Q: What is the ISB Fund for Excellence?
The Fund for Excellence supports ISB’s core values by raising money for tuition assistance, field trips, technology for the classroom, staff professional development, and more. The Fund for Excellence is a vital component of ISB’s annual budget, and it affects all students and staff members.
The Fund for Excellence raises unrestricted funds for the current fiscal year, which means that money raised this year is used immediately to support programming and operations at the school.
Q: What is the difference between the Fund for Excellence and a Capital Campaign?
The Fund for Excellence is used each year to support ISB’s core values. It provides money for tuition assistance, field trips, professional development, and classroom resources. ISB's last capital campaign, the Campaign for Today and Tomorrow concluded in June of 2016. The money it raised was used to make physical improvements to the campus. Phase I of these improvements included furnishing the North Building; purchasing new gym equipment; purchasing a new sound system, projector, and other equipment for the performing arts and and assembly programs; and upgrading campus-wide security and fire systems. Funds raised in Phase II are being used to create a Learning Commons in the Lower Level of the West Building, providing new library, research, and collaborative work spaces. Construction on the Learning Commons is nearly complete, and we anticipate opening the space in November 2016.
Q: Where does my gift go? How is the money used?
The Fund for Excellence raises unrestricted funds to be used in the current year. Gifts to the Fund for Excellence support ISB’s core values of diversity, global curriculum, inquiry-based education, language immersion, community, and international mindedness by providing money for tuition assistance, enhanced teaching tools and classroom technology, field trips, and professional development opportunities.
Q: Why is 100% participation important?
100% participation helps ISB represent our community at its best. When members of the ISB community see that we have achieved 100% participation across constituencies (Board, Parents, Faculty/Staff), there is a sense of pride and accomplishment.
When people outside the ISB community see such high levels of participation, they can understand the extent of the ISB community’s enthusiasm and support for the school. Sustained giving and high participation numbers play a key role in our fundraising efforts both within the ISB community and outside it, where supporters want to know what percentage of our parents give to the Fund for Excellence.
Q: How much should I give?
Last year, we received Fund for Excellence gifts from $5 to more than $30,000. We ask every family to give a gift that is meaningful to them and to make ISB their top philanthropic priority.
Q: Will my $5 donation really make a difference? Why should I donate if I can only afford a small amount?
Each gift counts towards the participation numbers, and every gift helps gets us closer to our goal.
Q: I have never been asked to give before/at my last school I wasn’t asked to make a donation. Why should I make a donation now?
There are many reasons to give to ISB, and what motivates each of us may be different. The number one reason we hear from donors is that they are motivated to give because they love the school and want to give back.
Q: Is my gift tax-deductible?
100% of your gift is tax-deductible.
Q: What is an employer match?
Many companies match employee donations on a 1:1 or even 2:1 basis. Please ask your payroll administrator or Human Resources department if your company matches gifts. It usually takes only a few minutes to fill out the form, and it can often be done online. Please let the Advancement Office know to expect your matching gift.
If you have other questions, please contact Sandra Bueno at sbueno@isbrooklyn.org.
