 | Fundraising is an integral part of funding an independent school education. The Pegasus School, like most successful independent schools, receives no financial support from the local, state or federal governments. Successful independent schools rely on tuition, annual giving contributions, grants and endowment income to meet their operating expenses. At Pegasus, these funds are critical in making it possible for us to develop and implement new programs and approaches that best enable our children to develop the necessary skills to excel in the 21st century.
As Pegasus establishes annual fundraising goals, it is important that each family participates at a level commensurate with their financial ability throughout their tenure with our school.
With the help of dedicated volunteers, the Office of Advancement directs our school’s fundraising efforts. The principal vehicles for contributions are:
- Annual Fund – On Golden Wings (September – June)
- Annual Spring Benefit (March)
- Endowment (Ongoing)
The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) also conducts fundraising to support its activities and the teachers’ wish lists. The PTO raises funds through:
- Jog-a-Thon (October)
- Scrip and Vendor Rebate Programs (Ongoing)
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| | Frequently Asked Questions | Q. | Why does The Pegasus School ask for charitable support in addition to tuition? | | A. | Tuition and other program revenue fund 90% of the operating budget. Charitable giving bridges the gap between revenue and expenses. The Board is committed to making a Pegasus education affordable to qualified students, bringing students the benefits of socio-economic diversity. Gifts to Pegasus are tax-deductible; tuition is not. Donations of time and resources may also qualify for corporate matching gifts. |
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| Q. | How does my child benefit when I make a donation? | | A. | Financial support beyond tuition sustains and enhances Pegasus’ extraordinary programs and facilities. This means our school can provide competitive faculty salaries and benefits, full-time assistants, small classes, specialists in math, reading, technology and the arts, and extra-curriculars not always found at other schools. This all translates to more individualized attention, increased intellectual stimulation and a challenging environment that creates lifelong learners. |
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| Q. | Does everyone participate in the On Golden Wings annual campaign? | | A. | Traditionally, 100% of our faculty/staff and Board of Trustees and 90-95% of our families contribute to On Golden Wings. Many grandparents and alumni families also participate. |
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| Q. | How much am I expected to contribute to On Golden Wings? | | A. | We hope that Pegasus will be one of your family's top philanthropic priorities. We expect each family to give a personally significant gift based on their financial ability. In 2007-2008, the average gift amount, per student, was $1,100. We appreciate all gifts. |
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| Q. | What is the Pegasus endowment? | | A. | Our school endowment, established in 2003, is designed to enhance the long-term financial security of Pegasus. Endowment principal remains intact as our school may spend a percntage of the interest income each year. Donations may be designated to any of the following funds: The Vision Fund, The Fund for Innovation in Teaching, and The Bright Stars Fund. |
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| Q. | What types of things does the endowment fund? | | A. | Income earned from the endowment has funded extensive classroom technology, such as student laptops, interactive white boards, and document cameras, an international student art exhibit, attendance at educational conferences, faculty graduate degree work, and financial aid. As the endowment is carefully managed it will eventually supplement our operating budget and ideally, temper tuition increases.
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| Q. | How can I make a gift to The Pegasus School? | | A. | Gifts may be made online, through the mail or in person. We accept cash, check, credit card and gifts of stock. We also accept pledges as well as gifts made through the United Way and corporate matching gift programs. To give online, please click here: http://www.thepegasusschool.org/podium/default.aspx?t=40854 |
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