THE ANNUAL FUND

Annual Fund FAQ's

How will the Annual Fund help us accomplish our strategic goals?
It's because you give to the Annual Fund that the value of an All Saints Cathedral School’s education significantly transcends what our families pay for the same.  Your gifts are helping to plant the seeds for the future of All Saints Cathedral School. It is critical that we show strong support of the Annual Fund from those closest to the school. A successful annual fund will be one of those first questions asked by partners who want to ensure that our parents support the mission of the school. When approached for significant investment in the school’s capital projects and campaign, outside constituents will ask some basic questions about the school’s track record of success.

What does The Annual Fund pay for?
The Annual Fund helps pay for everything that makes All Saints Cathedral School unique. As in all established independent schools, there is a gap between what is funded by tuition and fees and what it actually costs to educate our students. The amount of this gap varies by school; at All Saints Cathedral School we rely on The Annual Fund to support approximately 13% of our school’s budget. These unrestricted annual fund gifts provide for professional development, technology, music, arts, athletics, curricula enhancement and enrichment programs and other creative approaches to learning. 
​
This year, we have invested in some specific efforts that would not have been possible without the success of The Annual Fund. They included physical plant restoration and renovation projects, furniture replacement, integrating technology into our curriculum to meet the needs of our students by providing online support in Mathematics, professional development for our teachers, and technology purchases such as iPads and whiteboards.
​
Want to support a specific program or cause? If a family is interested in making a restricted gift, they should contact the Development Office to discuss available options. Restricted gifts provide opportunities for parents, grandparents and the community to support specific projects at All Saints Cathedral School. Nevertheless, we want everyone to realize that our first and most important priority is ensuring The Annual Fund is fully supported. 

Why can’t you just raise tuition to cover the difference?
All Saints Cathedral School has a long-standing tradition of aiming to be ‘affordable’ for a working family in St. Thomas. While the term ‘affordable’ may be relative, we believe that any large increases in tuition may inhibit the retention and admission of a student body which represents the diverse learning environment that helps our students thrive. 

Donations and gifts to The Annual Fund assist with keeping tuition affordable and provide a mechanism for All Saints Cathedral School to support those in need of assistance. 

What did the school raise in the 2018-19 school year?
Last year, the All Saints Cathedral School’s community was very generous. The Annual Fund, through direct gifts, staff and board campaigns, special events, sale of paraphernalia, raffles, ASCS license plates, grants and foundations awards, raised approximately $461,247.00. Faculty/Staff was participation was 92%.

What is our 2021-22 Goal?
Our 2021-22 Annual Acorn Fund has both a participation and a financial goal. We seek 100% parent, board and faculty participation to raise $400,000 in financial support. It cannot be stressed enough that participation by all community members is essential, and every gift in any size makes a difference in students' lives. High participation in The Annual Fund is a vote of confidence to members of the All Saints Cathedral School community, a vote of confidence to foundations, prospective families, job candidates, and increases the likelihood of the school raising more money from grants and corporate gifts. 
​
How do I decide what amount to give?
The only gift too small is no gift at all. There is not a ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question. Everyone should give to the best of their ability. While participation is important, we hope our parents and board members will consider an increased gift over that provided last year. It is that extra “stretch” that ensures we meet and exceed our expectations.

Is it worth it to give a small gift?
Yes! Gifts of $100 or less to last year’s Annual Fund totaled more than $32,000. As stated before - the only gift that is too small is no gift at all.

How to give?
Giving is easy! Make your gift online with a credit card, or mail a check marked Annual Fund to All Saints Cathedral School, P.O. Box 308, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00804. You can also drop your check off at the school or make a donation over the phone by calling the Development Office.  Be sure to ask your employer about corporate matching gifts; you could double the impact of your gift! If your contribution is matched, you will be recognized for the value of your gift plus any match. Parents can also consider a transfer of securities - gifts of stock, real estate and other personal property may net an income tax deduction for full fair market value.