By Susan Hazell, Director of Development
Every fall, independent schools, universities and colleges launch their annual campaign appeal. The goals of annual giving are many, but one of the key aspects is to encourage alumni, parents, past parents, faculty and staff to participate and support the more immediate needs of the institution, its students and its faculty.
Here are some key points about the importance of our Annual Giving Campaign.
Why does the school need my support?
The Annual Giving Campaign is the foundation for all fundraising. Currently at Ridley, you may be surprised to learn that tuition fees cover only 84% of the school’s operating budget. The Annual Giving Campaign is the largest and most important fundraising effort that helps to bridge the tuition gap, support Ridley’s highest priorities, expand opportunities for student growth, and transform students’ lives. Donations to the Annual Giving Campaign have an immediate impact on students today and tomorrow.
The school doesn’t look like it needs my support.
Like all independent schools, Ridley College relies on donations to assist the school in offering an education that empowers for a lifetime. All buildings and programmes at Ridley have been made possible thanks to the generosity of past donors – alumni, parents, faculty and staff and friends of the school. The excellent courses, many extracurricular activities, well-qualified faculty, maintenance and enhancement of our campus, new capital items, up to date IT resources all come at a price. To be able to continue to offer the wonderful programmes and opportunities we currently do, we need your help. In addition, scholarships and bursaries are an important part of our fundraising efforts to ensure that Ridley can attract the best and the brightest to our school, in an ever-increasing competitive market place with other independent boarding and day schools.
How will my gift actually help?
Every member of the Ridley family is a stakeholder. As a community, we are relying on each other and your tax-deductible contributions to meet Ridley’s needs and deliver an outstanding educational experience to our students. All gifts, regardless of size, have the power to inspire others. When we pool our resources together, we can make a significant impact on the quality of the Ridley experience for our students.
Where do Annual Giving Campaign dollars go?
Annual Giving Campaign donations are designated per the donor’s wishes, which may be for one of the identified projects of the school, or for an area of specific interest to the donor (a sports programme, Cadets, the Arts, robotics, etc.), or to unrestricted (the school’s greatest need).
What is the Annual Giving Campaign at Ridley for 2017-18?
At Ridley, we have just launched our annual campaign ‘Unlock Potential’. We have identified three key needs this year: 1) scholarships and bursaries; 2) the Lower School Library project (Phase II); and 3) Supporting the Best Educators. To learn more, please visit our website and look for your annual giving appeal package in the mail!
Every student counts. Every gift counts. Please consider your participation and support and help us ‘Unlock Potential’!