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- Why should I donate to the
MIR Annual Fund?
Tuition pays for your child's education. Annual Fund gifts
support program enhancements, staff sand development, and
facility improvements, allowing us to provide the highest
quality Montessori education possible in ways that tuition
alone cannot provide. A percentage is also deposited into
our endowment fund to ensure the short- and long-term financial
security of the school.
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- Why not raise tuition instead?
A substantial tuition increase would mean that many families
could not afford to send their children to MIR. A diverse
population has always been part of our identity. By offering
the opportunity for voluntary contributions, families can
give according to their financial ability. Unlike tuition,
donations may be tax deductible.
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- How does my child
benefit from the MIR Annual Fund?
Your child benefits through the enhancements noted above and
directly through the classroom participation program. Each class
that achieves 100% family participation by December 31, 2008
will receive $200 for additional class materials.
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- As a parent of multiple MIR
students, do I need to make more than one donation to count
toward the classroom program?
One gift is all that is needed to be applied to each child's
classroom participation levels.
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- Why is 100% participation
so important? Is my single donation worth that much?
Yes! Community participation in the MIR Annual Fund is crucial
to our efforts to seek outside funding sources through grantors.
A high participation rate demonstrates confidence in the
MIR mission and provides important leverage with foundations
and lenders as they consider making their significant contributions.
Annual Fund gifts also directly support teachers and staff
in their mission to help your children realize their full
potential—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Donations are most appreciated and publicly acknowledged
in the MIR Annual Report unless otherwise requested.
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- How much is collected each
year?
The 2007-2008 MIR Annual Fund received more than $44,000
and the 2008 Annual Spring Gala & Auction net income
was more than $30,000.
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- Can I donate to the Annual Fund and
not be identified?
Yes, your donation can be listed as
anonymous in the MIR Annual Report. However, it will still
count toward the classroom participation program.
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- Am I required to donate to the MIR Annual
Fund?
Your donation is a wonderful and appreciated voluntary
gift and is not a requirement.
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- Are there other ways to give to MIR?
Yes. Appreciated securities, bequests and other tangible
property are convenient ways of making gifts to MIR. Planned
gifts may be structured to provide the donor(s) income
for life. Please contact
the MIR office for more information.
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- What about in-kind gifts instead
of monetary donations?
We ask that you consider unrestricted gifts of cash or securities
for the MIR Annual Fund, as this is the foundation of all
of our fund raising efforts and is used for current year
expenditures. As we continue to seek outside funding sources
through grantors, your monetary donations strengthen our
efforts.
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- Who determines how the
money is used?
Montessori in Redlands is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization
governed by a Board of Trustees. The Head of School and
Accounting Manager prepare the MIR annual budget for review
and approval by the Board of Trustees each year. The Head
of School and the Board Chair are responsible for signing
MIR checks. Contact the office for more details.
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- What about the endowment fund?
I've heard that it is not spent every year.
Each year a percentage of the MIR Annual Fund monies are
deposited into our endowment fund, a permanent fund in which
the principal is maintained in perpetuity to provide income.
Sound financial management dictates building an endowment
to help ensure the short- and long-term financial security
of the school. Also, as we begin to seek outside sources
of funding from grantors and lenders, an endowment makes
us an attractive applicant.
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- As a parent, how can
I become more involved in supporting the MIR Annual Fund?
Talk with your volunteer leaders and the school administration.
PTM Room Representatives and PTM board members can answer
questions. Also, contact Maura
Joyce, Head of School, or Lisa Kensok, Development Coordinator,
at the MIR office. We welcome and need your ideas and support.
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