The Case for Annual Giving
From: Marc Schulman, Chairman of the Board & Elisa Akrongold, Chair of the Annual Campaign

Like nearly every private school and Jewish Day School, tuition and fees at Westchester Fairfield do not cover the full cost of educating each child. In our school, the tuition we pay covers only about 60% of the cost per child. In fact, the gap between total tuition income and cost averages more than $6,000 per student.

We must close this gap with annual contributions in order to maintain the quality of experience our children have. Our costs will keep rising. But annual gifts reduce the pressure on the school for tuition increases. Excellent teachers and low student to teacher ratios distinguish our classrooms. Annual giving enables the school to maintain small class size and to do more to retain the best of our staff; and it strengthens us in the highly competitive marketplace for teachers. Socio-economic diversity enriches our community. Annual giving makes it possible, attracting new families and dedicated teachers, alike.

Quality education also means continuously upgrading the classroom tools our children and teachers use. Giving, above and beyond the tuition we pay, provides the wherewithal. It's also the source for enhanced music, fine arts and performing arts programs that add to the high quality general and Judaic studies curriculum our children enjoy.

The school actively seeks - and succeeds in getting - contributions from "friends" and outside foundations and individuals with a special interest in Jewish day school education. But these prospective outside donors - almost without fail -- ask and often condition their giving on the support the school can demonstrate from parents. So, parent giving is vital to these ongoing efforts. Very soon, it will be crucial to attract the outside support we will need to fulfill our plans for expansion.

Every participant in Annual Giving - parents, especially -- helps safeguard and improve the quality of education we have today, and our plans for the future.

WFHA's annual campaign has two goals. Of course, we seek to raise the most we can. But in keeping with our strong sense of community, the annual campaign places equal emphasis on 100% participation. Every family should participate because every child and family benefits when we succeed. WFHA welcomes gifts at all levels. We ask every parent to give and, of course, as generously as possible. Every gift is fully tax-deductible.

Should you have any questions or if you would like to volunteer to assist us, please call us.

Our thanks in advance for your support.

Questions our parents frequently ask… back to top

Why me?

It's not just you. We wouldn't ask you to do what others have not already done. During the course of this year, we will call on every WFHA family to contribute.

But my gift won't matter…

You matter. Without you we cannot achieve 100% participation. Everyone who participates - no matter the size of the gift -- will be recognized. Parents will see your participation and IT WILL MATTER - to those who have given already or haven't yet. It will matter to our staff, to outside donors and most of all, to all our children.

I can't give very much…

Everyone's circumstances are different. We encourage every family to contribute as generously as it can. But annual giving is just as much about participation, not the size of your gift. Everyone is recognized equally. Of course, if you'd prefer to give anonymously that's okay, too, just let us know on your pledge form.

But I usually give for Erev Tov…

Erev Tov support is important. We all intend to support that, too. But the best way we can support Erev Tov is to get gifts from others rather than give them ourselves. That way the school builds new relationships and new friends.

Isn't tuition still going to go up?

Nothing can stop costs from rising. But the greater the success the school has in fundraising the less pressure there will be for large tuition increases. And for most of us, there's benefit in being able to help the school in a way that's tax-deductible rather than through tuition, which is not.

Why are you pushing for so much?

Remember, closing the budget gap only enables the school to meet the commitments it's already made. Having additional funds underwrites the ability to do much more. You know that the school is planning for expansion. That's going to require a lot of outside support. We've got to be able to show outside donors in an unmistakable way that we've done our part.

My company has a matching gift program…

That can be really helpful and in most instances our school qualifies to receive matching funds. Let us know about your company on the pledge form and we'll be in touch to submit whatever information is required.