Canterbury Fund FAQ

The Canterbury Fund is Canterbury’s annual giving program and primary community-wide fundraising priority. It is our hope that, as a member of the community, you will participate in this fundraising initiative at least once throughout the academic year in a way that is meaningful to you. The Canterbury Fund directly impacts every program, department, student and faculty member by contributing to the School’s overall financial health and sustainability. All gifts are deeply appreciated. Unrestricted gifts allow school leadership and the Board of Trustees flexibility to address the highest priority needs of the school.

Canterbury is a nonprofit organization that operates without financial support from local or federal taxes. The School relies on tuition and fees, annual giving, and endowment to operate and continually improve. Tuition provides 89% of our annual operating income with the remaining 11% coming from annual giving and our endowment draw.

If tuition were set at a higher level, Canterbury would become unaffordable to many qualified students in our community. Since the founding of the school, the Board has attempted to set tuition at a level that can be met by families of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, making Canterbury affordable to a broader spectrum of families. The remainder of the cost each year has been covered by Canterbury Giving, through which our entire community – parents, grandparents, faculty, alumni and friends – is asked to support the school with a charitable gift. This belief and this practice hold true today.

Gifts to the Canterbury Fund are designed to help cover the current year’s anticipated operating expenses. While the Canterbury Fund is a critical source for the School’s operating budget, it is also used to fund new and exciting opportunities that benefit our entire school community. Examples include diversifying our academic, athletic, fine arts and other co-curricular programs, supporting our faculty’s growth through professional development, and enhancing our student’s learning environment through facility and safety upgrades.

Participation builds a strong and critical base of donors. Overall donor participation reveals how the school is valued by its constituents and builds momentum that inspires others to give. All of Canterbury’s constituents are more likely to make a gift if a significant number of their peers are contributing. Participation is an expression of confidence in our mission. Our goal is 100% parent participation at a level that is comfortable for each family.

Absolutely! Every gift plays a part in Canterbury’s success and represents a collective effort to raise a cumulative total. We encourage everyone to make Canterbury a philanthropic priority at whatever level they are able whether that be $5 or $50,000. Canterbury uses - and is grateful for - gifts at all levels.

The SGO is a Scholarship Granting Organization that allows donors to double their impact and provides a tax saving opportunity when they make a financial contribution through the SGO. Canterbury has partnered with SGO Sagamore Institute. When you designate your gift to Canterbury School through Sagamore Institute, you directly support Canterbury while receiving an Indiana state tax credit equal to 50% of your donation amount. This is an incredible giving opportunity. We suggest consulting a tax professional about your gift.

Leadership level gifts begin at $3,000 at the Leadership Club giving level. Leadership gifts are crucial to the success of the Canterbury Fund. Donors who make gifts at these levels are recognized yearly by leadership category in the Canterbury Fund donor appreciation report and are invited to an annual Leadership Reception held in September each year.

There are many ways to make a gift including online, by check, cash, stock, matching gift, pledge, as well as other options. The Development Office is happy to help you determine what type of gift is most appropriate for you.

All charitable gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by IRS regulations.

Absolutely. When you send in your gift, just let us know that you would like it to remain anonymous, and we will be happy to honor your request.