The Annual Fund is considered the “bread and butter” of fundraising in independent schools. At PCDS, this vibrant six-week campaign takes place each fall and helps to support the operating budget for the current school year. Financial gifts received during the Annual Fund campaign help to make up the difference between what monies tuition generates and the actual cost of our outstanding educational program.
The Annual Fund campaign provides a broad-based and democratic way for PCDS to raise money for its educational programming. Why? The emphasis of our Annual Fund is on family participation. Families are encouraged to contribute at whatever level they feel most comfortable. For the past seven years, over 95% of PCDS families (along with 100% of Faculty and Staff and 100% of the Board of Trustees) participated in the Annual Fund.
The Annual Fund also plays a significant role in the future financial health of our school. Family participation in the Annual Fund is a key indicator to outside funding sources of the level of support we have within our community.
Gifts to the PCDS Annual Fund are unrestricted and are used to maintain and enhance current programs and facilities. The goal for the 2018-19 Annual Fund will be $175,000. Gifts/pledges will be sought during the Annual Fund campaign between October 1 – November 9, 2018.
WHY IS THERE AN ANNUAL FUND? (Or, "Why Doesn't PCDS Just Raise Tuition to Cover The Actual Costs of the Program?)
The Annual Fund allows independent schools like PCDS to keep tuition as competitive and affordable as possible for a majority of our families, while allowing the opportunity for voluntary, tax-deductible contributions to help make up the difference between the tuition raised and the actual cost of our educational program.
We believe that an economically diverse student body enriches the learning experience for all members of our community. In order to facilitate this, we try to strike a balance between: 1) setting a tuition price which covers most of what it costs to run our program; and 2) NOT pricing the tuition so high that it forces our families to choose other options for school.