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Fundraising at FASNY
Giving to the French-American School of New York is both generous, and essential.
Private education in America is not subsidized by government agencies and tuition alone does not provide sufficient funds to offer the distinctive and challenging bilingual, bicultural program we treasure at FASNY. Our mission at FASNY of offering exceptional educational opportunities for our children is only possible with your generous donations. The participation of everyone is essential, and gifts of all amounts help us achieve our overall goal.
Your gifts help keep classes small and teacher quality high. We maintain a teacher to student ratio of 1:9 to ensure individualized attention and focus. Eighty-five percent of our faculty have advanced degrees, an unprecedented accomplishment for a school our size.
Your contributions allow us to attract, retain and fairly compensate teachers of this stature as well as provide them with professional development opportunities to expand the knowledge they bring to the classroom.
Your gifts enhance FASNY’s rigorous academic program with courses in five languages, the arts, music, athletics and technology, guaranteeing that our students are afforded the well-rounded preparation that competitive colleges require. They also make it possible for all qualified children to experience our multicultural community, thereby enabling their successful navigation of our diverse, global society.
Finally, participation to the Fund for FASNY is an important factor in the decision of outside funders, such as corporations and private foundations, to award grants to the School. Participation shows potential funders that parents are enthusiastic about our education model and that the School is worthy of support.
We expect all members of the FASNY community to support The Fund for FASNY at the level that they are comfortable with.
Fund for FASNY
The Fund for FASNY is the lifeblood of our School, and we are grateful for your continued annual support. Your generosity reflects your understanding of our School, its mission and our future.
The size and flexibility of the Fund ensures the resources to sustain our distinctive margin of excellence. By supporting an increasing amount of the annual operating budget, the Fund for FASNY protects the educational, athletics, visual arts and financial aid programs in which FASNY has so strategically invested. The Fund for FASNY also demonstrates alumni, staff and parent support of FASNY, a critical predictor of our success when seeking support from foundations and corporations.
Senior Fund
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A special fund within the Fund for FASNY, the Senior Fund directly supports programs that enhance the intellectual and cultural quality of school life in High School. Launched in 2009 as a celebration of FASNY’s first graduating High School class, the Senior Fund:
- Is restricted to the High School
- Supports global learning experiences – The Senior Fund contributes to field trips, which means parents are not charged the full price, but a discounted fee
- Leaves a legacy for upcoming classes – Last year’s gifts from the Senior Class are benefitting the current Senior Class – It is paying forward
- Is a gift of gratitude for the great FASNY experience: acceptance in the best institutions of higher education all over the world; extraordinary personalized support for every student; and finally the FASNY culture – open mindedness, encouragement, positive attitude, lifetime friendships all over the world
- Is your gift to the Fund For FASNY – All gifts to the Fund for FASNY from senior class parents are automatically designated to the Senior Fund, unless otherwise specified by the donor. Because the Senior Fund is part of the Fund For FASNY, your gift to the Senior Fund counts towards the participation rate of all your children’s classes, just as a gift to the Fund For FASNY does.
We are looking for 100% participation – Parent participation shows the support of the whole community. It is also a main factor in the institutional donors’ decision to award grants to the school.
A few examples of the programs financed in part by the Senior Fund:
Olivia Tucker Scholarship Fund
Alumni Fund
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A special fund within the Fund for FASNY, the Alumni Fund directly supports programs of continuing education for our faculty. Launched in 2016, the Alumni Fund honors the teachers who make FASNY’s unique educational model so successful year after year, thanks to their daily contribution of time and talent and their dedication to the students. Gifts to the Alumni Fund contribute to offer faculty the opportunity to stay at the cutting edge of the latest creative teaching methods, thereby benefitting both teachers and students.
We hope you will consider making a contribution to the Alumni Fund before the school's fiscal year ends on June 30, 2017. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful. The fact that you give is far more important than how much; your participation highlights the powerful connection that alumni have to FASNY, sends an important message of commitment to the community and inspires others to give.
