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Q.

What is the Annual Fund?

A.

The Norwood School Annual Fund is the yearly request for financial contributions to enhance the operating budget. Appeals begin each October and continue through June 30, the close of the fiscal calendar. The Annual Fund is the cornerstone of Norwood’s fundraising efforts.

Q.

How does the Annual Fund affect the operating budget?

A.

The Annual Fund accounts for approximately five percent of the School’s operating budget for the current school year. Norwood relies on a combination of tuition income, charitable donations, income from auxiliary programs, and interest income to balance our budget each year. Annual Fund donations support all aspects of this budget, including the cost of attracting and retaining the best teachers, offering excellent academic programming, and equipping and maintaining our facilities.

Q.

Who participates in the Annual Fund?

A.

Members of the entire Norwood community participate in the Annual Fund. The School seeks Annual Fund donations from current parents, trustees, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff, past grandparents, and friends. The broad participation Norwood enjoys from all of these constituencies demonstrates widespread support for the School’s mission.

Q.

Why not raise tuition to cover the cost of a Norwood education?

A.

Norwood School is committed to socio-economic diversity and seeks to keep tuition raises to a minimum. Raising tuition further would be prohibitive. Approximately 85% of Norwood’s income comes from tuition, with a significant remainder provided by charitable gifts. In addition, contributions are tax deductible. Without this philanthropic support, Norwood would be forced to make difficult program decisions.

Q.

Why is participation in the Annual Fund so important?

A.

Meeting Norwood’s budget needs requires contributions — small and large — from the entire community. We must also look to outside sources, particularly foundations, for financial support. Foundations are more inclined to award grants to schools that have high constituent participation levels. As the School tries to moderate its reliance on tuition, we must increase revenues from all other sources including Annual Fund gifts, foundation grants, and revenues from auxiliary programs, such as Summer at Norwood. The Annual Fund is the single most important way to maintain Norwood’s tradition of excellence.

Q.

Which is more important: the Annual Fund or the Norwood Annual Benefit?

A.

They are both important, and they serve different purposes. The Annual Fund supports the general operating budget while Annual Benefit proceeds are specifically dedicated toward financial assistance. Norwood needs the funding provided through the Annual Fund to maintain educational excellence and the broad opportunities for our students each year. The Annual Benefit helps extend our ability to service a wide range of students and families and makes us a better school and stronger community. Norwood hopes everyone will consider supporting both of these important initiatives each year.

Q.

How is the Annual Fund different from the endowment?

A.

The Annual Fund enhances the current year’s operating budget, while a school’s endowment is its long-term savings account. A large endowment, well invested, can provide financial stability and a source of income beyond tuition and annual gifts. At present, Norwood has an endowment of approximately $5m, which is small for a school with an annual operating budget of approximately $15m. Building the endowment through a capital campaign and major gifts is a Board priority.

Q.

Does Norwood accept matching gifts?

A.

Yes. Norwood is grateful to the many corporations that support the School through generous matching gift programs. This kind of corporate support makes a significant contribution to Norwood as it can double or triple the size of your gift. Please contact your employer’s human resources department for information on matching gifts to schools.

Q.

How much should we give?

A.

Our goal is 100% participation and your gift — of whatever amount — helps us meet that goal. Donations to the Annual Fund range from $1 to over $20,000. Gifts of all amounts are gratefully appreciated.

Q.

Why does Norwood sometimes ask for specific amounts in Annual Fund letters?

A.

The Annual Fund has grown markedly since we started including ask amounts in solicitation letters, and this growth has been critical to the economic health of the School. While information about gift clubs and average gifts was and is available in our Annual Report, many parents reported that they had no idea what “was expected” of them. Also, asking for a specific amount allows the School to gradually increase gifts from individual donors in order to meet our financial goals as the Annual Fund grows.

Q.

How does Norwood determine the amount it asks someone to consider?

A.

It is an art and not a science. In setting the individual ask amounts, like any school, university or other non-profit institution that must raise funds, we make note of relevant information about prospective donors prior to setting our ask amounts. For families who have been at the School for a year or more, relevant information includes past giving history. We can also draw inferences from the degree to which someone volunteers at Norwood. Our most active volunteers are often among our strongest Annual Fund supporters. For families new to the School and for alumni reconnecting with Norwood, the information relevant to our ask amounts is not always easy to discern. We consider the number of incomes in the household and look at the nature of the occupations, as well as gifts to other charities. We are aware that we make mistakes in the solicitation process, and we are grateful for the understanding of our prospective donors.

Q.

Will I receive more than one request for a gift?

A.

Those who pledge or make their gift early in the fall will receive only one appeal each school year. Follow-up appeal letters and the phonathon calls are directed at those who have yet to make a pledge or gift.