Our Independent School Annual Fund

Annual Fund contributions support budgeted programs that directly benefit students. The following programs are included:

• Financial Aid supports socio-economic diversity, essential to the equilibrium of the children in their day to day school environment. 

• Professional Development for our teachers & staff

• Global Learning Program where our students are explore the world beyond the classroom, near and far. 

• Authors & Artists in Residence

• Technologial Upgrades

• Flexibility & Responsiveness

A crucial advantage of the Annual Fund is that it is "unrestricted" meaning that the LFSF has the flexibility to direct or redirect funds to meet needs as they may come up. This quick an adaptive responsiveness helps the LFSF prioritize the student's education regardless of circumstances. 

Tuition funds are allocated for immediate expenses such as maintenance, salaries, and other general expenses; thus, those funds are not allocated to advance future growth. Every effort is made to keep tuition affordable and competitive with schools with the same high standards as LFSF. Tuition is non-tax deductible, but Annual Fund donations are.

The Board of Directors and CAIS review of the operating expenses indicates that LFSF is already run as a “lean” organization. We do a great deal with relatively modest resources. Most of the tuition revenue goes towards salaries, benefits, and fixed costs such as utilities and basic maintenance. Since the school’s strength lies in its extensive programs and close personal relationships, any reductions would compromise the mission of the school.

Annual Fund campaigns are geared toward current projects and expenses. Your Annual Fund gift is a direct investment in your child(ren). Because LFSF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your gift to the Annual Fund is 100% tax-deductible. This is the opportunity to make a charitable gift that directly benefits your own children and their peers. You will be able to see the benefits of your gift every day as your child develops and grows. 

The Annual Fund helps secure support from external funding sources.  Participation rates are measurable data points. All gifts send a message to outside funding sources that those who benefit most from LFSF support it. Corporate and outside donors invariably want to know if the parents, alumni, and grandparents support the school.

We ask that you give proportionately, consistently, and unconditionally.

In the past, individual gifts have ranged from $25 to $50,000. While leadership gifts of $5,000 and $2,500 are crucial to the financial stability of the school, gifts of all sizes make a difference. 

Yes! A gift or pledge made early in the school year is a great advantage to the school because it allows us to know how much money will be available to support the budget. Because of this, we ask donors to make pledges by December 31st, but gifts may be paid through June 1st. Once you have made your annual gift or pledge, you will not receive another direct Annual Fund solicitation until the next school year.

Matching gifts are a type of corporate philanthropy where companies match donations their employees make to eligible nonprofits. They are important because they are essentially free money. In 2023-24 LFSF received $117,500K in matching gifts. 

Determine your match eligibility to see if your employer will match your donation. If your company offers a matching gift program, you can submit a match request to your employer. This amount will count towards your total donations.