Giving

October 16, 2009

Early next week, you will receive the RDS Annual Report for 2008-2009 in the mail. Shortly thereafter, you will receive a letter requesting your participation in the RDS 2009-2010 Annual Fund. They arrive on the heels of one another intentionally.
 
In the Annual Report, you will notice that while the economy slumped, RDS continued to thrive. We did so for two reasons. First, despite the economy, families continued to stretch in terms of what they could give to the Annual Fund. Second, institutionally we practiced sound fiscal management with a thoughtful eye to where we could cut costs without sacrificing program. As a result, the School is in a stronger financial position than it was twelve months ago, and our program has continued to grow and deepen. 
 
As most of you already know, the Annual Fund is used each year for a variety of operational expenses: financial aid, professional development, assemblies, athletics, arts, outdoor education, and much more.  And the nature of the fund allows us to use the money where most needed. For instance, last spring we allocated more money than budgeted to financial aid so that we could support the families hit hardest by the economy. I'm happy to say that this move was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees. It was simply the right thing to do. Clearly a robust Annual Fund is essential to the ongoing health and improvement of the RDS community, as it is for all independent schools.
 
Since 2004, the money raised in the Annual Fund has continued to grow: from $228,000 in 2003-04, to over $377,000 in 2007-08. As enrollment grew, our Annual Fund grew proportionally more. That is, until last year, when we dipped back to just below $300,000. Last year, both the amount raised and the number of families participating decreased. We know this was in part due to the economy and in part to our own enthusiasm to raise funds for our high school efforts. That is, the final Annual Fund numbers from last year do not nearly reflect the support - emotionally, financially, and spiritually - that we felt from the school community. 
 
This year, we need to return to our phenomenal pattern of family participation: 85% (2005-06), 87% (2006-07), 88% (2007-08). As we move forward, we need to get back on the path to increasing money raised and the number of families participating in the Annual Fund. A robust Annual Fund helps keep tuition rates manageable (always a relative term!), and high participation is vitally important whenever we approach outside foundations for support. A foundation's first question is always "What percent of families currently support the School with Annual Fund gifts?" Therefore, even if you can only give a modest amount this year, please do not discount the aggregate power of your gift. Each and every gift is your vote of support for what we do as an institution and in our mutual commitment to exceptional developmentally-based education.
 
Which brings me to this year's Annual Fund. Starting today, please resolve to participate in this year's Annual Fund and to now start considering the amount of the gift that you can afford. Think of your gift as a school-year commitment; break it into monthly installments, if that helps you make a stretch (our Advancement Office will happily work with you to create a schedule of pre-authorized credit card payments or other arrangements). Of all the ways we fundraise at RDS, we ask that you make the Annual Fund your #1 priority. We rely on these dollars for our current budget - in short, we rely on you.
 
With thanks in advance for all you do for RDS,
 
Mike