Girl on laptop

The Saint Mary Fund is the cornerstone of philanthropy at Saint Mary School.   Saint Mary Fund gifts are a statement of support of our mission from our donors.  Each year contributions to the Saint Mary Fund account for nearly 10% of the operating budget and allow the flexibility to direct resources where they are most needed. Proceeds from the Fund may be used for a variety of key operating expenses, capital expenditures, annual staff appreciation awards, and future reserves.

As part of our mission to make a high-quality Catholic education accessible to all, we strive to keep our tuition affordable and we offer significant financial assistance to those in need. As a result, we have a gap between our cost and revenue per student; tuition alone does not cover expenses despite our budget discipline. 

Each year we invite our parents, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, and friends to invest in our mission by making a gift to the Fund.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Amy Dowding, Director of Advancement or Robert Wolf, Saint Mary Fund Chair.

Expand Content
Why is the Saint Mary Fund Important?

The Saint Mary Fund is built into Saint Mary School's operating budget and supports our programs and enhances our student experience.

Expand Content
Why not raise tuition?

As part of our mission to make a high quality Catholic education accessible to all, we strive to keep our tuition affordable and we offer significant financial assistance to those in need. As a result, we have a gap between our cost and revenue per student; tuition alone does not cover expenses despite our exceptional budget discipline. 

Expand Content
What are the goals of the 2023-2024 Saint Mary Fund and how are the funds utilized? 


The 2023-2024 Saint Mary Fund goal is $200,000. Proceeds from the Fund are an essential component of the school's budget, used for a variety of key operating expenses, capital expenditures, scholarship funds, annual staff appreciation awards, and future reserves. 

Expand Content
Will my gift really make a difference?

Yes!  Every gift makes a difference, no matter the size!  Paricipation truly counts.  Your gift sends the message that you support our mission and vision, and helps us provide funding for immediate needs.  Every gift helps and is appreciated.  Each year, 100% of our faculty and staff participate, and our goal is that 100% of our families do as well.

Expand Content
Is my gift tax deductible?

Yes! Because Saint Mary School is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, your contribution to the Saint Mary Fund will qualify as a charitable contribution for tax purposes. Contributions are normally deductible in the year payment is received by SMS, but you should consult a tax professional with any questions. 

Expand Content
How much should I give and when?

We do not ask for a specific amount but hope that you will be as generous as you are able. Whether you are able to give $100 or $10,000, you will be impacting the lives of our students.  We kick off our Saint Mary Fund each year in the fall and ask for pledges to be made by December 31st.  Payment needs to be received by June 30.  By pledging or sending gifts early, you help reduce our mailings and overhead costs.

Expand Content
What are giving societies?

Giving societies are employed by many charitable organizations to recognize the various levels of support they receive from donors. Typically, fundraising is most successful when it strikes a balance between higher dollar leadership gifts and broad participation, regardless of the dollar amount. Giving societies allow us to thank all of our donors while recognizing their unique contributions. The Saint Mary Fund has two main giving societies: 

The Saint Mary Society

The Saint Mary Society reflects all individuals, companies, or foundations making a gift of $1,500 or more. These leadership gifts are a critical foundation of the Fund, as they directly address the roughly $1,500 gap between tuition and cost per student. Within the Saint Mary Society there are six levels: 

$25,000 + Founders Society
$10,000 - $24,999 Rosary Society
$7,500 - $9,999 Angel Society
$5,000 - $7,499 Cornerstone Society
$2,500 - $4,999 Blue Ribbon Society 
$1,500 - $2,499 Champion Society 

   
The Patrons Circle     

The Patrons Circle reflects the vital contributions of the many donors who support Saint Mary School at all other levels: 

$1,000 - $1,499   Principal’s Circle 
$500 - $999 Guardian Circle 
$250 - $499 Benefactor Circle
$100 - $249 Blue and White Circle 
$50 - $99 Penguins Circle
$1 - $49 Friends

 
We need strong participation in both the Saint Mary Society and the Patrons Circle to help us meet our ambitious goals. Every dollar counts and every dollar makes a difference in the lives of our students.  
 

Expand Content
Are there other fundraising efforts during the year?

We promise, no wrapping paper or candy bar sales!  

We do have two special events that help raise money for the Fund:

  • SMS Annual Golf Scramble - held each year, a fun day of golf and fundraising.
  • SMS Gala - held every other year, the Gala is a social event with a fundraising intent, that brings together our entire community for a festive evening of fun and fundraising.
Expand Content
Is my gift and giving history confidential? 

As a contributor to the Saint Mary Fund, your name will appear in a listing of supporters in our Gratitude Report, attributed to one of our giving societies (see above). However, when you make your pledge and/or payment to the Fund, you can request to remain anonymous and your name will not appear in the published listing. Either way, your exact gift amount and giving history will always remain confidential, visible only to the director of advancement in the course of administrating the Saint Mary Fund.