Why Giving is Essential to The Cushman School
The tradition of philanthropy at The Cushman School began with its founding in 1924 and continues today, more than 8 decades later. The history of generous support from parents, alumni, faculty/staff, and friends of Cushman is extraordinary and helps to ensure that students can live and learn in an environment that will foster their growth as leaders and in service to others. With your help, Cushman can close the gap between annual expenses and tuition revenue. We can provide tuition relief and financial aid; we can sustain and enhance academic excellence; we can preserve and improve buildings and grounds; and we can build and strengthen our school’s financial future. These wide-ranging but essential objectives are pursued through a variety of fundraising channels and are not possible without your generous support. Cushman relies on the voluntary participation and support of our community leaders, parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty/staff, and friends to help sustain our present and build our future. Please see below the many ways you, or your company, can become a part of the Cushman family and help our students on their path to self-discovery and meaningful lives. Click on the fund or gift title for more information. All gifts are tax deductible and many can be ear-marked for specific use.
The Cushman School Annual Fund: The Annual Fund covers the difference between tuition intake and expenses for the academic portion of the day; it also allows for improvements in the school campus, support for special projects, and financial aid to help insure a diverse student body. Cushman encourages every family to participate in its Annual Fund each year at whatever level is comfortable. Annual Fund contributions may be ear-marked to support programs of specific interest such as Technology, Sports, World Languages, the Arts, or Security, for example, or simply to go where they are most needed in that calendar year.
Event Funding and Other Annual Support Opportunities: Yearly events/funds whose proceeds benefit the school through scholarship funds and extra funding for general or specific school endeavors. Cushman’s Blue Ribbon Gala supports the scholarship program and is the single largest special event of the year. Other annual support opportunities are The E.W.Drody Fund for scholarship support, The June Burgett Sabbatical Fund for professional development, and Gifts in Memory of or In Honor of Someone Special.
Endowment Funding: : An endowment fund is a fund whose principle remains in perpetuity and the interest supports the ongoing funding. This type of gift made to Cushman helps preserve and enhance the school community and ensure the long-term programmatic strength of the school, whether in support of specific programs through our Endowed Chairs, or in support of our faculty and student body through the Janet Fournier Legacy Fund and the Laura Cushman Academy Professional Development Fund.
Business/Corporate Support: Businesses are always looking for ways to invest in their community, and there is no better way than through the support of education. Business/Corporate Support Opportunities include: The Cushman School Blue Ribbon Gala Program, The Cushman School Calendar, The Cushman School Yearbook, Sports Team Sponsorship, The Spring Play Playbill, Cushman Singing Group T-shirts, Benches. See also: CSPA Events and Naming Opportunities.
Naming Opportunities: There are several ways to support the school and receive recognition for your family or a loved one. These naming opportunities run the gamut from Major Gifts for campus improvements to a lovely Birthday Book in honor of your child’s special day. Naming Opportunities include: Major Gifts, Bricks, Birthday Bench, and Birthday Book Club. See also: CSPA Events and Business/Corporate Support.
Wish List Genie: Directly support your favorite teachers and fulfill their wishes by becoming a wish list genie.
Gifts in Kind: Directly support the school by donating items or services that can be used in many different ways, in many different areas of school life. For more information on the types of gifts you can give, please contact the Office of Advancement.
Planned Giving: Cushman encourages its friends to consider including the school in their estate planning. Planned, or deferred gifts such as bequests, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, etc., provide income to Cushman for many years into the future and may often involve tax benefits for donors. Please contact The Office of Advancement, or speak directly with your investment advisor to determine the best way for you to give.
CSPA (Cushman School Parent Association): The Cushman School Parent Association is the parent backbone of the school. Every parent is automatically a member of the CSPA upon enrollment of his or her child in the school and as such enjoys voting rights on all issues dealt with by the CSPA. Without support (time, input, donations), the CSPA would not be successful. During each school year, the CSPA organizes and runs several exciting fund-raising events. Business or family support opportunities are available on many different levels for sponsorship at the Harvest Howl, the Annual Go Green Picnic, the Jog-A-Thon, and Cushman Appreciation Week.
Volunteer Time: Parent involvement in special events as well as the daily life of the school is essential to a thriving school community. We encourage all parents to become involved to the greatest extent possible. Please contact the CSPA or The Office of Advancement to learn how you can get involved.