SCM Annual Fund
September is Annual Fund Month! Give or pledge by September 30, 2023.
The SCM Annual Fund is the school's primary fundraiser. It is designed to provide additional support to our operating budget, helping us fund our daily operations and accomplish immediate campus improvements and program updates. The 4-week annual fund drive is the first and most crucial fundraiser for St. Catherine's and benefits every member of our community. The motto of the SCM Annual Fund is "Every Family for Every Child," and we ask that 100% of our families make a meaningful contribution each year.
The financial goal for the 2023-2024 school year is $200,000 and St. Catherine's is prioritizing the following four areas for annual fund spending:
- Improving compensation packages for employees;
- Better meeting the financial aid needs of our families through tuition assistance;
- Enhancing the strength of our educational programs through increased professional development opportunities and AMI training for faculty and staff; and
- Maintaining campus facilities and prepared learning environments.
The 1966 Society
Consider becoming a member of the 1966 Society by making a gift of $1,966 to the SCM Annual Fund. Members are invited to attend a donor reception the following fall.
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SCM Annual Fund FAQs
What is the SCM Annual Fund?
A yearly request for tax-deductible support that provides crucial funding for St. Catherine’s Montessori. Gifts to the annual fund allow us to complete the school’s operating budget and fully fund the cost of educating every St. Catherine’s student. Like tuition, annual fund contributions are unrestricted revenue that directly funds:
• Salaries, benefits and professional development for guides and staff
• Classroom materials
• Extracurricular activities
• Tuition assistance
• Campus utilities and maintenance
• Classroom materials
• Extracurricular activities
• Tuition assistance
• Campus utilities and maintenance
When should I give?
We ask that 100% of our parents make a gift or pledge by September 30, 2023. Completing the annual fund drive in September gives St. Catherine’s solid financial footing for the remainder of the school year and also allows us to shift focus to other advancement priorities.
Although the drive runs for one month, we absolutely accept annual fund contributions after the drive ends, and follow up with families who have yet to give or pledge throughout the school year. The deadline to give and fulfill all annual fund pledges for 23-24 and to appear in the Annual Report is April 30, 2024.
How much should I give?
The 23-24 SCM Annual Fund goals are $200,000 and 100% parent participation. We ask that every family make a gift that is commensurate with their financial capacity and desire to have an impact. The average family gift to the annual fund falls at around $1,000. It is our hope that every family will consider giving at this level or above, however, every gift makes a difference.
How do I give?
St. Catherine’s accepts gifts via check, credit card, cash, and securities. Some families give through donor advised funds and family foundations. Online gifts and pledges can be made at www.stcathmont.org/annualfund. Checks can be dropped off at the Front Desk or mailed to St. Catherine’s – please note “Annual Fund” on the memo line.
Contact Lyndsey Ray, advancement director, at [email protected] or (713) 665-2195 to discuss securities transfers, giving through a donor advised fund, making a qualified charitable deduction from your IRA, or including St. Catherine's in your planned giving.
My company has a matching gifts program, can I submit my SCM gift for a match?
Yes! We love it when our donors make use of matching programs to increase the impact of their gifts. Please let us know you intend to submit your gift for a match, then follow your company's submission process using our Tax ID number: 74-1727136. We will notify you once we have received those matching funds.
If you require additional documentation from St. Catherine's, please contact Lyndsey Ray, advancement director, at [email protected] or (713) 665-2195.
What is the 1966 Society?
Named in honor of our school's founding year, the 1966 Society is the SCM Annual Fund's leadership donor society. Annual Fund contributors of $1,966 and above become members and are invited to an exclusive reception hosted the following fall.
Why should I support the Annual Fund when I already pay tuition?
At St. Catherine's, as at most independent schools, tuition and fees only cover a portion of the cost to educate every student. Gifts to the annual fund bridge the difference.
Maintaining affordable tuition for families who wish to send their children to St. Catherine's is a fundamental principle in which our foundresses, Sister Edna Ann Hebert, O.P. and Sister Shirley Owens, O.P., firmly believed when they opened the school in 1966. It is a value that holds true today. If we did not raise funds each year to support the school's daily operations, the only other method to fully fund operating expenses would be to increase tuition. St. Catherine's has been able to grow because of our history of generous community giving.
For more information about giving to St. Catherine's Montessori, contact Lyndsey Ray, advancement director, at [email protected] or (713) 665-2195.
