An independent, college preparatory, co-ed, Episcopal Day School serves a community of students in grades 6-12.
Issue link: http://palmertrinityschool.uberflip.com/i/1525057
Q: If Palmer Trinity were run in a more businesslike way, couldn't they charge the full cost and avoid having to ask for gifts? A: A for-profit business, whose mission is to make money, does not align with a school whose mission is to provide children with an exceptional education. By nature, high- quality schools are labor-intensive and people-oriented. ese schools cannot get more efficient by combining classrooms or reducing staff. It comes down to this: e rising cost of faculty salaries and benefits drives the cost of independent school education. Palmer Trinity needs to pay its faculty members enough to enjoy middle-income lifestyles and support their families. To offer competitive salaries and provide the programs you want your children to have, Palmer Trinity has to raise tuition, offer those summer camps, and ask you for a gift. Q: How does financial aid fit into the fund-raising picture? A: e Annual Fund allows Palmer Trinity to offer the financial aid that supports a diverse student body. Without donations sufficient to meet operating costs, more tuition dollars would have to go to operations—leaving fewer dollars for financial aid. Your gifts make Palmer Trinity affordable to a wider range of students, bringing your child the many benefits of social and economic diversity. Q: My school just announced a capital campaign. Why should I give for new buildings and programs the School won't offer until after my child graduates? A: In any school that's more than 10 or 15 years old, parents of previous generations of students gave the money to fund the resources your child enjoys today. As the saying goes, all children are warmed by the fires built by others. Correspondingly, it's up to you as a parent of today to help make sure that the School is there for children 10, 20, and 30 years from now. It's a pay-it-forward situation—you're paying dues to the future. But there is also a more self-serving motivation. Your generous investment in the enhancements of tomorrow will build the School's long-term reputation, which will always benefit your child as an alumnus. Q: Are there more reasons to give? A: Of course. Many people take pride in the recognition that comes with appearing on the list of the School's donor honor roll. Others enjoy being involved in fundraising activities because it lets them make social contacts. Some view giving as a way to 6