What is the Annual Fund and how does it differ from other fundraisers at CKS?
The Annual Fund is used to supplement day to day operations within the school. Unlike tuition or donations made through Parent Volunteer Association (PVA) events, donations to the Annual Fund are tax deductible to the extent allowed by your current tax situation. (See IRS Publication 526 for more information.) The Annual Fund kick-off is held in September of each year.
Why do we have both the Annual Fund and PVA Fundraising?
Annual Fund donations are received directly from the donor and the donor receives no goods or services in exchange. The tax benefits of giving to the CKS Annual Fund make it attractive. Many corporations will match Annual Fund donations, doubling the value of your gift.
On the other hand, the fundraising done by the PVA involves the entire community through various events such as the annual auction, gift wrap sales, and Christmas tree sales. In these circumstances, the purchaser has no tax advantage at all because services or goods have been received in return for payment.
What exactly does my tuition payment cover?
At Christ the King School, tuition covers about 90% of the direct operating expenses of running the school, including salaries and benefits, books and supplies, student support, maintenance of the buildings and grounds, and utilities.
How does the school pay for the remaining 10%?
The remaining 10% is covered by our fundraising efforts. Please refer to the graph below for a distribution of the annual expenses at Christ the King School.
Don't we get money from the Archdiocese?
No. As with all parish schools, Christ the King School no longer receives subsidies. The 2001-2002 school year was the last in a five year phase out of school subsidies. During the five year phase out period, the subsidies paid to parish schools in the archdiocese were decreased 20% each year. In order to absorb these losses, significant increases in tuition rates were necessary. The Archdiocese funds the tuition assistance programs at the schools, but all other costs must now be borne by the school.
Doesn't the Cathedral of Christ the King's offertory help pay for education at the school?
All parishes within the Archdiocese of Atlanta are assessed at 15% of their offertories in order to finance the Department of Education and Office of Catholic Schools. This money is paid by the churches directly to the Archdiocese, but is returned to the schools, including a portion to CKS, in the form of tuition assistance for families who are not able to pay the full cost of tuition. The Archdiocese implemented this program because Catholic education is the responsibility of all Catholics in our Archdiocese.
Where do we spend Annual Fund money? Who makes these decisions?
A prioritization of needs is performed through a process that includes the Principal, the School Advisory Council, key Faculty and the Director of Development. Final approval of where to spend the proceeds of the Annual Fund is made by the Principal. The Annual Fund is used to support day-to-day operating expenses of the school, including but not limited to, salaries and benefits, text books, heating and cooling costs, etc. As with many K-8 parochial schools in our area, CKS currently has a goal to send any excess funds raised by the Annual Fund to the school's Endowment.
Why am I being asked to make a pledge before December 31st if the Annual Fund Drive runs through June 30th of next year?
In order to meet the established deadline for budget approval by the Archdiocesan Finance Office, the school begins the budgeting process in January. By asking for pledges early in the Annual Fund Drive, we are better able to identify the approximate amount that will be available to run the school the following year.
What is the Endowment Fund? How does it work?
The Endowment Fund was created to provide long-term and planned giving opportunities at CKS. Our Endowment Fund is in a building phase. Gifts to the Endowment Fund can be specified as general gifts or targeted to designated sub-funds. When the fund reaches $500,000 we will be able to use a percentage of the annual return for specified uses such as tuition assistance.
Having additional tuition assistance beyond what is received from the Archdiocese would enable the school to help families whose needs exceed what is available, or who experience a temporary situation after the tuition assistance application deadline, such as a job loss.
May I donate stock to the School?
CKS may receive stock donations and then sell them through our account.
Tuition at Catholic schools in the Southeast is more expensive than elsewhere. Why?
Due to the rapid growth of the Catholic population in Atlanta in recent years, our Catholic schools were not able to accommodate many of the families who wanted a Catholic education for their children. New Catholic schools were needed to meet the demand, and in the late '90s the Archdiocese of Atlanta began constructing new Catholic elementary and high schools. Funding for this construction was obtained by reducing subsidies to the existing schools in order to build new schools. As subsidies were phased out, tuition rates rose over a five year period. However, at the same time, the Archdiocese also established a central fund for tuition assistance. Christ the King School, like all Catholic schools, receives a share of this tuition assistance money.
Time, talent, and treasure...how much should I give to the Annual Fund?
What and how to give is a personal decision arrived at by the individual or family.
We encourage you to support our school financially to the best of your ability, knowing that every dollar donated goes to offsetting tuition rates. Please remember that our most important goal is 100% participation according to every family's means. Achieving 100% participation from our families is essential in order to approach foundations which can assist the school through grants. As always, we seek everyone's support through a most important gift — the gift of prayer. Be assured of our most sincere thanks for supporting CKS!
How do I find out if my employer matches my donations to CKS?
The list below contains companies that match educational donations. If your company is not listed, please check with your Human Resources Department. Most companies that match education donations will match donations to Catholic schools. Once you receive your matching form from your employer, fill out your section of the form and send it to CKS with your check. We will forward the matching request to your company.
The Annual Fund is used to supplement day to day operations within the school. Unlike tuition or donations made through Parent Volunteer Association (PVA) events, donations to the Annual Fund are tax deductible to the extent allowed by your current tax situation. (See IRS Publication 526 for more information.) The Annual Fund kick-off is held in September of each year.
