Annual Giving FAQs

Since its founding in 1909, alumni, parents, and friends of St. Albans have demonstrated their commitment to the School through financial contributions. By participating in Annual Giving—at whatever level is comfortable—donors can show their appreciation for the School and the boys have the support they need to grow intellectually, spiritually, artistically, and athletically during their time here.

Why is AG so Important for STA?

  • Annual Giving support builds a crucial bridge between tuition revenue and the actual cost of running the School by supplying nearly 8% of the School’s operating budget ($2.2M in 2014) and helping to cover the $10,000 tuition gap per student.

  • The unrestricted nature of Annual Giving provides the Headmaster and Business Office with the necessary flexibility to address short-term and unanticipated budget needs.

  • Annual Giving helps provide the distinctive qualities that set St. Albans apart from other Independent Schools. Small class size, close student-teacher relationships, library and computing resources, a world-class faculty, and a generous financial aid policy are just a few ways that Annual Giving makes a difference for the boys every day.

  • Relative to endowments that generate revenue at approximately 4.5 percent of their value, gifts to Annual Giving generate immediate revenue for student and faculty support. Seen this way, a leadership contribution of $2,500 to Annual Giving is equal to the revenue of a $55,556 gift to endowment.

  • Conversely, a shortfall in Annual Giving would immediately and adversely impact curriculum offerings, extracurricular activities, financial aid, and faculty compensation.

  • St. Albans has provided boys with an outstanding education for over 100 years. In order to sustain this excellence, the School relies on the generosity of parents, alumni, and friends. Our community's gifts of time, of talent, and of treasure help STA to create a truly unique learning environment for students.

General Questions

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

  • Why should I increase my gift?

    Each year, even with the most prudent spending, annual operating expenses increase. Faculty salaries and benefits must remain competitive, the physical plant and equipment must remain up-to-date, and program support strong. Increasing your support will help St. Albans continue to meet its basic needs using today’s dollars.

  • Are donors to Annual Giving recognized in the Annual Report?

    Yes, unless they wish to remain anonymous. We strongly believe all gifts to St. Albans should be celebrated and honored and recognize all giving (dollars, planned and in-kind) in the Annual Report (published in late August/early September). Donors are listed in giving categories (Gift Clubs starting at $2,500, and tiered for the most recent graduates) as well as with their constituency group(s). We take anonymous designations very seriously to respect the privacy of our alumni.

  • What is The 1909 Society?

    A gift is an outright donation of cash or securities expendable immediately for the benefit of the School, whereas a pledge is a promise of a specific gift before the close of the fiscal year.

    St. Albans encourages alumni to consider pledging specific support in writing with the intention of making a cash gift by the close of the fiscal year (June 30, 2016). Pledges allow the School to accurately project revenues and give alumni the flexibility to demonstrate their intentions early on and make the actual gift at the best time of year for them and their family. Funds raised are put immediately to good use, so it’s important that donors fulfill their commitment as soon as possible. St. Albans needs a successful Annual Giving Campaign to sustain our School this year and in the future.

  • How does my Annual Gift help St. Albans?

    By helping to cover the gap between tuition and the full cost of a St. Albans education, your support of Annual Giving directly helps the boys and their teachers by strengthening the academic program and providing the equivalent of 60 percent of financial aid, thereby enhancing the diversity and talent of our community. Annual Giving allows the School to offer competitive salaries and benefits to faculty and staff, which in turn helps attract and retain the best teachers, and it increases the breadth of the academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities available to our boys. In a very real way, AG pays for excellence at St. Albans.

  • Who are the Headmaster's Associates?

    The Headmaster’s Associates (HMA) are donors who give $2,500 or more, and whose collective support creates the firm financial foundation needed by Annual Giving. Young alumni (1-14 years after graduation) are invited to join the HMA at special introductory levels until their 15th Reunion.

    Headmaster’s Associates (HMA) are donors who give $2,500 or more, and whose collective support creates the firm financial foundation needed by Annual Giving. Young alumni (1-14 years after graduation) are invited to join the HMA at special introductory levels until their 15th Reunion. The leadership of our Headmaster’s Associates is critically important in order for the School to continue to sustain and strengthen its mission. All gifts given to the School in a fiscal year (Annual Giving, Skip Grant Program, capital projects) are counted to recognize a donor for Headmaster’s Associates. Each fall the School hosts the Headmaster’s Associates Reception to thank and celebrate the previous year’s donors. Donors at higher levels may also be invited to more intimate and exclusive events throughout the School year.

For Parents

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • We have been asked to give to the House Tour and the Skip Grant program as well as Annual Giving. We would like to give $5,000 to St. Albans this year. How much should I give to each?

    Each of these programs is essential to St. Albans ongoing mission and we hope you will be able to support all of them in some fashion. Please remember that Annual Giving is the School’s first fundraising priority and absolutely necessary for its continued success. Your Annual Giving dollars immediately help teachers in your son’s Form by enabling St. Albans to provide the highest salaries and best benefit packages in the Washington area and supports the many programs that your son enjoys each day.

  • Do all gifts count toward my Form's participation rate?

    St. Albans greatly appreciates the many ways that parents support the School with their time, treasure, and talent. The Form participation that the School recognizes in the Annual Report, however, is for Annual Giving only. Gifts to other programs and endowments are celebrated in a separate portion of the Annual Report.

  • What is the difference between a gift to Annual Giving and a gift to the Parents' Association?

    Annual Giving accounts for a significant portion of the School’s overall operating budget each year. Gifts to Annual Giving are unrestricted and spent almost immediately, at the discretion of the Headmaster and Director of Finance, on the School’s most pressing financial needs.
     
    The Parents’ Association, through its many activities, especially the Christmas House Tour, funds projects that are not funded by the operating budget. These include annual and rotating bonuses for faculty and staff, faculty development grants, technology grants, and very generous support of the Parents’ Association Mortgage Assistance Endowment during the 2009 Centennial Campaign. The Parents’ Association Executive Committee periodically considers funding projects that align with Parents’ Association priority.

For Alumni

List of 2 frequently asked questions.

  • Do my gifts to other programs and endowments count toward my class participation?

    No. The class participation numbers listed in the Annual Report are for Annual Giving alone. St. Albans deeply appreciates the many ways that donors support the School with time, treasure and talent. The class participation that the School recognizes in the Annual Report, however, is for Annual Giving only. Gifts to other programs and endowments are celebrated in a separate portion of the Annual Report.

  • Why shouldn't our class raise money for a restricted gift or special project?

    Our experience—and that of other independent schools and colleges—shows that it is very difficult for an entire class to rally behind one project. If you or someone you know has interest in a specific project, please contact Executive Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Dave Steadman at 202-537-5687 or dsteadman@cathedral.org for guidance.

St. Albans School

Phone: 202-537-6435
Located in Washington D.C.,  St. Albans School is a private, all boys day and boarding school. For more than a century, St. Albans has offered a distinctive educational experience for young men in grades 4 through 12. While our students reach exceptional academic goals and exhibit first-rate athletic and artistic achievements, as an Episcopal school we place equal emphasis upon moral and spiritual education.