Wherever you are in the world — and FASNY graduates cover the globe — you are part of the FASNY community and you carry with you the memory of your student days in our unique international environment. By giving to the Alumni Fund today, you ensure that the opportunities you enjoyed will be available for new generations of FASNY students. We offer three giving societies for the Alumni Fund to foster our tradition of philanthropy and recognize our supporters.
| Alumni Giving levels | |
| Young Alumni Society | Up to $100 |
| Citizens of the World Society | $101 to $250 |
| Lifelong Learners Society | $251 to $500 + |
FAQ
1. I pay tuition for my children. Why am I being solicited for gifts?
Like all independent schools in the United States, FASNY receives no government support–neither from the American government nor from the French government. It is typical for independent schools to rely on a combination of tuition and philanthropic giving to cover tuition and expenses. As a non-profit independent school, FASNY could not offer the unique bilingual academic model–the French, American, and IB curricula delivered by highly qualified teachers–without donations from families, alumni, and corporations. If you can only make one gift this year, the Fund for FASNY is the priority. A gift to the Fund is the most powerful thing you can do to support your child(ren)’s education.
2. Why not just raise tuition to cover all of the expenses?
We set the tuition at its level to keep FASNY more affordable to more families. Raising tuition would exclude many families that make our community so wonderful.
An additional benefit is that while a tuition payment is not tax-deductible, gifts to the Fund for FASNY are 100% tax-deductible. Including the Fund for FASNY into our operating budget allows families to contribute to the tuition with tax-deductible gifts that fit each donor’s budget.
The Fund for FASNY also emphasizes the crucial role played by the collective generosity of parents, alumni, and staff in the success of our students. The strength of our mission depends on a strong and vibrant community that values academic excellence and responsibility to the environment and the world.
3. Can I direct my gifts to specific projects?
The Fund for FASNY is the main fund for unrestricted donations; however, gifts can also be directed to specific programs, such as science, scholarships, or athletics.
In addition, the Fund for FASNY includes three separate funds:
- the Senior Fund, supported by parents of Seniors
- the Alumni Fund, supported by our alumni students
- the Olivia Tucker Scholarship Fund (OTSF), dedicated to financial aid
4. What is the Senior Fund?
A special fund within the Fund for FASNY, the Senior Fund directly supports programs that enhance school life in the Secondary School. It was launched in 2009 in recognition of FASNY’s first graduating high-school class.
The Senior Fund contributes to international and overnight trips (London Shakespeare trip, Utah Baccalaureate review, Model UN conferences) and initiatives that strengthen multicultural awareness and global citizenship skills, such as the People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference. The fees paid by parents for these activities do not cover the entire cost. The Senior Fund bridges the gap and helps financial aid recipients.
Donations to the Fund for FASNY from families with a senior student are automatically allocated to the Senior Fund. This gift is considered your donation to the Fund for FASNY.
5. What is the Alumni Fund?
A special fund within the Fund for FASNY, the Alumni Fund directly supports programs of continuing education for our faculty. It was launched in 2016 to honor the teachers who helped launch our young alumni into the world. The Alumni Fund is an opportunity for alumni to give back to their teachers.
6. What is the Olivia Tucker Scholarship Fund?
The OTSF commemorates the life of Olivia Tucker, a FASNY alumna who passed away in 2006. The Fund helps provide the FASNY experience to students who would not otherwise be able to attend for financial reasons, supporting the School’s goal of promoting economic diversity. This is a temporarily restricted fund: 100% of the funds raised are provided as scholarships to students in the following academic year.
7. How much should I give?
FASNY values every gift, regardless of amount, and we ask you to donate at a level that is meaningful for your family.
In 2016-2017, the average gift from parents was $968. The School received 36 major gifts of $2,500 or higher from parents, for a total of $215,040. They accounted for 49% of the total unrestricted funds received.
All gifts make a difference for our students. In 2016-2017, we received 126 gifts of $100 and under. A gift to the Fund for FASNY strengthens the school’s offerings to all our students.
8. What is the participation rate and why is it important?
The parent-participation rate measures the proportion of parents who contribute to the Fund for FASNY. Our participation rate indicates our shared commitment to our students and encourages outside funders, such as corporations and private foundations, to further invest in our educational goals.