Why do we have both the Annual Fund and PVA Fundraising?
Annual Fund donations are received directly from the donor and the donor receives no goods or services in exchange. The tax benefits of giving to the CKS Annual Fund make it attractive. Many corporations will match Annual Fund donations, doubling the value of your gift.
On the other hand, the fundraising done by the PVA involves the entire community through various events such as the annual auction, gift wrap sales, and Christmas tree sales. In these circumstances, the purchaser has no tax advantage at all because services or goods have been received in return for payment.
What exactly does my tuition payment cover?At Christ the King School, tuition covers about 90% of the direct operating expenses of running the school, including salaries and benefits, books and supplies, student support, maintenance of the buildings and grounds, and utilities.
How does the school pay for the remaining 10%?
The remaining 10% is covered by our fundraising efforts. Please refer to the graph below for a distribution of the annual expenses at Christ the King School.
Don't we get money from the Archdiocese?
No. As with all parish schools, Christ the King School no longer receives subsidies. The 2001-2002 school year was the last in a five year phase out of school subsidies. During the five year phase out period, the subsidies paid to parish schools in the archdiocese were decreased 20% each year. In order to absorb these losses, significant increases in tuition rates were necessary. The Archdiocese funds the tuition assistance programs at the schools, but all other costs must now be borne by the school.
Doesn't the Cathedral of Christ the King's offertory help pay for education at the school?
All parishes within the Archdiocese of Atlanta are assessed at 15% of their offertories in order to finance the Department of Education and Office of Catholic Schools. This money is paid by the churches directly to the Archdiocese, but is returned to the schools, including a portion to CKS, in the form of tuition assistance for families who are not able to pay the full cost of tuition. The Archdiocese implemented this program because Catholic education is the responsibility of all Catholics in our Archdiocese.
Where do we spend Annual Fund money? Who makes these decisions?
A prioritization of needs is performed through a process that includes the Principal, the School Advisory Council, key Faculty and the Director of Development. Final approval of where to spend the proceeds of the Annual Fund is made by the Principal. The Annual Fund is used to support day-to-day operating expenses of the school, including but not limited to, salaries and benefits, text books, heating and cooling costs, etc. As with many K-8 parochial schools in our area, CKS currently has a goal to send any excess funds raised by the Annual Fund to the school's Endowment.
Why am I being asked to make a pledge before December 31st if the Annual Fund Drive runs through June 30th of next year?
In order to meet the established deadline for budget approval by the Archdiocesan Finance Office, the school begins the budgeting process in January. By asking for pledges early in the Annual Fund Drive, we are better able to identify the approximate amount that will be available to run the school the following year.
What is the Endowment Fund? How does it work?
The Endowment Fund was created to provide long-term and planned giving opportunities at CKS. Our Endowment Fund is in a building phase. Gifts to the Endowment Fund can be specified as general gifts or targeted to designated sub-funds. When the fund reaches $500,000 we will be able to use a percentage of the annual return for specified uses such as tuition assistance.Having additional tuition assistance beyond what is received from the Archdiocese would enable the school to help families whose needs exceed what is available, or who experience a temporary situation after the tuition assistance application deadline, such as a job loss.
May I donate stock to the School?
CKS may receive stock donations and then sell them through our account.
Tuition at Catholic schools in the Southeast is more expensive than elsewhere. Why?
Due to the rapid growth of the Catholic population in Atlanta in recent years, our Catholic schools were not able to accommodate many of the families who wanted a Catholic education for their children. New Catholic schools were needed to meet the demand, and in the late '90s the Archdiocese of Atlanta began constructing new Catholic elementary and high schools. Funding for this construction was obtained by reducing subsidies to the existing schools in order to build new schools. As subsidies were phased out, tuition rates rose over a five year period. However, at the same time, the Archdiocese also established a central fund for tuition assistance. Christ the King School, like all Catholic schools, receives a share of this tuition assistance money.
Time, talent, and treasure...how much should I give to the Annual Fund?
What and how to give is a personal decision arrived at by the individual or family.
We encourage you to support our school financially to the best of your ability, knowing that every dollar donated goes to offsetting tuition rates. Please remember that our most important goal is 100% participation according to every family's means. Achieving 100% participation from our families is essential in order to approach foundations which can assist the school through grants. As always, we seek everyone's support through a most important gift — the gift of prayer. Be assured of our most sincere thanks for supporting CKS!
How do I find out if my employer matches my donations to CKS?
The list below contains companies that match educational donations. If your company is not listed, please check with your Human Resources Department. Most companies that match education donations will match donations to Catholic schools. Once you receive your matching form from your employer, fill out your section of the form and send it to CKS with your check. We will forward the matching request to your company.
| AIG | AT&T/BellSouth |
| AXA Equitable | Bank of America |
| Boeing Corporation | Brown Forman |
| CIG Group | Cingular Wireless |
| Citigroup | Coca-Cola Company |
| Computer Associates | Home Depot |
| Illinois Tool Work | John and Mary Franklin Foundation |
| Merck Company | Merrill Lynch |
| Morgan Stanley | Nissan Motor Corp. |
| Northwestern | Mutual Life |
| Quest Diagnostics | Sun Microsystems |
| SunTrust Bank | Tenet Healthcare |
| Time Warner | Tyco International |
| UPS | Wachovia |
| Wells Fargo |
Frequently Asked Questions
