Annual Fund

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

• Why is the Annual Fund important?

  The Annual Fund provides flexible, unrestricted income for programs that are critical to a Sacred Heart education and allow the school to meet the highest needs in the current year. Top-tier faculty and staff, rigorous academics, premier fine arts, athletic and co-curricular programs, and a diverse student body touch the lives of each student and are made possible through your gifts to the Annual Fund.

• Why not just raise tuition?

  Raising tuition to the actual cost of educating each student would place too large a burden on many families, making it impossible for their children to attend Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. By containing tuition costs through your support of the Annual Fund SHS is able to fulfill its commitment to attracting talented as well as diverse students. Additionally, donations to SHS are 100% tax deductible, and many donations qualify for additional contributions from corporate Matching Gift Programs.

• How much are families expected to give to the Annual Fund?

  Sacred Heart is an economically diverse community and each family is asked to thoughtfully consider a gift that will be personally meaningful. While “the gap” is a starting point for consideration of gift size, not all families are able to contribute the full amount, and some families can give more. It is a personal decision; each family is requested to participate to the best of their ability.

• Why is 100% participation so crucial?

  School-wide participation in the Annual Fund is a testament to the community’s strong commitment to the mission of the school and to the goals of a Sacred Heart education. Achieving 100% participation builds community, identifies solidarity, and often inspires significant additional gifts. All Annual Fund gifts—large and small—make a collective impact which benefits each and every student.

• What is the Director's Club?

  The Director’s Club honors Annual Fund donors of $3,500 or more and Annual Fund volunteers by inviting them to a spring cocktail reception hosted by the Director of Schools.

• What is a matching gift?

  Many companies will match the value of charitable gifts made by their employees. When an employer matches all or part of a gift, the donor is recognized for the full amount of their own gift plus any resulting corporate match. Generally, your employer’s Human Resource department will know if your company participates in a matching program and, if so, will provide the necessary forms and instructions to initiate the match. Matching gifts are a great way to leverage Annual Fund donations.

• Who is asked to make Annual Fund gifts?

  Everyone in the school community—trustees, faculty, staff, current parents, past parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends—is asked to participate in the Annual Fund. In recent years, 100 percent of trustees, faculty, staff, and current parents have pledged support to the Annual Fund.

• Can I restrict my Annual Fund gift to a specific program or interest?

  Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund are preferred, as they allow the school to meet the most pressing current needs. However, to discuss a specific request, please contact Mary Smoker at msmoker@shschools.org.