Achieving The Vision: The Campaign For Whitfield

ACHIEVING THE VISION THE CAMPAIGN FOR WHITFIELD

Molding Young Lives Whitfield is more than a school. We are a community committed to developing responsible, ethical and successful young adults. We are proud to foster an environment that allows students to grow as scholars, citizens and leaders.

Here, they develop the talent, confidence and inspiration to become productive and caring citizens of the world.

For 66 years, Whitfield has produced bright, motivated graduates prepared to venture into the world and meet the challenges of each passing decade. We approach this next chapter of our history with enthusiasm and dedication to our school’s unique vision.

1 ACHIEVING THE VISION

FOR 66 YEARS , WHITFIELD HAS PRODUCED

bright, motivated graduates PREPARED TO VENTURE INTO THE WORLD.

Our Vision Today, Whitfield faces a dynamic and increasingly competitive educational marketplace. Competition for the best teachers is intense. Increased financial aid is essential to attract the most talented students.

Our programs must keep pace with evolving technologies and the best educational practices.

Whitfield trustees, faculty, parents and alumni came together to create a strategic plan to address these challenges and secure Whitfield’s future.

Now we must substantially increase our fiscal resources to achieve the goals we have set for the school.

CU R R ICU LU M AN D PR OGR A M

F A CULTY C O M P ENS ATI O N A N D B E NE FI TS

Whitfield’s academic program will be a recognized leader in its effectiveness in preparing graduates to negotiate the opportunities and challenges of today’s universities and tomorrow’s workplaces.

Our faculty will enjoy a competitive level of compensation, benefits, and professional development that will enable them to remain at Whitfield for the entirety of their careers.

OUR

FINANCIAL S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Strategic Plan

The school will command the financial resources needed to advance all these efforts while keeping tuition within reach.

S TUD ENT H EALTH AND WE LLNE S S Our students will exhibit the character strengths, or as we have come to call them, the “habits of mind and heart,” needed for success and personal growth.

DIVER SITY A N D IN CLU SION All of the school’s constituencies will understand and embrace our active commitment to cultural competence, starting with a diverse and inclusive community.

IN V E S T I N G I N O U R F AC ULTY

Faculty Compensation Passionate and thoughtful teachers are the core of Whitfield’s mission. These exceptional educators dedicate their days, evenings, and weekends to foster growth, resilience and mastery in our students. Recruiting and retaining a faculty of the highest caliber is vital to Whitfield’s student-centered educational experience.

We must increase our endowment to provide competitive compensation for faculty that is commensurate with their value in our community.

5 ACHIEVING THE VISION

ȧȧ Whitfield provides a 4% retirement match for faculty, compared to the NAIS median of 6%. ȧȧ Our goal is to boost faculty salaries to compete with area public schools. ȧȧ 55% of our faculty have been with us for 10 years or more.

7 ACHIEVING THE VISION

IN V E S T I N G I N ST U D E NTS

Need-Based Tuition Assistance Whitfield believes that hard-working students of promise should not be limited by their financial resources. By offering need-based tuition assistance, we enhance the experience of every Whitfield student, bringing a variety of perspectives into our classrooms and preparing our children for the world they will inherit.

A robust tuition assistance program is an investment in the immeasurable potential of children. It is critical for both the success of our school and the fulfillment of our mission.

We must increase our endowment to guarantee access to a Whitfield education for all qualified applicants.

9 ACHIEVING THE VISION

ȧȧ Every Whitfield family contributes.

Tuition assistance varies according to demonstrated need. ȧȧ Nearly 30% of all current students receive need-based financial aid. ȧȧ Tuition revenue from families who receive aid surpasses $1 million annually.

IN V E S T I N G I N W H I T F I ELD ’S FUTURE

Eliminating Capital Debt In 2002 Whitfield completed a much-needed expansion of the school’s physical plant.

This expansion bestowed invaluable benefits, but also incurred costs. From the original $9.7 million in bonds required to underwrite the building project, we now owe less than $5 million. However, this lingering financial obligation diverts valuable resources from our operating budget every year.

We must eliminate our existing debt to invest fully in the programs that define Whitfield’s unique student experience and to secure our long-term institutional health.

11 ACHIEVING THE VISION

ȧȧ Increase funds for faculty professional development and academic leadership ȧȧ Continue to strengthen Whitfield’s position as an academic leader ȧȧ Enable further investment in educational technology

What is the size of Whitfield’s endowment?

Thanks to a generous school community and the wise leadership of our trustees, our endowment has grown to $10 million. Our endowment earns about 7% annually, and we draw an average of 5% for operational needs.

How is Whitfield’s enrollment?

Currently, Whitfield’s enrollment is strong at 440 students.

How does this Campaign affect my annual giving?

Through this Campaign, Whitfield is asking our community to make a significant investment in the future of the school by growing the endowment and eliminating debt. However, we continue to depend on funds raised for operations through the Annual Fund. Donors are asked to maintain their support of the Annual Fund and make an additional gift to the Campaign.

Are there naming opportunities?

Naming opportunities are available for gifts of $25,000 and above. Named endowed funds may be established for gifts of $100,000 and above.

In order to maximize your gift, pledge payments may be made over a period of three years.

We appreciate gifts of any amount.

What is the Campaign timeline?

The final phase of the Campaign will conclude in June 2018.

For more information or to make a pledge or gift online, visit whitfieldschool.org/campaign.

Investing in the Vision Please contact Kelly Edwards, Director of Development, with any questions.

Kelly may be reached at 314-415-1254 or kelly.edwards@whitfieldschool.org.

Campaign Leadership CAMPAIGN CHAIRS

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Paul & Sheri Diemer

John Delautre

CAMPAIGN CABINET

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Mary Burke Flip Cady ’70 Bryan & Anne Cook Ruth Greathouse Missy Hill Don & Karen Jubel Lee & Peggy Kaplan Phil & Elizabeth Levy Bill Margulis Paul Minorini Karen Myers Dave & Laura Nestor Rick Oertli Dave ’91 & Lily ’90 Ott David Payne Ray & Laurie Van de Riet

Kelly Edwards