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Greenhill Fund Q&A
The necessity of fundraising at an independent
school often raises questions. A
few of the most common questions and answers are listed below.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Advancement Office for further
information.
Q
Why is Greenhill School called an independent school?
A
Greenhill School is an independent school because it designs its own
programs and curriculum, operates without financial support from the
national or state government, and is governed by its own Board of Trustees.
Unlike public schools, which are funded by tax dollars, independent
schools rely solely upon tuition fees, endowment income and proceeds from
fundraising to meet their operating expenses.
Q
What is the Greenhill Fund?
A
The Greenhill Fund is a yearly appeal for donations to support the current
operations of the school. These
gifts help enhance the day-to-day life of every student and faculty member
by supporting a variety of programs, including academics, faculty
development, the arts, athletics, college counseling, technology, and the
library.
Q
What is the purpose of the Greenhill Fund?
Isn’t tuition enough?
A
The success of the
Greenhill Fund has a direct impact on the quality of Greenhill’s programs.
The average cost of educating each student in 2007-2008 is
$21,000, while the average
tuition per student is $18,400.
Thus, there is a shortfall or gap per student of
$2,600.
Dollars raised by Annual Giving are crucial to bridge the gap between
tuition income and operating expenses.
The heart of the operating budget includes teachers’ salaries,
educational materials, the financial aid program, and facilities
maintenance. Annual Giving keeps tuition down and ensures that a Greenhill
education is accessible to an economically diverse population.
Q
How does the Greenhill Fund work?
A
Parents, alumni, alumni parents, and grandparents solicit others for a
contribution to meet two goals – a budgeted gross dollar amount and a
participation goal. The school
values the inclusive nature of its community, and participation in the
Greenhill Fund is an important priority.
In addition, many foundations to which we apply for grants look very
closely at participation figures.
Also, all gifts to the Greenhill Fund are 100% tax deductible.
Q
Who contributes to the Greenhill Fund and when?
A
In addition to the current parents, the Greenhill Fund receives strong
financial support from alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, faculty, staff,
special friends and corporate matching gifts programs.
It is hoped that everyone will have pledged to participate in
Greenhill Fund by December 31 and that all payments will have been received
no later than May 31.
Q
How much should I give?
A
We ask each person to participate at a level appropriate for his or her
circumstances. Gifts can range
from amounts that provide an extra book in the library to fully meeting the
gap between the operating cost and tuition.
Some donors give enough to pay the tuition for a student on financial
aid. All gifts are vital and
appreciated.
Q
What is the difference between the Greenhill Fund and the Great Expectations
Campaign?
A
Capital campaigns are conducted periodically to provide significant funds
for buildings and endowment. The
Greenhill Fund is designed to offset annual operating expenses and is paid
by the end of the academic/fiscal year.
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