Montessori in Redlands serving children 18 months to 6th grade

Education for Life

HELP MIR BRIDGE THE GAP: GIVE TO THE ANNUAL FUND

Why should I participate in the MIR Annual Fund?
Your support bridges the gap between a good school and a great school. Providing individualized teaching for each student at a consistently high quality does not come cheaply and requires that each year we must ask families, alumni, and friends with the means to make a generous gift to the MIR Annual Fund.

Why not raise tuition instead?
By raising a portion of its funding through voluntary contributions to the MIR Annual Fund, MIR is able to keep monthly costs down for all families.
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. Also, unlike tuition, donations may be tax deductible.

Why is 100% participation so important?
Your one donation, added to the donations of all who give, does so much!
High participation in the Annual Fund is an important way for us to demonstrate to others in our community and to prospective families the commitment and dedication of our parents, alumni, and friends to the school and our students. Foundations and corporations awarding grants also look at the level of participation in the Annual Fund as an indicator of the school's strength and long-term viability.

How is my donation used?
Your gift is applied directly to support

1. Faculty: Your donation directly supports the teachers who are so important in your children's lives by providing for continuing education and professional development to keep them at the top of their game.
2. Facilities: Your donation supports the preservation and upkeep of the beautiful MIR campus.
3. Financial aid: Your donation helps provide financial subsidies to assist families in need with tuition.

Funds are also used to provide the educational materials your child uses each day and a myriad of other necessities that allow MIR to provide the quality of education you've come to expect.

As a parent of multiple MIR students, do I need to make more than one donation to count toward the classroom program?
No. One gift is all that is needed to be applied to each child's classroom participation levels.

Am I required to donate to the MIR Annual Fund?
No. Your donation is a greatly appreciated voluntary gift.

What is the purpose of the Annual Fund?
Annual Fund donations bridge the gap between a good school and a great school. Private schools rely on fundraising to cover costs most public schools do not incur. All private schools have an Annual Fund to help support the continued operation of the schools, and MIR is no exception.

Am I required to donate to the MIR Annual Fund?
Your donation is a wonderful and appreciated voluntary gift and is not a requirement.

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.

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. The Annual Fund is used for current year expenditures. Monetary donations also strengthen our efforts in seeking funding from outside sources.

Who determines how the money is used?
MIR is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees. Each year the Head of School and the Business Manager work with the Finance Committee to prepare an annual budget for the Board of Trustees to review and approve. The Finance Committee works with the Business Manager throughout the year to ensure that income and expenses are keeping within the approved budget. Contact the office for more details.

What about the reserve 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 reserve fund, a permanent fund in which the principal is maintained in perpetuity to provide income. Sound financial management dictates building a reserve to help ensure the short- and long-term financial security of the school, and spending this money would work against that goal. Also, as we seek outside sources of funding from grantors and lenders, the stability implied by a reserve makes us an attractive applicant.