Annual Giving Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fund?
Tuition and fees do not fully cover the cost of an Overbrook education. The annual fund covers day-to-day expenses at the school and helps bridge the gap between tuition and the actual costs of educating each student. Tuition covers approximately 85% of a student’s cost, the remainder comes from the annual fund and earnings from the general endowment. Just over 10% of our students receive financial aid.

What does the annual fund support?
Financial Aid:
Overbrook School is committed to an economically diverse student body. Your contribution helps provide an Overbrook education to talented students regardless of their socio-economic situation, race or ethnic background.

Academics: An investment in academics ensures that Overbrook students continue to be provided with a challenging curriculum that is enhanced by technology. It also provides money for the professional development of our teachers. This is one of the best ways to impact the instructional program and to attract and retain the best faculty. Our teachers have one of the most important roles in the daily experience of an Overbrook student. Your gift affords our faculty the opportunities to learn and grow in order to enhance classroom skills.

Athletics: Healthy competition develops sportsmanship skills and lifelong fitness habits. Your support helps provide athletic supplies and equipment, gym upkeep, official’s fees, uniforms, etc.

Faculty salaries and professional development: Ongoing professional development of our talented faculty and staff ensures our school remains academically challenging and progressive.

Why should I support the annual fund?
The fund provides critical dollars for the daily operating expenses and priorities such as financial aid. Contributing to the annual fund is perhaps the easiest and most important thing you can do to help the school.

Every gift counts, whether large or small. Even a small increase in the percent of participation can have a big impact in securing additional gifts. When seeking grants from foundations they want to know that the school is widely supported by their own parents, alumni, faculty and staff.

Why doesn’t the school just raise the tuition if tuition alone does not cover the cost of educating each student?
If the tuition were raised to cover the full cost it would exclude many talented students from our school.

Does Overbrook School have recognition levels for gifts to the annual fund?
Yes. Overbrook is grateful for the generosity of all benefactors. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation remember all benefactors in their daily prayers.

The school has various giving levels for the Overbrook annual fund. Donors at the $1,000 level and above are honored for their generosity every May at the Evening of Excellence Dinner. All donors are also recognized in an annual report for gifts made in the July 1 – June 30 fiscal year.

Blessed Imelda Lambertini, O.P. Society Gifts of $10,000 and above
As a young Dominican novice, Blessed Imelda experienced Eucharistic miracles. She died at the age of 11 and is the Patroness of First Communicants.

St. Maria Goretti Society
Gifts of $5,000 - $9,999
Martyred at age 12 for defending her purity, St. Maria Goretti forgave her attacker and asked God’s forgiveness of him before she died.

St. Dominic Savio Club
Gifts of $2,500 - $4,999
At the age of 12, St. Dominic Savio entered the Oratory School preparatory to become a priest. His health forced him to give up his dream of the priesthood and he died at age 15. His dying words, “What beautiful things I see!”

Blessed Jacinta Marto Club
Gifts of $1,000 - $2,499
Blessed Jacinta Marto was a 10-year-old visionary of Mary at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Pope John Paul II beatified her on April 9, 2000.

Blessed Francisco Marto Club
Gifts up to $999
Blessed Francisco Marto was an 11-year-old visionary of Mary at Fatima, Portugal. Pope John Paul II beatified him on May 13, 2000.

What is a matching gift?
A matching gift is an employer-sponsored program to encourage philanthropy among company employees in support of their chosen charity or organization. The matching gift program enables many donors to increase the impact of their contributions as most companies will match dollar for dollar, and some will double or triple match employee gifts.

Your human resources representative can tell you if your company has a matching gift program and can provide you with the necessary form, which you may complete, sign and send to the school. For more information, please call the Development Office at (615) 383-3230.