Marian High School Annual Appeal FAQs
How does the Annual Appeal Fund benefit my family now?
Gifts to the Fund help Marian to maintain small class sizes, enhance innovative curriculum and programs, maintain the high school’s facilities, and enrich athletics, the arts, and extracurricular programs. All students benefit directly from funds raised.
I pay tuition; why do I need to contribute to annual giving?
Independent schools like Marian depend on annual gifts from parents, alumni, trustees, faculty, and friends to help cover the gap between tuition dollars and the actual cost of educating each student. In addition, when Marian is under consideration for grants from foundations, the level of community participation in annual giving plays an important role. Foundations believe in helping schools with people who support fundraising.
Why doesn’t Marian function more like a business and charge the full cost of educating students?
There is a huge difference between a business, whose mission is to make money, and a school, whose mission is education. Schools like Marian are labor-intensive and people-oriented, and they cannot become more efficient by combining classrooms, reducing staff, or “firing” inefficient students. In addition, since Annual Appeal Fund gifts are tax-deductible, you can maximize their education dollars by writing off their donation.
Are my gifts tax-deductible?
Yes! Marian High School is a federally-registered 501(c)3 non-profit, which means that gifts to the school are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. All donors get a formal acknowledgement of their gift to present to their tax professional.
Can I designate my gift to a specific area?
Yes. You can designate your Annual Fund gift to support a specific area. If you wish to underwrite a specific item for the school, please contact the MHS Office of Institutional Advancement directly.
How do I get more information on giving to Marian?
Please contact the MHS Office of Institutional Advancement, at 508-875-7646 ext. 205.
Can I make my gift in installments?
Absolutely! We can work with you to maximize your ability to make a gift by creating quarterly or even monthly payment plans. To make it even easier for you, donors may give the Advancement Office a credit card, set up a planned gift, and think about it only when the thank you notes come following each gift!
How much should I give?
Only you know what you are able to give. Sometimes we ask for too much; sometimes we ask for too little. When asked by a prospective donor how much he should give, Paul Ireland once said, "Give until you are proud."