What is the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is a yearly fundraising campaign that provides unrestricted dollars to the school’s operating budget. Each year we appeal to all members of the RA community to make an investment in the Academy's current students with a gift to the Annual Fund. The program is launched in early October when pledges and gifts are received and concludes at the end of the fiscal school year on June 30th, when all pledges must be fulfilled. Annual Fund donations are spent within the school year in which they were received and support a variety of initiatives. Ridgefield Academy is a recognized non-profit organization. All charitable gifts to the school are tax deductible.
Why is the Annual Fund Important?
Tuition alone is not enough to cover the total annual operating costs of running Ridgefield Academy. Like all independent schools, Ridgefield Academy relies on the generosity of it current and past parents, grandparents and friends to help fund the enriching and engaging program we offer. Tuition dollars help us offer a good program. Contributions to our Annual Fund help us offer an exceptional program. Annual Fund dollars amount for nearly 8% of the school’s operating budget and are critical to maintaining the quality program that we offer.
Where do Annual Fund dollars go?
Annual Fund dollars support a variety of initiatives including but not limited to:
- Challenging and innovative academic, athletic, and arts programs
- Enhanced science and technology programs and facilities
- Recruitment of highly talented faculty by offering competitive salaries, benefit packages, and opportunities for professional development
- Small class sizes designed to enable teachers to offer more individualized attention
- Maintain our physical plant
- Promote a diverse student body
Who should participate in the Annual Fund?
It is our hope that everyone who is part of our extended school community will support our school. Your participation--not the size of your gift--is what is most important. Depending on individual financial circumstances, contributions range from $5 to $20,000 or more. We ask that every member of the RA community give as generously as possible within his or her means, and we need and appreciate gifts of every amount.
A high rate of participation is an important measure of the breadth of involvement by the RA community, and decisions by foundations and corporations to fund non-profit organizations such as RA are positively influenced by strong, broad support. Corporate matching gifts programs enable donors to increase the impact of their contribution and are an invaluable source of additional revenue for the Annual Fund.