Giving FAQ

Q: What is the Kent Annual Fund?

A: For more than 100 years, Kent School has dedicated itself to preparing young people for responsible roles as citizens and leaders. Kent strives to deliver academic excellence within the ethical context of our three guiding tenets: simplicity of life, directness of purpose, and self-reliance. The Kent Annual Fund is our annual fundraising program. It is a vital source of revenue that drives and safeguards the excellence of our Kent education. Your giving directly impacts the quality of the Kent experience. The unrestricted dollars raised allow the Headmaster and Trustees to respond swiftly to areas of unanticipated need –or, indeed, greatest opportunity. Moreover, your contribution as a family to our Parents Fund is a clear vote of confidence in the school.

Q: How is the Fund directed?

A: Every dollar you give to the Annual Fund directly supports our community by:

• Maintaining small class sizes and a low student to teacher ratio, currently at 12 students per class and a 8:1 respectively
• Attracting and retaining quality faculty with 75 currently on the faculty, 73% of whom have advanced degrees. The average tenure of a Kent faculty member is 18 years.
• Providing the full-range of opportunities for students; 30 student clubs and organizations, 11 directed extracurricular activities
• Offering competitive faculty compensation and professional development. Kent is currently in the top of the second quartile for salaries amongst our peer schools
• Enhancing athletic programs with 32 Varsity Sports; 16 Girls teams, 16 Boys teams, 14 Club/Intramural Sports
• Providing scholarships with 34% of students receiving financial aid with an average grant of $33,000. $6 million was awarded in Financial Aid last year.
• Funding for ongoing enhancements and maintenance of our beautiful
  1,200 acre campus of new or newly remodeled dormitories, instructional and athletic buildings and facilities

Q: What is the timeframe for the giving?

A: The Annual Fund year runs from July 1 through June 30th each year. There are many options for making a gift; 1) pledge early in the year and defer payment until later, 2) pay by installments or 3) pay in full at the time of the gift.

Q: How much should I give?

A: The Annual Fund has two measures of success: total dollars raised and the number of individuals who participate. While the total dollars given are certainly important to meeting our budgets, equally imperative is the number (percentage) of those who participate. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated and welcomed. As one Kent parent said, “If you believe in a private education, you should give.” By giving, you demonstrate your support for the School it’s that simple.

Q: I thought tuition covered all the costs?

A: While tuition fees and revenue from our endowment are the main sources of income, they do not cover the full “cost” of a Kent education. The Annual Fund is the critical bridge between the fees we charge and the actual cost. Approximately 6-7% of our operating budget comes from the Annual Fund. Without the ongoing success of the Annual Fund, Kent’s ability to meet it annual budgets would be impaired.

Q: Will my company match my gift?

A: Many companies have matching gifts programs targeted for educational
institutions which can dramatically enhance the total amount of your gift. Ask your Human Resources Department to see if they participate in this program and for the application form that must accompany your gift.

Q: Is my gift tax deductible?

A: Yes. Simply keep a record of your gift.

To learn more about the Kent Annual Fund, please contact the Alumni and Development Office.