)(3) public charity or operating foundation, such as St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School.
SECURITIES
Appreciated assets, such as stock, are popular alternatives to cash donations and can provide greater tax benefits.
PLANNED GIVING
For some donors, a planned or other type of deferred gift may better suit their financial and planning situation while providing valuable support. Planned Giving may include a future will commitment, bequest or other type of gift through an estate or trust.
MATCHING GIFTS
Many companies offer to match employee charitable giving. Check to see if your company offers this as a benefit.
YOUR GENEROUS GIFT MATTERS
• Donate or pledge online at speds.org/support
• Mail your donation to:
St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School Development Office 4041 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64111
• Attend school fundraising events
• Become an event sponsor
St. Paul’s is a registered IRS Section 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of Missouri. Tax ID # 43-0799151. All gifts to St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
For further information regarding these opportunities, please contact Michelle Rodriguez, Director of Development at mrodriguez@speds.org.
GIVING FAQ
Why does St. Paul’s need the Spartan Fund? Doesn’t my tuition payment cover costs?
Following the current independent school model, St. Paul’s relies on a combination of tuition revenue and donor support to meet annual operating expenses. At St. Paul’s tuition covers approximately 90% of the full cost of educating a student. The Spartan Fund plus distributions from the endowment account for the remaining 10%. All three revenue sources are critical to meet our operational needs.
Why not raise tuition to cover actual costs?
By raising tuition, we risk losing many valuable current and prospective students whos families could not afford this increase. A large tuition increase would limit every student’s opporutnity to receive the many benefits of socioeconomic diversity across campus. Tax-deductible gifts to the school help keep tuition levels comparable to other independent schools in the Kansas City area.
Why is 100% parent participation important?
We strive to reach 100% parent participation in the Spartan Fund because it is a key indicator that our families support the St. Paul’s mission and our culture of philanthropy. Giving back is a community-wide call to action that creates momentum and inspires others to contribute. High parent and community participation also helps us when we approach foundations for major gifts.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gifts to the Spartan Fund range from $5 to $50,000. Every gift, of every size, makes a difference. We are grateful for your support!
What is the difference between fundraising by the school and fundraising by the St. Paul’s Parents’ Guild?
Gifts through the St. Paul’s Parents’ Guild first support the Parents’ Guild’s planned activities which are focused on community building. Once expenses are covered, the net funds are donated back to the school at the end of each school year. Alternatively, 100% of Spartan Fund dollars go directly and immediately into the school’s operating budget.
What is the best time to make my St. Paul’s Spartan Fund gift?
To take advantage of a current year tax deduction, we kindly ask parents to make their gift by December 31. The sooner you give, the sooner your gift goes to work to benefit student learning. All pledges are payable by May 31.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes, gifts to the St. Paul’s Spartan Fund are 100% tax-deductible (while tuition is not). You will receive a gift acknowledgment which you can use for tax purposes. St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax ID #43-0799151.
How does Spartan Fund giving differ from capital and endowment giving?
The St. Paul’s Spartan Fund supports operational expenses for the current school year. Capital campaigns are conducted periodically when significant funds are needed for growth (e.g. construction, facility renovations, etc.) Endowments support faculty salaries and financial aid.
