Annual Fund FAQs

The Annual Fund addresses the gap between operating expenses and tuition income. If CSS only relied on tuition and did not conduct fundraising campaigns, tuition would actually be higher. Currently, tuition and fees account for only 80 percent of CSS's annual income.

Independent schools, colleges and universities rely on their Annual Fund – in addition to tuition dollars – to effectively deliver their mission. CSS strives to maintain a socio-economically diverse student body while keeping tuition as reasonable as possible.

Tax laws are designed to encourage voluntary financial support of nonprofit groups, including independent institutions like The Colorado Springs School. Annual Fund gifts are tax-deductible, whereas tuition dollars are not. The current national climate has strong financial incentives to give tax-deductible gifts this year and in Colorado our donors may take advantage of the Colorado Childcare Tax Credit (a 50% tax credit on your Colorado taxes for qualified donors). We encourage you to talk with your accountant, CPA, or financial advisor about your personal situation.

It is our hope that The Colorado Springs School will be your family’s top philanthropic priority.

• Individual gifts to the Annual Fund range from $25 to $50,000 or more.
• The Claremont Society promotes giving levels of $1,962 (signifying the year of the school’s inception) or more. In fact, 80 to 90 percent of the CSS Annual Fund comes from the generosity of Claremont Society donors each year. Claremont Society donors receive special recognition at an annual Claremont Society reception.
• Major Giving is recognized for gifts of $5,000 or more.
• If you are interested in funding the gap for a student, this amount equates to approximately $2,600 per student each year.
• We simply ask that you give at a level that is meaningful to your family. Donors are recognized in the Honor Roll of Donors and parent participation is reported by grade level.
  

It is an art and not a science. We consider things like previous giving history, conversations had with potential donors, a review of each donor’s life circumstances, etc. We prefer to work with our donors to determine what they can give – always feel free to contact the Advancement Office to talk through your giving level.

The Colorado Springs School fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30 of each year. The Annual Fund campaign coincides with the start of the school year, and CSS continues to solicit funds through June 30, marking the end of the school’s fiscal year. Please feel free to communicate with us if you feel you are being solicited too often.

CSS will continue to seek financial support and participation through other fundraising activities throughout the year. The Annual Fund is the school’s highest fundraising priority and we encourage you to, similarly, prioritize your giving goals to the Annual Fund.

Other CSS fundraising initiatives include:

• Parents Association Fun Run and Carnival
• Kodiak Athletic Booster Club Memberships
• Signature Event & Auction
• Capital Priorities
• Planned Giving

Student-led fundraisers are limited. Teams, clubs, and classes receive modest budgets and cannot launch individual fundraising efforts without prior written approval from the Advancement Office.

The Annual Fund enhances the current year’s operating budget, while a school’s endowment is its long-term savings account.

Absolutely! We are all a part of the CSS community. Any gift received, large or small, is greatly appreciated and is acknowledged with enthusiasm and gratitude. We also recognize the power of many small gifts.

Strong participation in giving to the Annual Fund is key to attracting further philanthropic and corporate funding. Philanthropic organizations are more inclined to make their own gifts and grants when there is 100 percent participation from trustees, faculty and staff. Achieving 100 percent parent participation is one of the top goals for the CSS Annual Fund campaign! Proudly, each year the CSS Board of Trustees and the faculty and staff Annual Fund campaigns have achieved 100 percent participation.

Achieving 100 percent parent participation is one of the top goals for the CSS Annual Fund campaign! You can pledge today to give to the Annual Fund and simply pay the pledge in full by June 30. A pledge helps build momentum in our solicitation of gifts. Gifts can be made by check, cash, credit card or gifts of stock. Monthly credit card installments are also a popular means of payment over the course of the fiscal year. Learn more on ways to give here.

Annual Fund donations support all aspects of the budget, including the cost of attracting and retaining masterful teachers, offering superior academic programming, and equipping and maintaining our facilities.

We emphasize good stewardship with our resources and have maximized student experiences through difficult economic times. All the while CSS carries no debt while maintaining the assets of a 28 acre campus with eight buildings.

We believe that an investment in CSS is an investment in our school’s future, and more importantly, an investment in each individual student’s future.

A contribution made in honor of a faculty and/or staff member, a friend, or a loved one, is encouraged and replaces your individual recognition. On your pledge form, there is a designated place for you to indicate whom you would like to honor. Please be sure to also include the person’s address. A special card will be sent to the recipient announcing that a gift was made to the school, however, no amount will be revealed.

Yes. The Colorado Springs School respects any donor’s wish to remain anonymous. An anonymous gift can still receive a tax receipt and acknowledgement.

The CSS Annual Fund campaign ends yearly on October 31, but the school does accept gifts year-round. Having funds accounted for by October 31 allows the school to operate with funds available on hand and is a much more efficient way to plan spending and operations.

Let's talk first. The Colorado Springs School can consider a restricted gift for specific items. The school's leadership and development committee will need to determine whether the gift can fulfill strategic priorities. They must also consider whether the amount offered will fully cover the cost of the purchase, any installment expenses, ongoing maintenance, professional development, or add-ons to meet the spirit of the gift. Ultimately, restricted gifts that offset budgeted expenses are the best kind of restricted gifts. Contact the Advancement Office at (719) 434-3506 to discuss.