Our goal for this year is 100%. This goal reflects the dedication and commitment that we see every day from FASNY parents.
As a benchmark, other leading independent schools in the region post parent-participation rates of 95%+. We need to show the world that our community is as committed.
9. What is the 1980 Society?
Named in honor of the School’s founding year, the 1980 Society was formed in 2010 to recognize unrestricted leadership gifts to the Fund for FASNY. Membership starts with a gift of $2,500 or more. The 1980 Society comprises members of the entire FASNY community, including parents, alumni, alumni parents, and staff. Members are invited to attend the annual 1980 Society Event with current and former trustees.
10. What is the role of the Gala in fundraising?
The Gala is the largest fundraising event held annually at the school. It is an evening of dining, dancing, and celebration of our shared values. Each year an honoree who aligns with the mission of the School is recognized at the event. The Gala offers our community an opportunity to come together and support the School through the purchase of tickets and donated auction items. Corporations and businesses also support the event, through sponsorship and donations of auction items.
The Gala is organized by our community volunteers and Gala co-chairs, who bring the mission of our school to life. Purchases of tickets, items, or services at the Gala do not count towards a donation to the Fund for FASNY, and the amount of the purchases is not fully tax-deductible.
During the Gala, funds are also raised to support the Olivia Tucker Scholarship Fund. Amounts donated to the Olivia Tucker Scholarship Fund at the Gala are 100% tax-deductible because they are not used to purchase a ticket, an item, or a service.
11. What is the difference between the funds raised at FASNY’s Gala and those raised for the Fund for FASNY?
The funds raised are all used to support FASNY’s educational mission, but there are important differences between Gala giving and Fund for FASNY giving. The fundraising priority is the Fund for FASNY. Dollar for dollar, you will make more of an impact on the lives of our students with a donation to the Fund for FASNY.
- Fund for FASNY
100% of donations to the Fund for FASNY go directly to enhance the students’ educational experience.
100% of the amount of the gift to the Fund for FASNY is tax-deductible for the donor because FASNY is a non-profit organization. Upon receipt of your cash donation to the Fund for FASNY, the school gives you a receipt for the IRS.
Gifts to the Fund for FASNY show community support. They inspire others to give.
- GALA
Funds gathered at the Gala do not go 100% to school. They first have to cover the costs of the event (venue, meals, etc.). Once those costs are covered, the remainder goes toward our students' educational experience.
Per IRS regulations, Gala-related purchases are not 100% tax-deductible for the donor because the purchases have a market value and they benefit the buyer.
Tickets and auction items purchased at the Gala are only deductible for the amount above the market value of the goods or services.
Donations to the Olivia Tucker Scholarship Fund are 100% tax-deductible because they do not involve purchase of any goods or services. The School provides an itemized receipt that states the charitable contribution portion of all purchases.
12. When should I give?
Making a gift to the Fund for FASNY at the beginning of each school year means that your donation can be put to work immediately to elevate our students’ education and cover the full costs of tuition for that year. Once you give or make a pledge, you will receive no further solicitation for the Fund for FASNY for the year.
13. What is a pledge?
A pledge is a commitment to make a gift of a specified dollar amount in the future. Pledges are to be fulfilled by the end of the School’s fiscal year, on June 30.
14. How can I give to the Fund for FASNY?
Gifts and pledges can be made in the following ways:
- By mail
- Online: Go to https://www.fasny.org/support-fasny/give/give-now
- By phone: Call the Development Office at (914) 250-0407
- Matching Gifts: These allow you to increase the value of your donations. Many companies match contributions to non-profit organizations such as FASNY through their charitable giving programs. To check whether your company is match eligible, call the Development Office at (914) 250-0407.
- Gifts of Securities: Gifts of appreciated marketable securities entitle the donor to an income-tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the stock and eliminate the capital gains tax due when stocks are sold. For more information on stock transfer, please contact Annick Sullivan, Director of Institutional Giving, at (914) 250-0407.