Giving at Meadowbrook

The Meadowbrook School of Weston10 Farm Road

Weston, MA 02493

www.meadowbrook-ma.org.

Ensuring a Remarkable Learning Experience

The Meadowbrook School of Weston has emerged as one of the premier K-8 programs in the country. Our innovative curriculum has been cited as a best practice by numerous educators, and the results speak for themselves: our students are happy, motivated learners who reach impressive academic heights.

In order to provide the top-flight education that distinguishes Meadowbrook, we rely on a vast network of resources – tuition, rental and summer camp income, events and gifts. While tuition covers the majority of our expenses, nearly 20% of our annual operating costs are funded through philanthropy. This gap amounts to approximately $5,500 per child each year. We are able to fill this gap and keep Meadowbrook running thanks to gifts to our Annual Fund; we also raise money throughout the school year in support of our exceptional faculty, and for Imagine More, our $35 million capital campaign.

Annual Operating Costs

We strive to ensure that every family’s philanthropic relationship with the school remains as meaningful, rewarding, and positive as their overall experience at Meadowbrook. This brochure describes how our various fundraising programs impact the school, and we hope that families will decide to give at the level that is most meaningful to them. Gifts to Meadowbrook are much more than generous gestures from our parents, grandparents, faculty, and alumni; contributions to our fundraising initiatives help ensure that we continue to provide a first-rate learning experience. Our community members also give generously of their time and talent through various parent-led committees and volunteer opportunities. Every gift – no matter the type or the amount – represents a powerful vote of confidence in our school’s mission and philosophy, and we wholeheartedly appreciate each family’s contribution.

Fundraising

Tuition

Other Income

A Vital Source of Support: The Annual Fund

At Meadowbrook, we teach our children the value of participating

in the life of their school: clearing tables at lunch, helping coaches set up

cones for soccer practice, working to maintain our surroundings’ natural

beauty through campus stewardship. In the same way, Meadowbrook’s

Annual Fund invites every member of our community to participate in

sustaining this vibrant place. As the cornerstone of our fundraising

efforts, the Annual Fund helps close the gap between tuition revenues

and our total annual operating costs, and supports all aspects of the

school – from teacher salaries and professional development to

classroom materials, maintenance, and utilities. Because of this vital role,

we work to achieve 100% participation across our entire community; in

2015, we received contributions from 98% of families and 100% of

faculty members. If your family plans to make one gift during the year,

it is critically important that you contribute to the Annual Fund.

Because the Meadowbrook community includes families from a

variety of financial circumstances, we ask that everyone make an Annual

Fund gift at the level that is most meaningful to them, given their

individual capacity. Contributions range from $25 to upwards of $50,000.

No matter the dollar value, every contribution to the Annual Fund

reflects our families’ steadfast belief in Meadowbrook’s mission and

commitment to deliver the best K-8 education in the region.

The Gala

Each spring, the Meadowbrook community gathers for a fun

evening to toast our school. The parent-led Gala Committee prepares an

unforgettable event featuring dinner, drinks, and entertainment, along

with opportunities to bid on student art and unique, off-campus

experiences with teachers. Net proceeds from the event – which often

exceed $100,000 in auction items and underwriting – provide additional

support for our operating costs.

Celebrating Meadowbrook’s Teachers

It’s no exaggeration to say that Meadowbrook teachers constitute our

school’s most valuable asset. Our faculty consists of creative, insightful,

and devoted educators who work tirelessly to excite students’ curiosity

and challenge them to reach new heights. We have two fundraising

programs that allow families to show their appreciation for teachers:

Faculty Appreciation Fund – Established in 1987, the Faculty Appreciation

Fund (FAF) is managed by a committee of dedicated parents. The fund

supports our unparalleled professional development programs, as well

as the annual Pick-a-Perk event each December. At a special lunch for

faculty, each teacher chooses a gift donated by the community, ranging

from cash and sports tickets to computers and priority parking spaces.

We ask that families give to FAF rather than directly to teachers during

the holidays or at the end of the year.

Eighth Grade Gift – This initiative supports the Meadowbrook Leadership

Institute (MLI), a groundbreaking professional development program

that enables teachers to research and develop projects for off-campus

investigation, and then use what they learn to enhance our curriculum.

Since 2010, the Eighth Grade Gift program has raised over $1 million for

the MLI. During their final year, families are encouraged to support both

the Annual Fund and the Eighth Grade Gift program to celebrate their

child’s Meadowbrook experience.

Imagine More: The Campaign for Meadowbrook

In September 2015, Meadowbrook launched Imagine More: The

Campaign for Meadowbrook. This vital initiative exists independently of

our other philanthropy programs and is dedicated to securing funds for

several crucial long-term strategic goals. We are undertaking the Imagine

More campaign from a place of strength, and our community is uniquely

positioned to lay the foundation for Meadowbrook’s bright, successful

future.

Campus Renovations

Meadowbrook’s innovative, project-based curriculum requires adaptable

spaces that help facilitate collaborative activities and performance-based

grouping. The Imagine More campaign will allow us to undertake vital

renovations to our campus, including new classrooms for the Lower and

Middle School, an Innovation Center that will serve as a home base for

EurekaLab activities, and a vibrant Academic Commons that will act as a

welcoming focal point for our campus.

Endowment Growth

A robust endowment will ensure our school’s fiscal health and

flexibility for decades to come. Through the campaign, we will grow our

endowment with funds for faculty support and an increased financial

assistance program. The Steve Hinds Faculty Support Program will

recognize the extraordinary efforts of our dedicated teachers with

named funds awarded to exemplary teachers, as well as general gifts

that support competitive salaries and professional development.

