FAQs About Giving

The Annual Fund sustains Carrollton's commitment to quality education by supporting and enhancing our school programs. We rely on annual gifts from current and past parents, alumnae, trustees, faculty and staff, grandparents, and friends to help us reach our Fund for Carrollton goal each year.

The money from the Annual Fund is spent on budgeted items throughout the school year. In general, the Annual Fund guarantees faculty/staff salaries and benefits, professional development for faculty/staff, program and classroom materials, student activities and clubs, arts and athletic programs, and maintenance of the buildings and grounds.

In cooperation with each other, the Administration, Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, and the Advancement Committee of the Board set the Annual Fund goal. The process is a balancing act of tuition revenue forecasting, maximizing the Annual Fund's potential, and an acknowledgment of the importance of the continued health and strength of our School. If we don't meet the goal, the deficit would have an across-the-board impact, with potential cutbacks being shared by all.

Everyone who is a part of the Carrollton community is invited to participate in the Annual Fund. Contributions to the Annual Fund cover a wide range, from the $5 or $10 a young alumna in college might send to many thousands of dollars from parents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents, and friends.

The Founders Society recognizes those who give at the leadership levels of $1,961 or more each year to the Annual Fund. These leadership gifts bear immediate fruit for Carrollton by ensuring the school's commitment to essential resources for our students, financial aid, professional development of our educators, enhancements to our school grounds, and more.

Yes. We need and value every family's support in every way. Your gift, regardless of the amount, will provide additional resources and will often serve to encourage others to make gifts. Everyone who is solicited is asked to give generously. An appropriate gift is one in proportion to your ability to give. Corporate matching gifts enable donors to increase the value of their gift and provide a valuable source of revenue for the School.

High participation in the Annual Fund is an important way for us to demonstrate to others in our community and to prospective families the commitment and dedication of our parents, alumnae, and friends to the School and our students. We aim for 100% participation. Foundations and corporations awarding grants to educational institutions often look at the level of parent, alumnae/i, and community participation in the school's annual fundraising efforts.

Yes, it does matter. A gift or pledge made early in the school year is a great advantage to the School because we will know how much money will be available to support the budget. To help plan our spending, we ask that donors please make pledges as early in the academic year as possible. We hope that pledges and gifts will be made by March 31st so that we can utilize the additional funding in the current year. Once you have made your annual gift or pledge, you will not receive another solicitation until the next academic year for the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund closes each year on June 30.

Make your tax-deductible donation in any of these ways:

• Pledge now online or by contacting Amy Repine in the Advancement Office and pay in full or in installments by June 30.
• Send a check to the school's Advancement Office — made payable to Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart.
• Use a credit card online or over the phone, (305) 446-5673, ext. 1278 — Visa or MasterCard
• Donate appreciated securities—call or e-mail Amy Repine for transfer instructions

Please be sure to check with your employer to find out whether you can double or triple your gift through a matching gift program.
You can contact Laura Pons, Annual Fund Manager, (305) 446-5673, ext. 1278 for more information.

The Annual Fund is designed to help cover the current year's anticipated operational expenses. Major Gifts efforts are conducted periodically to provide significant funds for growth, such as construction and renovation of facilities, endowment, and other special purposes. Pledges to the Major Gifts efforts vary according to the financial means of the donor and can be paid over several years.