The Country Day Fund, our annual giving program, is our top giving priority because it directly impacts our greatest assets—our students and our teachers. By providing unrestricted support for the school’s operating budget, gifts to the Country Day Fund allow the Country Day community—parents, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, grandparents, and friends of all financial circumstances—the ability to support the life of the school.
Annual Giving = Flexibility
Annual giving dollars given to Country Day allow us to be nimble and responsive to the changing needs and demands of our institution. Past Country Day Fund gifts provided technology for students and teachers on a 1:1 ratio allowing for remote learning to be a real-time solution to the world’s current crisis. Past Country Day Fund gifts have also provided professional development for our faculty and staff; they were not only equipped, but also trained in 21st century teaching techniques.
Your Gifts at Work
The global pandemic of COVID-19 brought unforeseen levels of disruption to all of our nation’s intuitions. It was necessary for Country Day to pivot quickly to remote learning for the remainder of the 2019–20 school year. Further, thanks to the generous philanthropic support of our community to the Country Day Fund we were able to welcome students back to school safely for the 2020-21 school year. Our hybrid approach varies by division and allows for maximum in-person instruction while maintain safe social distances. Other highlights made possible through philanthropic support include:
- Retain 100% of faculty and staff without job loss or furloughs
- Additional faculty and staff to support smaller class sizes, social distancing, and pod structure
- Utilization of 1:1 technology for synchronous learning on remote days for MS and US students
- Continue individualized instruction and responsiveness to help each child reach their full potential
Why Give to the Country Day Fund?
The Board of Trustees and Head of School are committed to minimizing tuition increases while continuing to offer every student an excellent education. The Country Day Fund offers a tax-deductible opportunity to augment tuition revenue that supports the school’s operating budget each year. The majority of any school budget is applied to people and facility maintenance, leaving little flexibility due to those fixed costs. Your Country Day Fund gift signifies a powerful vote of confidence in our school and community and makes it possible for us to fulfill our mission.
Areas of Impact
The Country Day Fund invites our annual donors to share what Areas of Impact are most meaningful for them. These areas include:
- Greatest Need
- Academic Programming & Innovative Learning Tools
- Exceptional Faculty & Staff
- Financial Aid
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programming
- International Studies
- Athletics
- Fine Arts
Areas of impact are not designations for funding, but allow Country Day to better understand what inspires our generous donors to give annually.
2020-21 Country Day Fund Brochure
Click on the image to view in full screen.
Gift Recognition Levels
Country Day established levels to recognize and honor donors who make generous gifts to the Country Day Fund. The extraordinary support of this generous group of leaders is critical to Country Day's success.
Recognition Levels
Head's Circle
>$20,000+
$15,000–$19,999
$10,000–$14,999
Leadership Circle
$7,500–$9,999
$5,000–$7,499
Selwyn Society
$2,500–$4,999
$1,500–$2,499
Friends of Country Day
$1,000–$1,499
$500–$999
Up to $499
Young Alumni Selwyn Society (YASS)
Classes of 2006–2010: $500+
Classes of 2011–2016: $250+
Classes of 2017–2020: Participation
What is the Selwyn Society?
The Selwyn Society honors Country Day's generous supporters who have made gifts of $1,500 or more to the Country Day Fund during a fiscal year. The loyal support of this group of leaders is critical to giving Country Day students distinctive academic experiences.
The Young Alumni Selwyn Society recognizes alumni who graduated within the last 15 years and display their leadership by making a gift to the Country Day Fund.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Country Day Fund or would like to volunteer, please contact:
Leighann Swanson
Director of the Country Day Fund
(704) 943-4543 | E-mail