Annual Fund

At The Little School, we pride ourselves on putting children at the center of what we do. Our tremendous group of faculty elevate our program each and every day, providing intentional and authentic opportunities for students to play and to learn on our beautiful campus.

Approximately ten percent of the school’s operating budget comes from fundraising through the Annual Fund in the fall and The Little School Celebration & Auction in the spring. Along with tuition revenue, this is how we provide compensation for our faculty and staff, school supplies and technology for our students, financial aid for a more diverse community and fund the innovations that propel us forward.

Every member of The Little School community is asked to support the Annual Fund: current parents and guardians, alumni and alumni families, faculty and staff, grandparents, trustees and friends.

That’s a great question! Part of our strategic plan will include looking at creative tuition, compensation and fundraising models to make sure that our approach is best suited to our families and best serves our students. Our current model allows us to charge a reasonable tuition but also necessitates that everyone contributes to fundraising to close our operating gap.

The participation of every member of our community in the Annual Fund is extremely important. With your gift, you send the message that you have confidence in The Little School and believe in our mission, our program and the learning and innovation taking place. Your participation also encourages others to give and strengthens our community with the knowledge that we all share the investment in our students and our school. As the school seeks outside grants or support, one of the primary areas of consideration for foundations is our community’s participation in the Annual Fund. Higher participation and support from our community translates to increased opportunities for outside funding. 

The Annual Fund takes place in October and November. We are asking for gifts or pledges to be made during this time, but pledges can be paid anytime through May 31, 2023.

What you give is entirely up to you. Every gift is important and appreciated, and we hope that you will join us in contributing at whatever level you are able. The gap between the cost of tuition and the true cost of attending The Little School is approximately $3,000 per student. Some families can do more, and some can do less. We ask that each family do what they can to be part of it. In recent years, gifts have ranged from less than $100 to more than $20,000. It is the sum of all gifts, the larger whole, which enables us to enhance this amazing learning experience for our students and to come together as a community.

You can show your Annual Fund support in a number of ways. Gifts and pledges can be paid with cash, check, credit card, stock or through your FACTS account. Simply indicate your preference when submitting your online form.

You can also make a credit card donation or a pledge online at thelittleschool.org/giving/make-a-gift. For more information about making a gift with stock, please send email to development@thelittleschool.org.

Workplace giving is a great way to support The Little School, but some of the donation management systems can take more than two months for the school to learn about your generosity – and we’re never told the amount of your pledge. This information is very important as we count participation and plan our expenses. Just make a pledge online at thelittleschool.org/giving/make-a-gift. When the funds are received from your employer, they will be applied to your pledge.

To learn more about why the Annual Fund is vital to The Little School or how to show your support, contact us via email at development@thelittleschool.org.