Giving Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Give?
Your gift advances the mission of the School, supports our culture of diversity and inclusion, ensures the best academic experience for each student, and helps us bridge the gap between tuition and the cost of a Parker education. Your support matters!
Who Gives to Parker? Are Students and Faculty Asked to Give?
Parents, students, alumni, grandparents, parents of alumni, and faculty and staff give generously each year, along with friends of the School. A senior-class campaign educates our students on the importance of supporting their soon-to-be alma mater. We also do a special drive among faculty and staff, and their participation rates are among the highest. Both campaigns are met with excitement, and participation has grown steadily over the years.
What Can My Gift Support?
3) Faculty professional development through current-use gifts on the Day of Giving
Can I Choose Where I Designate my Gift?
Other endowments: These are designated, restricted funds for faculty professional development, financial assistance, and program endowment. They include many named funds within restricted and general endowments.
Gala: Contributions and sponsorships are designated to the current-use fund for student financial assistance.
Alumni Giving Day: Contributions are designated to the Alumni Impact Fund, which supports Parker's greatest needs.
Donors sometimes designate gifts to specific programs, teams, activities, and school divisions. For fairness and equity, we encourage supporting Parker's endowment to leverage the collective power of everyone's giving or current-use funds for students and faculty.
How Much Should I Give?
We urge you to make Parker your philanthropic priority. Strong parent and alumni participation makes a powerful statement to our internal and external community. Please give what you can.
If I Can't Make a Large Gift, Does a Small Gift Really Make a Difference?
Yes! The School values every gift. This collective investment ensures excellence in the educational program.
Why Doesn't Tuition Cover the Cost of Parker Education?
The School's policy is to keep tuition increases low so a Parker education is accessible to a broad range of families. The School's financial discipline and award-winning governance ensure an exceptional education. But tuition falls short of the true cost of a Parker education, covering 91 percent. Every student at Parker is subsidized, even students who do not receive financial assistance. The gap between revenues and full cost is approximately $3,900 a student. Enhancements to educational offerings, facilities, and financial assistance expand the gap.
What is Parker's Annual Giving Goal?
Our annual goal is to raise $1.8 million to support Parker's endowment and current-use funds through the Gala and Day of Giving. Additionally, our goal is 100 percent giving participation by current families. We are also focused on increasing support from alumni and grandparents.
How Many Times Will I Be Asked to Give?
Families are asked to support Parker a few times a year:
- During the first half of the fiscal year for the Day of Giving to support current-use fund for faculty salaries and professional development.
- During the second half of the fiscal year for the Gala to support current-use fund for student financial assistance.
If you are an alumnus/na, you will be asked during Alumni Giving Days to support a specific area. As a senior parent, you will be asked during the Senior Class Campaign to support a specific area.
When should I make my gift? What is Parker's Fiscal Year?
The fiscal year is July 1 to June 30. The annual giving campaign coincides with the School's fiscal year; solicitations begin in August and continue throughout the fiscal year.
Why is a Culture of Philanthropy Important at Parker?
Because we care so deeply and intentionally about our mission and people, and have a responsibility to foster the joy and wonder our students experience every day.
What Does Parker Recognize as a Gift?
A donation can be recognized as either a gift or enrichment. A donation is a gift when it is recognized by the Advancement Office with a tax receipt (Gifts to Parker below). A donation is an enrichment when it enhances the Parker experience and program but is not recognized by the Advancement Office with a tax receipt (Enrichments to Parker below). For more information, visit ways to give.
- Cash/credit card (to Advancement Office)
- Stock/wire transfer (to Advancement Office)
- Irrevocable planned gift (complying with the School's Gift Acceptance Policy)
- Fund a scholarship (current-use fund for student financial assistance/Gala)
- Fund a fellowship (current-use fund for faculty professional development/Day of Giving)
- Gala event underwriting/sponsorship/unrestricted support
- Silent/live auction Item (donated or bought)
- Athletic/program goods
- Used uniforms for Parent Association sale
- Community service project goods
- Hosted event (at home, work or dedicated space)
- Classroom goods
How are Donors Recognized?
