Give to RHP: Ways of Giving to RHP

Why Annual Fund and Why Capital Campaign?

We are beginning our final push to complete both this year's Annual Fund drive and Phase One of the Capital Campaign. If you have yet to participate this year and haven't received a reminder for one or both, then you will in the next day or so!

It is important to distinguish between these two drives. Annual Fund, as its name implies, happens every year and adds close to $300,000 to our annual operating budget. Annual Fund helps turn a good educational program into a truly great one by helping us buy the luxuries that tuition alone does not cover: professional development for teachers, TVs, projectors, and computers for classrooms, etc. “Why don't we just increase the tuition more to cover these things?” some ask. Well, the answer comes in two parts: one, that we try to keep tuition increases to a minimum, balancing that with the need to be able to hire and retain the best teachers; and, two, donations to Annual Fund are tax deductible, unlike tuition, so this is helpful to everyone's tax bill each year.

With Annual Fund, participation is the key . For many of the past ten years we have been proud to say that 100% (yes, that's everyone!) of trustees, faculty and current families have contributed to Annual Fund. We also get strong participation from alumni and their families (“Once a Husky, always a Husky!”). And that outstanding record was part of our school's profile that convinced Bank of America to lend us the $7 million we needed to build our permanent home! So, when that reminder comes, please do respond with donation whatever the amount.

As for Phase One of the Capital Campaign, I think it is well known by now that, a. we have a couple of major projects we were not able to fund in Phase One (traffic light and shade structures being the biggest) and, b. we have had an offer of up to $500,000 to help complete these, but this money will only come in as matches for gifts people give to complete Phase One. We must, must, must get this project finished by the end of June!! Please contact Cameron Smith in the Development Office at (310) 791-1101 ext.143 for further information

In short EVERYONE is expected to participate in Annual Fund. It's part of the RHP culture and, as has been shown, yields not only those extras in classrooms but also massive financial support from external institutions. And we'd love you to chip in to the Capital Campaign too, to help us take advantage of that $500,000 that's just waiting to be matched and used to complete the first Phase of our campus. Only then can we begin raising money for our gym and/or theater (but that's for another letter!)

Gifts

Regardless of size, each and every gift RHP receives is vitally important to the advancement of this school, its vision and our efforts to maintain an excellent curriculum. Listed below are options for your consideration. Please contact Cameron Smith in the Development Office at (310) 791-1101 ext.143 for further information or to pledge your support.

• Gifts of Cash, Checks, Visa or Mastercard: These gifts are fully tax-deductible and are put to work right away.
• Gifts of Stock or Securities: Gifts of appreciated stock generally offer a two-fold tax saving: avoiding capital gains tax on the increase in value of the stock and providing an income tax deduction for the full market value of the stock at the time of the gift. For information on donating stocks or securities, contact the Advancement Office.
• Gifts of Life Insurance: Naming Rolling Hills Prep School as the owner or beneficiary of a life insurance policy is a good way to make a large donation at nominal cost to you. Premiums paid for policies are tax-free.
• Corporate Matching Gifts: Hundreds of companies support education by matching or multiplying contributions that are made by an employee or an employee’s spouse to an IRS 501(c)3 non-profit organization like Rolling Hills Prep. Your human resources or community relations department should have the necessary applications. This is simple to do and can double or triple your gift to RHP.
• Memorial and Honor Gifts: Rolling Hills Prep is honored to accept and recognize gifts made in memory or in honor of a friend, relative, faculty or staff member, or to acknowledge a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or other significant event. This type of gift is also tax deductible, as are all of the giving methods listed here.
• Planned Giving Opportunities: Including Rolling Hills Prep School in your will with a planned gift can establish a permanent family legacy and can also provide tax benefits, a life income benefit, or other favorable estate arrangements. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Linda Eviston in the RHP Advancement Office. Your tax advisor or attorney can also provide you with information about the best way for you to make a planned gift to RHP.

All annual gifts receive recognition in the annual report by giving categories and grade level. Anonymous gifts are always welcome; please make your wishes clear in writing to the Advancement Office.

For those who want to make contributions beyond Annual Fund, here are some suggestions. It is, of course, possible to endow your own personal fund to honor a loved one or a favorite teacher, to provide scholarship funds, to endow campus improvements, or to fund a specific area of academia. The Basil Louros Endowment honors a much-loved photography instructor at RHP. The fund was started by a group of parents who wanted to establish a photography lab in his honor at the new site. The Marilyn Harper Endowment honors another much-loved teacher who helped found RHP. Funds from this endowment support the humanities at RHP. The RHP Endowment is a general fund that supports the school. Currently, this is a small fund, but one that must grow as the school matures to enable it to fund department chairs and academic growth.

Finally, in our endeavors to secure foundation and corporate funding, it is often necessary to ensure a match component in the proposal process. These gifts enjoy the same tax benefits as noted above. Following are some of the items that will be included in this year’s grantwriting efforts. Please contact Cameron Smith in the Development Office at (310) 791-1101 ext. 143 for further information or to pledge your support.