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Trinity Prep Fund FAQS

What is Annual Giving?

The Annual Trinity Prep Fund is Trinity Preparatory School’s most important fundraising initiative. As with all independent schools, the actual cost of educating each student exceeds the cost of tuition. Tuition alone does not cover the full cost of a Trinity Prep education. The school relies on philanthropic support, specifically the Trinity Prep Fund, to help bridge the gap, which is more than $2,000 per student. The Trinity Prep Fund directly supports the Trinity experience, which includes operating expenses such as professional development, superior art, and athletic programs, state-of-the-art technology, and tuition assistance.

Donations to the Annual Giving Campaign are applied to the current-year operating budget to fund tuition assistance, academic program enhancements, and further professional development. Annual Giving donations are voluntary, tax-deductible donations from parents, trustees, alumnae, faculty, staff, grandparents, friends, foundations, and corporations.

Why can’t tuition cover every operating expense?

If we were to charge tuition at what it truly costs to educate our students, it would make our school unavailable to many otherwise qualified families. Also, Annual Giving is tax deductible whereas tuition is not.

How does my gift to the Annual Giving Campaign make a difference?

As a donor to the Annual Giving Campaign, you will have a direct and immediate impact on your child’s education this year. Annual Giving contributions are spent as part of the school’s annual operating budget in the year they are provided. Every gift makes a difference to the substance and quality of the education your child receives this academic year.

Your participation also sends a compelling message to our community that parents believe in our institution and Trinity Prep’s way of education. Reaching 100% parent participation in the Annual Giving Campaign is a profound statement of support for our mission and vision.

Is my financial contribution to Annual Giving mandatory?

Charitable giving is a private family decision and is never compulsory. But our school’s many successes would not have been possible without the generosity of those who have given in the past.  We hope and trust that you will contribute according to your family’s means and make Trinity Prep a philanthropic priority — we are all partners in our kids’ education.

I give a great deal of my volunteer time to the school. Am I really expected to give money too?

We value the time and talent our families devote to Trinity Prep.  But we need and value every family’s support in every way — with volunteerism, time, effort, and monetary contributions – all of which ensure that the vision and mission of the school are supported and made possible. We ask you to reflect on whether you have both time and money to contribute; if so, we ask you to share them generously. If not, please do whatever you can. But please recognize that 100% participation is vital, both for accreditation and as an admissions statistic.

Financially, this is a very bad time for our family.  I just don’t think we can contribute this year.

If that is the situation, we hope that you would consider making a smaller “participatory” gift to help us in our goal of 100% community participation. Also, remember you can make a pledge now which can be fulfilled later.

How much should I give?

Though we realize not every family can give at a certain level, we hope and trust that you will contribute according to your family’s means and make Trinity Prep a philanthropic priority — we are all partners in our kids’ education. All gifts are significant and most importantly, we aim for 100% parent participation.

How can I make an Annual Giving contribution?

Please visit our online giving link at https://www.trinityprep.org/support/make-a-gift-online. We welcome gifts of cash, checks, credit card, matching gifts, and gifts of securities. Please keep in mind that you can make your gift now in the form of a pledge and fulfill your pledge in installments at your convenience by the end of the school year.

What are Matching Gift Programs and how do I maximize my gift?

Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations. Some provide matching funds to support employee volunteer hours. Most of these programs match contributions dollar for dollar, and some will even double or triple the amount of your gift!

If we give to other Trinity Prep fundraising campaigns do we still need to support the Annual Giving Campaign?

Participation in any school fundraiser is deeply appreciated. But, like all other independent schools, the Annual Giving Campaign is a separate budget component in the school’s financial planning which serves as a tax-deductible mechanism to bridge the gap between tuition and operating costs.