A key aspect of Meadowbrook’s Strategic Plan involves maintaining

a highly diverse learning environment. Welcoming students from a

variety of different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds enriches the

experience of every student on campus by teaching tolerance and

empathy in an environment that reflects the wider world. To that end,

the Imagine More campaign will increase our endowment for financial

assistance, enabling us to continue to provide scholarships for promising

students regardless of the economic climate.

To learn more about the Imagine More campaign, and to learn how you

can make our collective dream a reality with your contribution, visit

www.imaginemore.meadowbrook-ma.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What about additional programs, such as classroom funds?Smaller giving initiatives occur throughout the year. For example, you may be asked to donate to a clothing or food drive during the holidays, or contribute to a group coaches’ gift at the end of a sports season. At Back to School Nights, the Parent Council asks for donations of $20-25 to cover the costs of classroom parties and other events. As with all of our giving programs, these donations are strictly voluntary.

How will my gift be recognized?Gifts to the Annual Fund, Gala, Faculty Appreciation Fund, and the Imagine More campaign are listed in the Annual Report. If you would prefer to be listed anonymously, please notify the Advancement Office. The 8th grade MLI gift program and the “Five for Five” dollar totals are announced at graduation every year.

If I make a contribution to the Imagine More campaign, do I still need to contribute to the Annual Fund and other programs?The Imagine More campaign supports specific initiatives related to campus renovations and enhancements to Meadowbrook’s endowment. The campaign provides an opportunity for families to demonstrate an extraordinary level of support for Meadowbrook through gifts that will have a long-term impact on the school. Annual Fund donations are not included in the Imagine More campaign goal; for that reason, we strongly recommend that families maintain their giving to the Fund so that we can continue to cover our operating costs over the course of the campaign.

Is my contribution to Pick-a-Perk or Gala of a week at my vacation home tax deductible?Services and rental homes are considered gifts in kind and are not tax deductible. In the case of gifts in kind with a specific cash value (for example, Red Sox tickets worth $200 that are donated to the Gala), the donor may claim a deduction on the difference between the cash value and the amount of the winning bid if that bid is greater than the cash value.

Why can’t I just give one gift per year and not be asked so many times?Our giving programs are distinct from one another in many ways: some are led by parents and some by the school; some directly benefit faculty members while others go toward operating costs. Each program helps meet a particular need; we hope that these initiatives provide a variety of fun, meaningful ways to help our school.

If I have already donated my professional services to both Pick-a-Perk and the Gala, why am I being asked to give to the Annual Fund? Haven’t I already supported the school?Gifts to the Annual Fund and gifts to the FAF or Gala do not all have the same impact on our financial flexibility. One hundred percent of Annual Fund contributions go directly towards our operating costs, helping to offset the difference between tuition revenues and the expenses incurred in running the school. Gifts to other programs are applied in various ways, like gifts for teachers and new building projects.

Why is there a 100% participation goal for the Annual Fund and not for other fundraising initiatives?Every dollar contributed to the Annual Fund helps close the gap between tuition and operating costs, making this our most vital giving program. Just as every family pays some form of tuition, we hope that every family makes a meaningful gift to the Annual Fund according to their individual capacity. Many of our peer institutions regularly reach 100% participation for their Annual Funds – at Meadowbrook, we aim to never be second-best.

What is Five for Five?This is a giving program for eighth grade students, led by student co-chairs. The Advancement Office works with the co-chairs to encourage all eighth graders to pledge $5 to the Annual Fund each year for five years after graduation. These gifts come from students; the program represents eighth graders’ induction into our alumni body and helps instill a lifelong habit of supporting Meadowbrook.

A Common Goal

Meadowbrook relies on the support of each and every member of our community to maintain the high-caliber learning environment our family’s expect and our children deserve. Each year, our faculty is moved and inspired by the generosity of Meadowbrook families, whether their donations take the form of cash, services, goods, or their time.

To learn more about giving at Meadowbrook, or to discuss your family’s philanthropic plan, please contact Janice Thompson, Director of Advancement, at 781-314- 9203 or jthompson@meadowbrook-ma.org. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your support.

When will I be asked to contribute during the year?

Here is a calendar of our giving programs:

SeptemberAt Back to School Nights, class parents ask for small donations ($20-25) to class funds that will provide support for class parties and other events throughout the year.

October – NovemberThe first Annual Fund appeal is mailed. Future appeals continue throughout the year; those who make their gifts early in the year will not receive any more Annual Fund appeals. Annual Fund gifts are accepted throughout the fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

November – DecemberThe Faculty Appreciation Committee asks parents to contribute monetary gifts and gifts-in-kind to provide to faculty during the December Pick-a-Perk luncheon.

FebruaryThe 8th grade gift for the Meadowbrook Leadership Institute is initiated at the annual Costa Rica dinner.

MarchThe Gala Committee asks parents to buy tickets, underwrite, and/or give gifts-in-kind to the Gala.

AprilParents are encouraged to attend the Gala and bid on auction items.

MayThe Faculty Appreciation Committee asks parents who have not yet given to contribute to the Faculty Appreciation Fund.

The “Five for Five” 8th grade student program is initiated by the two class Five-for-Five co-chairs.

JuneFinal Annual Fund gifts are accepted through the end of the fiscal year (June 30).