Tuition covers only 66% of the actual cost for each of the student’s education. The school intentionally sets tuition lower than cost, with two goals in mind.
That a faith-based education will be affordable to a broader section of families in the community.
That school families, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents and parishioners will help make up this gap as circumstances and generosity allow.
Annual Fund FAQ’s
What is the Annual Fund?
The largest source of non-tuition income is the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund Giving Program is a yearly effort to get parents, grandparents, alumni, friends and parishioners to make a financial contribution to the school. Although tuition is still the primary source of revenue for the school, tuition alone does not cover the full cost of providing outstanding education and retaining our creative and dedicated faculty.
This fund drive kicks off in the fall with a pledge drive. Throughout the school year, Annual Fund money is received from parents, grandparents, alumni, friends, faculty, staff, business and corporations.
Every child, every family at St. Ignatius School benefits from a successful Annual Fund campaign.
Why not just raise the tuition?
In keeping with our commitment to the vision of St. Ignatius, our school charges a tuition less than the true cost of education to all students. This results in a deficit, which is made up through gifts to the Annual Fund and other fundraising efforts.
If tuition were raised to the actual cost of education, this approach would place too large of a burden on parents, and would make it impossible for many of our children to have the opportunity to receive an education at St. Ignatius. Another reason for not raising tuition to actual cost is that there would be no benefit to parents at income tax time – a gift to St. Ignatius through the Annual Fund may be a tax benefit!
How is the money used?
Tuition is the primary source of revenue at SI; however, tuition alone does not cover the full cost of providing our outstanding program and retaining our creative and dedicated faculty. Tuition pays for the basics, and the Annual Fund pays for the extras that distinguish a St. Ignatius education. As parents, we have made a commitment to a high-quality, independent education for our children, and that commitment has a cost.
The Annual Fund has helped with the following:
Retain a staff where half have earned their masters degree and/or have been in the teaching profession for over twenty years
Full time aides in all classrooms
Full time kindergarten program
Science teachers for grades 1 – 8
Offer instruction in Art, Spanish, P.E., Computers, and Algebra1
Purchase of new textbooks on a regular basis
Improve security around campus
Update and maintain computer/technology equipment
Tuition subsidy to families in SI Parish
Is there a tax advantage if I make a gift?
All contributions are fully tax deductible as charitable gifts to the extent provided by law.
Donations to the Annual Fund are tax deductible, tuition is not.
What are Matching Gifts?
Many companies will match your gift to St. Ignatius School up to a certain level – some as high as triple matches! Matching Gift contributions also count toward your own giving level to SI. Please check with your employer’s human resources office for details on their Matching Gift program and matching gift forms. You may have your gift matched even if you have already made your contribution to SI!
Matching Gift Companies
This is just a sample list of companies with Matching Gift programs
Please check with your employer’s human resources office to determine if your company does match!
American Express Company
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
AT&T Foundation
Bank of America
Barclays Capital
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Chevron Humankind
CIGNA Foundation
Ernst and Young
Esurance
Franklin Templeton
Gannett Foundation
GenCorp
General Electric
General Mills Foundation
Glaxo Matching Gift Program
Hp Hewlett-Packard Company
IBM Corporation
Intel
Johnson & Johnson
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kaiser Permanente
Lincoln Financial Group
Mass Mutual Life Insurance
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Merck Company
Merrill Lynch
MetLife Foundation
Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter
Motorola Foundation
New York Life Foundation
North Western Mutual Foundation
Northrop Grumman
Oracle
Pacific Gas & Electric
Pearson Education
Pfizer Foundation
Philip Morris
Progressive Insurance
Quest Diagnostics
Rudolph & Sletten
SBC Matching Gift Program
Smith Barney
State Farm
UBS Paine Webber
UPS
Verizon Foundation
Wells Fargo
** Important Reminders **
St. Ignatius School receives NO State or Federal tax dollars.
Gifts to the Annual Fund are fully tax deductible as charitable gifts to the extent provided by law.
Saint Ignatius recognized the power and responsibility of education. Pope Francis has said the mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful.
The St. Ignatius Parent Club is the primary fundraising organization of the school. It supports the spiritual, social and education forces of the home and school in a program of Catholic education. Parent Club consists of all families with students enrolled in TK through 8th grade.
Parent Club meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month in Extended at 6:30 PM. Please join us!
The Advisory Council works with the administrator and the pastor to formulate school policy. The members of the Council work in the areas of long-range planning, development and major funding, facilities, Catholic identity, and marketing. With the pastor and the administrator, they establish the annual budget. The Council endeavors to create better understanding and support of Catholic education. The Advisory Council meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Faculty Room.
St. Ignatius alumni support their school in many ways. Alumni attend events, coach teams, donate, and many come back to SI as parents of new St. Ignatius students.
The St. Ignatius Parish School Alumni Association was formed to develop and maintain a positive relationship between the school and its alumni—to ensure support of the school and its commitment to providing a Jesuit education and experience for its students and school community.
Upon graduation, you automatically become a lifelong member of the SI Alumni Association.
To meet our needs, we invite all of our supporters ~ Alumni, Parents – Current and Past, and Friends ~ to contribute to the St. Ignatius School Annual Fund. Your gift helps to covers the shortfall between tuition charged and the full cost of educating each student.
Please consider making a gift to the St. Ignatius School Annual Fund this year.
Every gift ~ no matter what size ~ makes a difference in the lives of our students every day.