1.      WHAT IS THE MOUNT FUND?

 The Mount Fund is our annual fund that is made up of gifts from alumni, parents, parents of alumni, board of trustee members, faculty & staff, grandparents, vendors, and friends of Mount St. Mary High School.  These unrestricted funds are placed separate from the school’s operating budget and are to be used in: 

·        Improvements on the School Campus

·        Enhancing extra-curricular programs

·        Faculty enrichment programs

·        Improving technology and classroom resources

·        Enriching programs and services offered to our students

Traditionally, strong institutions have strong annual funds. Independent high schools should be no different than any other school, college or university.  An annual gift to the school remains a tangible vote of confidence in the total school program.

 2.      WHY IS THE MOUNT FUND NECESSARY?

 The Mount Fund is paramount to the overall mission of our school.  It serves as a primary avenue for connecting and getting people to partner in our mission.  It allows us to identify and cultivate prospects, build relationships that offer long term and sustainable support, and increase revenue sources that can have an immediate impact on student life here at  Mount St. Mary High School. 

 3.      IS THE MOUNT FUND PART OF THE SCHOOL’S  BUDGET?

 The Mount Fund is not part of the yearly school budget and is not used to cover operating costs.  This fund is to be used to enhance the experience of The Mount for all of our students.

 4.      HOW IS THE MOUNT FUND OPERATED?

The Mount Fund is part of the Advancement Program at Mount St. Mary High School.  The Advancement Office, along with the assistance of key volunteers on the Mount Fund Leadership Committee, coordinates the internal operations of the effort by organizing all mailings, phone calls, and communications.

The Mount Fund is run on a fiscal year basis.  Solicitations for gifts begin in September, and all gifts recorded before June 30, 2008, will be credited during the campaign year.  Opportunities to give are made through the mail, phone calls, Internet, and/or personal solicitations.

 5.      WHY ARE VOLUNTEERS IMPORTANT TO THE MOUNT FUND?

The life-blood of any school remains with the level of volunteerism a school can achieve to assist in helping with school programs.  Our annual fund effort is no different.  Volunteers serve as leaders for the different components of The Mount Fund and serve with various responsibilities. 

Volunteers are extremely important because they are able to contact our different constituencies on a peer-to-peer basis.  People are most likely to give if approached by someone who has shared the same experience and with whom they feel kinship.  Whether soliciting a gift or offering a name to the effort, volunteers are a visible sign of shared responsibility and interest.  Furthermore, volunteers play a major roll in identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship which in turn leads to investment in Mount St. Mary High School.

 6.  WHAT ARE GIVING SOCIETIES AND CLUBS?

Giving societies and clubs offer a way for all constituents to feel a sense of affinity with The Mount as members of a particular society and club.  They give donors a sense of belonging to something special and provide an opportunity for all donors to feel connected, involved and a part of the overall-giving program at The Mount.  Each donation, large or small, makes a difference in our ability to reach our goal. 

       7.       WHAT ARE MATCHING GIFTS?

Over 500 companies across the country will match their employees' gifts to elementary and secondary schools.  Many companies will match gifts at a greater than one-to-one ratio.  Donors must visit their Personnel offices to pick up the appropriate form, fill it out and send it to Mount St. High School High School with their gift.  The Advancement Office will take care of completing the form and returning it to the company's office to receive the match money.  This is an easy and wonderful way to increase your support for The Mount.

Mount St. Mary High School counts company-matching funds as part of the donor giving level.  Therefore, if a person makes a $500 gift and receives one-to-one matching funds, they would be recognized as a Society Donor and would become a member of the Sister Deborah Society rather than the Grotto Spirit Club.

 8.      WHAT IS THE CORNERSTONE SOCIETY?

The Cornerstone Society is a formal organization of lead investors in the future of Mount St. Mary High School.  Membership is open to all individuals, families or organizations that make a minimum $1,000 annual gift to The Mount. Fund.   Each year the School will count on leadership gifts such as these to provide the backbone for program enhancements in the areas of technology, faculty enrichment, and student venues and activities.  Each year, members of the CORNERSTONE SOCIETY will be invited to a private reception hosted by the Board of Trustees in recognition of their leadership generosity.

9.      WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S  MOUNT FUND GOAL?

This year’s public Mount Fund goal is to raise $100,000 of unrestricted gifts.  The last Annual Fund campaign in 2003-2004 raised $66,648.77.  Based on past giving performances, the goal of $100,000 is realistic and we feel that our constituent base will rise to this challenge.

MOUNT ST. MARY HIGH SCHOOL

2007-2008 The Mount Fund

Suggested Scale of Gifts for $100,000

 Annual Fund Programs reach their goals based on an acceptance of a Scale of Gifts. The Mount St. Mary High School 2007-2008 Mount Fund will be no exception.  In order to reach our goal of $100,000 by June 30, 2008, the following gift ranges are needed:

 Please click here to DONATE NOW

For more information on The Mount Fund or to find out about other ways to donate, please contact Chris Stiles in the school’s Advancement Office at (405) 631-8865.