Teal Society: up to $499
How Do I Make My Gift?
The easiest and quickest way is to go through our website: www.francisparker.org/givenow. For more details, including how to make gifts of stock or where to learn more about putting Parker in your will, please visit Ways to Give. If you prefer to write a check, make it out to "Francis Parker School," and in the memo section indicate where you want your gift to go. Send gifts to the Advancement Office, Francis Parker School, 6501 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111. Parker's tax ID number is 95-1696720.
How Do I Create a Named Endowment Fund?
Named endowed funds, which add to the power of Parker’s growing endowment, reflect investment levels of $50,000 and above. Your gift to establish a named fund will help Parker continue to offer a balanced, challenging, and integrated educational program from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Please contact the Advancement Office at 858-569-7900 if you are interested in creating a giving legacy at the School.
What is the Matching Gift Program?
Many corporations and organizations match charitable gifts made by their employees. If your employer offers a matching gift program, you may be able to double or even triple your gift to Parker! Contact your human resources office to see if your organization matches charitable gifts, or use our search engine here. Please send the forms they provide to the Advancement Office, Francis Parker School, 6501 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111.
How Do I Get Involved in the Annual Giving Campaign?
Email advancement@francisparker.org. Volunteers team up with the Advancement Office to encourage parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends to support the School.
Can I Make a Pledge To The School?
Gifts of $2,500-$4,999 or more can be pledged over a period of up to three years and gifts of $5,000 and above can be pledged over a period of up to five years; all pledges must have a fully executed gift agreement between the School and donor(s). The School has a Gift Acceptance Policy that details pledges and other gifts to Parker.
What is Parker's Endowment? How Does Giving To It Differ From Other Types of Giving?
Endowment gifts provide a source of perpetual support for Parker. All funds held in the endowment are invested in accordance with Parker's Investment Policy Statement (IPS), which is approved annually by the Board of Trustees. The accumulated investment earnings from these investments are available to support Parker's operating needs, subject to the purposes specified by donors. Without the donor's consent, the original value of an endowed gift may not be depleted. Included in the IPS is Parker's spending rate, the amount of investment earnings Parker is authorized to release each year from the endowment to support its operating needs. The spending rate is currently 3.5 percent of the endowment fund's average value at the end of December in each of the three preceding calendar years. This means an endowment with a $40 million average balance over a three-year period provides $700,000 of funding support each year.
Why is Endowment Growth Important?
- Support long-term financial health;
- Sustain educational excellence;
- Honor our commitment to make Parker accessible and affordable through financial assistance;
- Help minimize tuition increases;
- Attract and retain the very best faculty and students;
- Increase the total amount in the endowment fund on a per-student basis. Parker's ratio is well below many of our Best in California (BIC) peer schools.
- Preserve and develop programs that meet the needs of our students, now and in the future.
The current endowment spend rate is 3.5 percent of endowment income. What if the endowment earns more than 3.5 percent? Why should I make a gift to Parker's endowment when I could invest it for a higher return and then give the school the earnings each year?
The annual funding from the endowment spending rate is not the same as the return on investments held in the endowment. Investment earnings in excess of the spending rate (3.5-percent) are kept in the endowment to preserve its purchasing power against inflation, to provide a cushion for periods of poor market performance, and to accelerate growth over time. Most importantly, gifts to the endowment provide a reliable financial base that Parker can count on when planning for future programs, regardless of how the market is performing.
What is The Endowment Investment Strategy?
Parker has an OCIO model of endowment management and works with Meketa to manage its endowment assets. The Investment Committee of the Board and the partner professional at Meketa work to develop the investment strategy.
How Has the Endowment Performed Recently?
At the end of June 2013, the balance in Parker's endowment fund was approximately $16 million. At the end of June 2023, the balance was more than $40 million.
Does Income From the Endowment Budget Have a Significant Impact on The School's Budget?
Yes! The endowment has proven an important, stable, and growing source of income and in FY23, provided 2.5% of the operating budget. As the endowment grows, so will Parker's ability to sustain exceptional programs.