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How does the annual Stevenson Fund work?
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Every fall, parent volunteers ask fellow parents- through mailing, phone-a-thons and in person- for an annual contribution. We also ask alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, trustees, friends and faculty and staff for contributions to the Stevenson Fund. We hope to have 75% of our goals reached in gifts and pledges by December 15th.
Stevenson Fund contributions, which are tax deductable, usually come in the form of pledges, cash and credit cards or securities. The annual Stevenson Fund year closes on June 30, and all gifts and pledges must be paid prior to this date.
Every gift, regardless of its size, is important to Stevenson. We ask each family to participate at a level appropriate to their circumstance, and hope that Stevenson is their highest philanthropic priority while their children are students here. All gifts are tax deductable to the full extent of the law.
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What does the Stevenson Fund support?
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Contributions to the Stevenson Fund directly support Stevenson’s people, programs and plant. It is the extra 5% that makes all the difference of what we are able to offer our students and faculty. The annual Stevenson Fund supports all aspects of Stevenson’s education and co-curricular programs including teachers’ salaries, financial aid, which helps preserve a school community of diverse backgrounds, community service programs, outdoor trips, athletics, athletic fields, school building maintenance, and dormitories and more.
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What does Stevenson pay our teachers?
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Stevenson employs approximately 143 people in faculty or staff positions, that is about one faculty or staff person for ever four students. Stevenson’s faculty salary scale ranges from $45,000 to $101,000 and includes 4 steps. 62% of this year’s budget (more than $21million) pays for teacher and staff salaries and benefits. Because the Stevenson Fund helps Stevenson offer competitive faculty and staff salaries and benefits, Stevenson students are guided and taught and cared for by an extraordinary group of faculty and staff. Likewise, Stevenson Fund contributors ensure that the school can attract as many talented teachers as are necessary to maintain a healthy student to teacher ratio.
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How much money is committed to Financial Aid each year?
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This year almost $2 million in tuition assistance is being given to 18% of our students. Stevenson is committed to diversity and talent; our program is strong and quite generous when compared to many other schools. The average award is $15,725 per family at the Pebble Beach Campus (grades 9-12) and $8,420 per family at the Carmel Campus (grades PK-8).
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Why should I give to the Stevenson Fund when I already pay tuition?
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While tuition covers significant costs, the Stevenson Fund supplements the differences between tuition income and the cost of running a school like Stevenson. Tuition income pays for only 90% of a Stevenson education. It is important to remember that every student at Stevenson receives financial aid. Each student receives a $2,700 financial aid award at the beginning of every year – this is this deficit (aka gap) between tuition revenue and the actual cost of educating a student at Stevenson.
Unlike public schools, independent schools operate without any financial support from the local tax base or from state or national governments. Stevenson relies on tuition income, endowment income and annual contributions to cover its operating costs. Every independent school is structured this way, so that parents can receive a charitable tax-deduction for their donation, and so that tuition is less expensive to benefit families with lower incomes.
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Why is full participation necessary and important to the Stevenson Fund?
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Full parent participation in the Stevenson Fund demonstrates solidarity in support of the Stevenson community. It also indicates to corporations, foundations, and others to whom we appeal for support that those who are most connected to Stevenson are committed to its wellbeing. Therefore, all gifts, not matter what the size, are tremendously important. Each year our goal is to increase participation and giving in all of our constituents.
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Do people who donate their time to Stevenson support the annual Stevenson Fund?
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Stevenson is indebted to the many volunteers who contribute their time, energy, advice and talent. Many of the programs unique to Stevenson would not be possible without the dedication of our parents. However, economic realities force every non-profit educational institution to confront the fact that actual “cash in” does not equal “cash out” for the Stevenson operating budget. It is our hope that every family participates in alleviating the costs of a Stevenson education for every student.
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What are methods of giving to Stevenson?
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Gifts of cash are the most common form of support. Checks should be made payable to The Stevenson School. Stevenson also accepts gifts by credit card through VISA and MasterCard. Donors can arrange for monthly deductions from their credit cards.
Many corporations match employee gifts. Donors can obtain a matching gift form from their company’s personnel office or foundation, fill it in where required and mail it to the Advancement Office with their gift. We will take care of the rest!
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Can I give online?
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Yes! Credit card contributions can be made over a secure server here.
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Can I give securities or stock?
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Yes, but the donor should alert Jeff Clark, Director of Advancement at 831.625-8347 or jclark@stevensonschool.org prior to making the transfer of securities. Stevenson has a printed instruction sheet for making gifts of securities, which can be requested from the Advancement Office. Stevenson holds accounts with Schwab.
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What are the gift clubs?
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Donors in the following gift clubs will be thanked with a special reception by the President of the School at the end of the year.
The Silverado Society
● Founder’s Circle (gifts of $25,000 and above)
● Stevenson Circle (gifts of $10,000 to $24,999)
● President’s Circle (gifts of $5,000 to $9,999)
● Sponsor’s Circle (gifts of $2,500 to $4,999)
● Patron’s Circle (gifts of $1,000 to $2,499)
All gifts and contributions, regardless of their size, are recognized and appreciated. Every donor will receive a personal thank you letter. In addition, Stevenson’s Annual Report of Giving recognizes gifts of any size.
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Does Stevenson have an endowment?
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Yes – nearly $24 million. Endowment is a permanently invested fund from which only a portion of the earned income is spent. Often misunderstood, endowments have an enormous input on faculty to student ratios, the quality of faculty and the shape and content of the student population. The lack of a large endowment means that the School must rely even more on the Stevenson Fund to provide Stevenson’s rich environment.
Below are a few examples of our endowments funds, in total Stevenson has over 30 endowed funds:
The Adelaide and Mark Hornberger ’68 Fund for the Arts, created in 2005. It supports deserving programs and/or individuals to promote the fine arts at Stevenson.
The Senora Maria Vargas Scholarship Fund, created in 2007 by alumni, trustees, parents and faculty colleagues as an expression of their respect and affection for Maria, and to honor her contributions and devotion to the lives of her students and the life of the School during her 45 years of teaching experience at Stevenson. Her legacy of high expectations, hard work, and good manners will live on in perpetuity at Stevenson through students receiving scholarships in her name.
The John Farrell Powers Endowment Fund for Faculty Enrichment, established in 2004 by trustee David and wife Paula Rosen and their son, Oliver ’98 in honor of John Powers, who taught English and Latin and who coached golf at Stevenson from 1969 to 2003. The award supports faculty members who wish to further their education, enriching the classroom experience for all students.
The Coach Wilson Scholarship Fund, established by Coach’s family in 1993 and supported primarily by alumni and alumni parents as a tribute to his life and many years of service to the school, supports students on financial aid. This fund was made possible by matching grants from the William McCaskey Chapman and Adeline Dinsmore Chapman Foundation. Students recognized are called Chapman Scholars.
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Does Stevenson have a Capital Campaign?
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We are currently in the “pre-silent” phase of a new Capital Campaign. Most recently our landmark Campaign for Stevenson, completed in 2003, exceeded its fundraising goal and raised $27 million with gifts ranging from $10 to $2 million. Through it we were able to build the Rosen Family Student Center, the Atwood Family dormitory, grow the endowment significantly, and refurbish the Carmel Campus Administration Offices and redesign the Carmel Campus gymnasium into a state of the art dance studio. Though Stevenson still has physical plant and endowment needs we are truly honored by our community’s unprecedented support. This has made our beautiful learning environment and facilities for current and future students possible. Stevenson’s capital campaigns are essential to ensuring the long-term success of the school.