A Message on Development :
Parent Giving at Burke Mountain Academy
The BMA school community prides itself on the commitment of each student and member of the BMA community to participate and uphold the values that make BMA a unique and strong school. The successful completion of our annual development programs this past year is a testament to the strength and devotion of the extended BMA community. We are most grateful for your commitment and support of all our initiatives.
Please take a moment to read about the primary annual development initiatives and other ways you can give to Burke Mountain Academy. The two annual fundraising initiatives are:
· The Annual Fund
· Parents Weekend Auction
Please note that in previous years we also held a raffle in conjunction with the Green Mountain Run. This year due to a number of factors (one of them being BMA’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on June 4-6, 2010) we have decided NOT to hold the raffle. We hope that those who have supported the raffle in the past will add their support to the Annual Fund.
THE BMA ANNUAL FUND– Goal: $285,000:
What is the Annual Fund?
The BMA Annual Fund is the fundraising initiative to which our entire community- current parents, alumni, grandparents, parents of graduates, trustees, staff and friends- contributes annually. The purpose of the Annual Fund is to fund the “gap” between tuition and the real cost of educating a student at Burke Mountain Academy. At BMA the “tuition gap” is more than $6,000 per student. Annual Fund dollars support staff development, scholarship aid, and facility maintenance and other programmatic initiatives. Annual Fund giving supports numerous classroom and community initiatives throughout the school, including educational programs, professional development, financial aid and facilities enhancement. BMA has enjoyed outstanding support from the current parent body and in past years has achieved over 90 percent parent participation, and has funded nearly half of the Annual Fund. Parent participation in the Annual Fund reflects a commitment to the school’s mission and values. Gifts to the Annual Fund are tax deductible and are typically made before the end of the calendar year. In the event you wish to make a phased payment, commitments are appreciated before Dec 1, 2009 and payments can be made prior to the end of the campaign year, June 30, 2010. Payments in full or monthly can be made on line, visit our website (www.burkemtnacademy.org) to make your gift on line. Should you wish to donate gifts of appreciated shares of stock, please contact the Development Office for transfer instructions.
How much do parents give each year?
BMA is proud of its tradition of strong parent support of the Annual Fund at all giving levels. We ask each family to participate in the Annual Fund at a level in which they are comfortable. In the fall, you will receive an appeal for a contribution by mail and a phone call from another parent. Our goal is to reach each family by the Thanksgiving holiday and have their commitment by the end of the calendar year. For those that prefer installment payment, pledges are not due until June 30th, the end of our campaign year. Evidence of parent participation in the Annual Fund is of the utmost importance when we seek support from foundations and corporations. Several years ago we were able to attract a matching grant from the E.E. Ford Foundation for scholarship aid as a result of our broad base of support from current and past parents and alumni. Your contribution, whether large or small, is deeply appreciated and is critical to our success in other fund-raising areas.
Does your company offer a Matching Gift Program?
Corporate matching gifts are a great bonus both to us and to your children. We are deeply grateful to those of you who take advantage of this important corporate opportunity and choose Burke as a recipient of your matching dollars. Please inform us if you will be utilizing this program so we can obtain the appropriate paperwork from your corporation.
How else can I get involved?
Volunteers drive our parent giving program and many of our other development initiatives. If you are interested in volunteering please contact the Development Office.
If you are interested in information related to gifts of stock or planned gifts of any kind, please call us. The benefits are many and varied both for you and BMA, and we are here to assist you.
Parents’ Weekend Auction: Goal: $30,000
What is the Parents’ Weekend Auction?
This is an exciting event that has become a BMA Parents’ Weekend tradition. Items donated to the Auction reflect the spirit of community that unites students, staff, trustees and all members of the BMA family. Past Auction items include such things as “birthday in a box”, a fly fishing trip, weekly laundry service for a month, a theater weekend in New York, a group dinner and bowling and pizza for 20. This eventful evening is an opportunity to have fun and offer students possibilities to pursue special interests, while at the same time helping to support the school’s operational needs. Donation of an auction item is tax deductible; the purchase of an item is not tax deductible. Should you have any suggestions for possible items to donate, please feel free to contact Jodi Flanagan at 802-626-1516 ext. 1506.
How does one bid on an item?
We will send out a detailed list of the auction items prior to Parents’ Weekend so that you can see what is of interest. Many of the items involve group items (dinner for a “pod”, or bowling for 10) and many parents arrange for group bids in advance. We will provide a list of who is in your child’s “pod” so groups can bid on items together. The auction will begin as a silent auction and then as the evening progresses, will move to a live auction format.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE:
SPONSORSHIP
Opportunities abound for sponsorship of Burke Mountain Academy events. If you know of any businesses (your own included) which might be willing to sponsor a BMA event, such as the Green Mountain, we welcome the opportunity to discuss the possibilities.
WISH LIST and GIFTS-IN-KIND
During the year we will send out a “wish list” which may include anything from four wheel drive vehicles to vacuum cleaners. This list is a compilation of input from the entire school staff of items that the school needs, but which are not included in the school budget. There are some cases where your business supplies goods and services which could greatly benefit the school. Recent gift in kind donations Items received in the past have included items such things as a snowmobile, dorm furniture, technology equipment, computer licenses and computer wiring.
THE BIRTHDAY BOOK FUND
This tremendously successful fund was created during 1991-1992 to enrich our current library’s book collection. Its success provides us with the funds to significantly improve the library holdings. You will be contacted contact you prior to your child’s birthday about donating a book or educational video chosen from the list of desired material. A special bookplate with his or her name, birth date, and the year in which it was given is affixed to all Birthday Book items. The average donation is $25. We hope you will consider supporting this wonderful initiative.
OTHER ENDOWED FUNDS
Please contact the Development Office if you are interested in learning more about opportunities to give to specific Scholarship Funds and Restricted Giving initiatives.
