RASA Annual Fund

We invite you to make a gift to the RASA Annual Fund. Every gift, no matter what size, is essential and much appreciated. The RASA Annual Fund is the school's yearly campaign supporting the entire RASA experience. Annual gifts help to fund academics, arts, faculty support, financial aid, technology, and future growth that tuition alone cannot afford. Annual giving is the true lifeblood of the school, with an immediate and direct impact on the lives of today's students.

EXAMPLES OF HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BENEFIT OUR RASA COMMUNITY

• $25 can provide a classroom with 3 new books
• $50 could help us secure grant funding by showing we have parent and community support
• $100 can brighten our teachers day with a token of appreciation or a special treat
• $250 could purchase enrichment materials for an academic standard or concept
• $500 can purchase two new tablets for a classroom
• $1000 could give the students an enrichment experience off-campus
• $5000 can allow a child to attend RASA who doesn't otherwise have the financial means
• $10,000 will help us purchase a new pieces of equipment for our playground.

Participation - Why it matters

All gifts, whether $25 or $25,000, are vital as RASA continues its 14-year tradition of providing an exceptional education to today's students. Participating at any level is a vote of confidence in the mission, faculty, and administration. There is no better way to show your loyalty to RASA than with a gift to our annual fund. When many give, regardless of the amount, the impact is huge. All RASA students, past and present, have benefitted from the budgetary support provided by the RASA Annual Fund.

*All contributions are fully tax-deductible.

WHAT ROLE DOES PHILANTHROPY PLAY AT RASA?

Thanks to the diligence and planning of the school's administration and Board of Directors, RASA is financially stable. The culture of philanthropy at RASA is strong and the community is very generous. RASA relies on philanthropic contributions to supplement a portion of the operating budget. Philanthropic contributions allow RASA to provide the facilities, faculty, programs, and aid that make it a diverse community and one of excellence.

WHAT IS THE RASA ANNUAL FUND?

RASA's Annual Fund directly impacts every aspect of the school and is the "margin of excellence" in all that we do. The Annual Fund is also a tangible representation of RASA's powerful community culture of philanthropy. In 2018-2019, 44% of our current parents supported the Annual Fund, showing that they believe in the School and want to make a difference in each student's RASA experience.

GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND ENSURE THAT RASA CAN:

• Develop new academic initiatives
• Expand offerings in academics, arts, and enrichment activities
• Equip students and faculty with the resources they need
• Enhance professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
• Fund technological innovations
• Attract and enroll the best students regardless of their financial means

WHAT DOES THE BULK OF ANNUAL FUND MONEY GO TOWARD?

The Annual Fund, like our operating budget, primarily supports our faculty and our programs. 70% of the RASA operating budget goes to salary and benefits. This is in line with the national average. The Annual Fund supports all the operations of the school including the financial aid program. RASA has awarded aid in the amount of $121,610 in 2019-2020. 19% of the current RASA students are receiving financial aid this year.

WE CAN'T MAKE A LARGE DONATION THIS YEAR, WILL OUR GIFT STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Absolutely! Every gift matters. The participation of our entire community is critical to the success of our work. Every student benefits from the Annual Fund. Community support for the Annual Fund reflects the strong culture of philanthropy at our school. Participation is a metric that is used nationally and most easily signifies confidence in the school. Strong parent participation can be an indicator for foundations and other organizations, who are considering a gift to RASA. Our goal is to reach 100% every year!

WHY DOES RASA HAVE AN ANNUAL FUND RATHER THAN SIMPLY MAKE TUITION HIGHER?

The Annual Fund helps us to keep our tuition at a level of affordability that promotes a diverse student body and to maintain tuition that is competitive with our peer schools. All gifts to RASA are tax-deductible.

WHY DO I NEED TO MAKE A GIFT TO THE RASA ANNUAL FUND AFTER I'VE ALREADY PAID TUITION?

You don't. RASA is fiscally responsible and stewards every dollar to ensure every child gets the best education money can buy. But, we don't stop there. We do more than that each year, therefore, more investment is required. The RASA Annual Fund offers our families a way to support those investments with a tax-deductible gift. You can certainly end your support with your tuition payments each year. But, that won't stop other RASA families from making gifts or stop us from making investments in the people and programs that impact children –including yours – every day.