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Q
What is the Annual Giving Campaign?
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A
The Annual Giving Campaign is ACS’s yearly fundraising initiative that raises money to support this year’s operating budget of our school. These funds, along with tuition and proceeds from the Dinner Auction, are the primary sources of income that support your child’s education.
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Q
What are Annual Giving funds used for and how do the funds benefit my child?
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Your Annual Giving dollars are put to use in the classroom immediately and throughout the academic year. These dollars allow ACS to provide outstanding educational enrichment programs and employ quality teachers and staff who create the nurturing educational experience our children love. Specifically, contributions allow ACS to provide:
• Small class sizes and greater teacher contact
• Hands-on curriculum for every age level
• Classroom technology integration
• Innovative academic and enrichment programs including Drama, Art, Music, Robotics, Science, Foreign Language and Physical Education
• Field trips
• Support for day-to-day operating expenses and improved compensation for our teachers.
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Q
Why not just raise tuition?
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A
By offering an opportunity for tax-deductible donations, the Annual Giving Campaign helps ACS keep tuition more affordable for all families and promotes greater socioeconomic diversity in our community. Keep in mind: while a gift to the Annual Giving Campaign is tax-deductible, tuition is not.
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Q
How much do we need to raise?
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This year, to meet ACS’s budget, our campaign goal is to raise $250,000 — equal to roughly $600 per student.
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Q
Are the ACS faculty and Board of Trustees involved in the campaign?
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YES! For the fifth year in a row, 100% ACS’s faculty and Board of Trustees have pledged a donation to this year's campaign! We are grateful for the support as it signals their belief and partnership in our efforts to Educate Children in Community.
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Q
I already gave to the Fund Run, why should I give again?
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A
There are two direct requests for funds each year because both the core academic program supported by Annual Giving, and the memory making events sponsored by the Parent Service Auxiliary (PSA) Fund Run, are what make the Almaden Country School experience extraordinary. Your donation to the Annual Giving Campaign is the single most important monetary gift your family can make to the school every year. Annual Giving dollars are essential to support our teachers and educational enrichment expenses that are fundamental to an ACS education.
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Q
How do funds raised from the Fund Run and Annual Giving Campaign differ?
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Fund Run proceeds support ACS’s memory-making events and programs, run by the PSA, which give children and their families joyful extracurricular experiences. These events include the Back to School Dinner, Pumpkin Carving Event, Teacher Appreciation Luncheons, Middle School Socials and Middle School EDGE Day Program.
A donation to the Annual Giving Campaign is the single most important monetary gift your family can make to the school every year. Annual Giving Campaign dollars are essential to support our teachers and educational and enrichment program expenses that are fundamentals of an ACS education.
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Q
How much should I give?
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First and foremost, we should state that any and all gifts to the Annual Giving Campaign are welcome and appreciated. In order to reach the goal we understand that some families are unable to donate at the $600 level and others can contribute significantly more. If you are able, we ask you to consider becoming a Leadership Donor with a gift of $1,500 or more. We believe that if everyone gives a gift that is meaningful for their particular financial situation, ACS will reach its goal. Please remember all gifts are tax-deductible and every gift counts!
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Q
What is a “Leadership Donor” and how can I become one?
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ACS recognizes gifts of $1,500 or more as “Leadership Donations.” These donors are honored at a special reception with our Board of Trustees and Administrators each fall.
Leadership donations are calculated based on combination of personal donations and matching gifts.
While proceeds of items purchased at our Annual Dinner auction benefit the school, they are only tax deductible to the extent they exceed the value of the item and do not count towards becoming a Leadership Donor. “Raise the Paddle” donations count toward the AGC.
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Q
What is a “Matching Gift” and how do I know if we are eligible?
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Your gift can be doubled or tripled if you or your significant other works for a company with a matching gift program.
It’s easy to find out if your company matches. See the sidebar to the right for an easy link.
New companies are added each year. For example, Apple added a matching program last year, and LinkedIn’s program came online this past January. It’s worth a look.
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Q
Why is ACS consolidating its campaign into just five weeks?
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In the past, ACS’s Annual Giving Campaign has spanned the entire school year. This year, we will be completing our campaign in five weeks for two reasons:
• First, a successful campaign early in the year assures the Board of Trustees and Administration that finances are available to move forward with the exciting plans they already have for the school year.
• Second, by wrapping up before Thanksgiving, our ACS families and campaign volunteers will to be able to focus over the holiday season on other family and school activities.
Once you have made your annual gift or pledge, you will not receive another Annual Giving Campaign solicitation until the next academic year.
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How can I give?
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Since ACS operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Cash: You may simply write a check payable Almaden Country School for the entire amount.
Credit Card: You can charge your gift to your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover card online via our secure server. Just go to the ACS homepage and click on the Annual Giving Fund button.
Securities: Many individuals donate appreciated stock or mutual funds to Almaden Country School. Such gifts, or other gifts involving securities, can have significant tax advantages. For instructions, please contact Jennifer Hull at jshull@a-cs.org or 408-997-0424 in the Advancement Office for assistance.
Matching Gifts: Many corporations will match an employee’s gift to a school. Just see sidebar to right for information on matching gifts. When applying for a match, companies often ask for the recipient organization’s Federal Tax Identification Number (EIN). ACS’s EIN is 77-0451623.
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I can’t give now, but would like to later. Can I do that?
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Absolutely! We are happy to take your campaign pledge now and your payment later. All campaign pledge payments are due by April 30.
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Can I break my pledge into several payments?
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Yes. We would be happy to set up an electronic funds transfer (EFT) for you to make paying your pledge easy. If you’d prefer a different arrangement, please contact Jennifer Hull in the Advancement Office at jshull@a-cs.org or 408-997-0424.
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May I designate how my gift will be used?
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Gifts to the Annual Giving Campaign support our teachers and educational and enrichment program expenses that are fundamentals of an ACS education. If you’d like to make a gift for another purpose, please contact Jennifer Hull in the Advancement Office at jshull@a-cs.org or 408-997-0424.