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The Annual Fund bridges the gap between tuition and the actual cost to educate a Priory student. The Annual Fund allows Priory to maintain the highest quality college preparatory program, while keeping tuition levels competitive with other area schools and accessible to more families, thereby allowing us to recruit the most qualified students regardless of financial ability. This includes the best teachers, small class sizes, outstanding technological resources and exceptional arts and athletics. For Priory students this means more personal attention, increased intellectual stimulation, better discipline and a more rigorous curriculum. Annual Giving is one of the most important fundraising programs at Saint Louis Priory School. Contributions from parents, grandparents, alumni, former parents, and friends help the School meet recurring operating expenses such as curriculum development, faculty compensation and integrated technological support not covered by tuition, fees or endowment income. These contributions provide expendable assets to: • Provide scholarships.
• Recruit the best teachers.
• Maintain a good student-teacher ratio.
• Provide the best learning environment.
• Continue to support our athletic programs.
• Continue to support our art programs.
Every Gift Counts Gifts of all sizes are welcome. You can participate at a level that is comfortable for you. Each gift, regardless of size, strengthens the school's participation rate and demonstrates a vote of confidence. Your tax-deductible gift directly supports Priory’s academics, athletics, arts and other exceptional educational experiences. Moreover, choosing to participate in the Annual Fund contributes to the family atmosphere that defines our School.
Why Your Participation Is So Important:
Everyone involved with Saint Louis Priory School is asked to make a gift to the Annual Fund each year. Parents, alumni, former parents, grandparents and friends all contribute to the Annual Fund because they care about our School. Your support of the Annual Fund is a powerful statement about your beliefs and commitment to each student’s intellectual, spiritual and personal development. Participation sends a vital message to the community: the people, who are the closest to the heart of the school, support its mission and the ideals of a Benedictine education.
Are Priory families obligated to give?
Priory’s success is the result of the generosity of those who have given to the school in the past. And to continue this tradition of excellence and growth, every member of the Priory family does have an obligation to give, within their means. Charitable giving is a private family decision and is never compulsory.
Will our gift really make a difference?
Yes, absolutely. Annual Fund gifts have a direct impact on Priory's strong academics, athletics, fine arts, and other programs in which our students excel. We rely in part upon annual gifts to the school for everything from teachers' salaries to our utility bills. Every gift counts. Widespread Annual Fund participation is essential to encouraging both individual and organizational major gifts. Gifts of any amount demonstrate confidence in Priory and caring toward the school community.
I donated to the Xanadu Auction. Doesn’t that take care of my Annual Giving contribution?
Participation in any school fundraiser is deeply appreciated and needed. The Annual Fund is significant part of our fundraising efforts at Priory. It is an outright gift to the School thereby making it fully tax-deductible. We rely on Annual Fund dollars as much as the money we raise from our event-based fundraisers like the auction.
How do I make my Annual Fund gift?
We welcome gifts in many ways. We accept cash, checks, credit cards, matching gifts and gifts of stock. Please keep in mind that you can make your gift now in the form of a pledge and fulfill your pledge in installments at your convenience by the end of our fiscal year, July 31.
How much should I give?
Only you can decide how much to contribute to the Annual Fund each year. We hope that every member of our school community will make Saint Louis Priory School a philanthropic priority. Even if you can’t give much now, we value your participation at any level because it is a visible sign of your support. Our goal each year is to have 100% participation from all of our constituencies. Strong Annual Fund participation is indicative of a strong school. In the past, gifts have ranged from $5 to $15,000. The decision of how much to give is a private matter for individuals and families. No matter the amount, every gift to Priory is needed and is greatly appreciated.
Why does Saint Louis Priory School need the Annual Fund when current parents are asked to pay tuition? Why not increase the tuition if it doesn’t cover all the costs?
Saint Louis Priory School is a independent, Catholic school. As an independent school, we are able to accept the most qualified students and hire the most capable and challenging faculty members. Priory is able to determine its own curriculum and carry out an academic and extra-curricular program that prepares students for college and beyond. The quality education at Priory is provided by tuition, the Annual Fund and other special fundraising projects. This income is vital to the School’s health and well-being. Raising tuition to meet all costs would mean that many families would be unable to send their children to Priory.
Financially, this is not a good time for us right now. Isn’t it unreasonable to ask for us to contribute to the Annual Fund?
In this situation, we hope that you would consider making a "participatory" gift. Every gift of every size makes a difference to the school. Also, please keep in mind that you can make your gift now in the form of a pledge and fulfill your pledge in installments at your convenience by the end of our fiscal year, July 31.
Can Saint Louis Priory School cut expenses?
Priory’s strengths include its extensive programs, small class size, and the close personal relationship between faculty and students. Each year, the Finance Committee of the Board of Advisors carefully reviews and approves operating budgets to be as cost-effective as possible. Reduction in staff, facilities or programs – academic, athletics, arts – could negatively affect the quality of our students’ education.
What if I don’t like something at Priory and feel the only way I can express my displeasure is to withhold support from the Annual Fund?
Please do not use the Annual Fund to “punish” the school; the ones who directly suffer are the students and teachers. If something is upsetting you, please talk to the person involved. If you are still dissatisfied, please contact Father Michael Brunner, OSB, Headmaster. Priory encourages open discussion and strives to communicate effectively with all members of its school community.
Goal and Progress Report
Our Annual Fund goal for this year is $370,000.
Matching Gift Information
Saint Louis Priory School benefits from many matching gift programs. If you or your spouse work for a matching gift company, please request a matching gift form from your company’s coordinator and enclose it with your gift.
A matching gift occurs when participating companies match (sometimes up to double or triple) the amount of dollars given to Saint Louis Priory School by their employees and spouses, or retirees. The company matches the gift only after the donor has sent his or her gift to Priory along with the company’s matching gift form. These forms can be obtained from the personnel offices of most companies. Check with your personnel office to find out what kind of gifts they match.
How to Give
There are a number of ways to show your support of Saint Louis Priory School, all of which are an important part of the development program.
GIFTS OF CASH
Cash is still the most popular way to make a tax-deductible charitable gift. Checks should be made payable to Saint Louis Priory School and mailed to: Development Office, 500 S. Mason Road, Saint Louis, MO 63141.
CREDIT CARDS
Gifts by VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are welcomed. Please call the Development Office at 314.434. 3690, ext. 311 to make a credit card donation.
SECURITIES
Contributing appreciated securities could be advantageous to you, as you may avoid capital gains taxes and reduce your taxable income by deducting the full current market value of the securities. Please have your broker call Priory when you have decided what stock(s) you will be giving, and then send us a copy of the letter of instruction to Julie Lohr, Director of Development, advising her of a stock transfer, or with any questions about giving to Priory.
Contact Information
Thank you for your interest in supporting Saint Louis Priory School. As always, you can reach the Development Office at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by calling 314.434.3690, ext. 310.
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