The Annual Fund
Goal: To Secure the Foundation and Support the Staff
In analyzing the financial picture of Whitefish Christian Academy, it is important to note that tuition revenue alone will not sustain the long-term viability of the school. To help you better understand the school’s finances, consider the following three facts:
- Like most private schools, WCA charges a tuition that covers only 75% of the actual cost of educating a child. This leaves a 25% shortfall that must be raised by the school board. If a higher tuition were charged, the Christian education provided by WCA would become unaffordable to many families. This would result in a loss of students and adversely impact our ability to fulfill our mission.
- Scholarships awarded by the school are actually dollars lost in operating revenue because scholarships are currently un funded. Scholarships awarded at WCA are really tuition discounts because there is currently no revenue source to replace the income lost when a scholarship is awarded.
- Each year the school is prevented from compensating teachers with a competitive wage and the benefits they deserve. Currently teachers are paid 60% of what their colleagues are paid and receive no medical or retirement benefits. This is something that needs to change.
The challenge we face as a school is not unique. A vast majority of universities and private schools across the country depend on their school’s Annual Fund to keep tuition affordable and the operating budget balanced.
What is an Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is an unrestricted fund that is used to underwrite the needs of the school that are not met through tuition revenue. The Annual Fund will primarily be used to support the operating budget, fund scholarships, and ensure our ability to keep and attract highly qualified teachers who are committed to classical Christian education. In short, a strong Annual Fund is critical to ensuring the continued success of the school. The success of the Annual Fund depends on establishing and maintaining a broad base of annual donors. These annual donors endorse the mission of the school and desire to participate in helping the school to excel in fulfilling its ministry each year.
Initial Use of Annual Fund
At its inception, the Annual Fund will be used to prepare Whitefish Christian Academy for the future by helping to cover the $246,400 that needs to be raised to balance the 2006-2007 budget. In addition, the fund will be used to eliminate the school’s credit line, currently at $144,000. Once the school has addressed its current financial needs, the Annual Fund will be used to underwrite scholarships, educational expenses not covered through tuition revenue, and to fund salary increases and benefits.
The Structure of the Annual Fund
The Annual Fund has five designated giving levels. Donors are challenged to give annually at the level that best fits their economic ability.
Pioneer
$25 - $499
Foundation Layer
$500 -$1,199
Master Builder
$1,200 - $2,499
Legacy Leaver
$2,500 - $4,999
Visionary
$5,000 - $10,000
Individual contributions to the Annual Fund are limited to $10,000 per year. Since the Annual Fund is used to support scholarships and employee wages and benefits, the Annual Fund cannot become overly dependant on one or two donors. However, if a donor seeks to contribute more than $10,000, the donor would be asked to contribute to a specific project. Gifts of more than $10,000 are welcome, and if un designated, will be used to address the most pressing needs of the school. After the first three months of existence, we have received over $35,000 toward our Annual Fund. We are off to a great start!
Whitefish Christian Academy Needs Your Help in Completing Its Mission
We need your help! Your annual gift will help ensure that the only classical Christian school in Whitefish will prosper. Without your help, we will not be able to provide the Christ-centered education we have been providing to the Whitefish community since 1980. Your partnership is essential to the continuing success of WCA. Please consider making a three-year financial commitment to the WCA Annual Fund. You can make your tax-deductible gift online by clicking the button at the top of this page or by mailing your gift to 820 Ashar Avenue, Whitefish, MT, 59937. Thank you for your support.
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