Annual Giving

We ask every school family to make an annual giving contribution. St. Matthew’s has a strong tradition of 100% participation in Annual Giving by faculty and staff, trustees, and parents.  Alumni, Alumni Parents, Grandparents, Special Friends, and Foundations also give to the Annual Giving Fund. To view a list of donors during the campaign, please log in to the family portal. All donors are listed in our Annual Report, distributed early fall to donors and select members of our community.

We encourage everyone who has a special relationship with St. Matthew’s to show their support with a gift to the School. Each year, we count on this generosity to make our Annual Giving Campaign a success. 

Our goal is 100% participation, and for the last twelve years, we’ve only missed that target once by less than a percent! We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment. 100% parent participation is a demonstration of the commitment, endorsement, and dedication to our School.

High participation levels from parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty, and staff are an essential measure used to evaluate community-wide support when applying for foundation and corporate gifts. Your gift doubles its impact instantly! 

A gift should be made in an amount that is meaningful and generous for your family! A gift – no matter the size – makes an immediate and lasting impact on the students. Contributions of every size are important and help us reach our goals. We ask all members of the community to support St. Matthew’s Annual Giving Program to the best of their ability and we encourage parents to make St. Matthew’s a top philanthropic priority.

Tuition is less than the true cost of a St. Matthew’s education. As with most independent schools, we rely on Annual Giving contributions for a significant portion of the School’s annual operating budget, making up the difference between tuition income and the cost of educating our students. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible. Tuition payments are not.

Donors are recognized in our online Annual Giving Honor Roll on the family portal (requires parent login), in the Annual Report on Philanthropy (published in fall), as well as on the Honor Roll displayed at the Sprague Center throughout the year. The first Honor Roll is displayed in mid-December. 

The School’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30, and all gifts to Annual Giving are recognized in the Annual Report on Philanthropy for that year.

The School will invite all parents to make their gift or pledge in early November. We ask parents to pledge, as soon after they receive their request letter, as they are able. Please plan to make your gift or pledge by January 31, 2025, and payments are appreciated before May 31, 2025. Pledge statements are emailed at the end of April. Current School families yet to participate will receive reminders from the Advancement Office and Board of Trustees. 

Faculty, Staff, Administration and Trustees are asked to give to Annual Giving at the start of the academic year. We ask alumni, grandparents, and friends of the School to join us throughout the year.