Brooklyn Friends School -> Giving -> Overview

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to the 2011-2012 school year! We are thrilled to report that we hit an all time record in voluntary giving last year, with a total of $633,000 in donations to the Brooklyn Friends Fund. Thank you to all of our generous donors who made the Brooklyn Friends Fund such a wonderful success.

As we continue to expand the school, in the number of students, faculty and staff, and physical facilities the need to continue on this path of increased participation in annual giving is a necessity.

Some fundraising highlights from the 2010-2011 academic year include:

Donations brought in through the Brooklyn Friends Fund increased by 15% from the previous year.
The average gift to the Brooklyn Friends Fund increased by 12% from the previous year.
Parent Participation in the Brooklyn Friends Fund increased by 8%.
Faculty and staff participation in the Brooklyn Friends Fund reached 90%.
The Spring Gala raised $115,000 for financial aid and financial aid endowment.
The PAT Winterfest raised $25,234, with 80% of the proceeds supporting Horizons at BFS.

We thought we’d share a few sentiments that we received from donors with their annual gifts last year…

Our son has had a wonderful experience so far at Brooklyn Friends and we very much want to help support the school which we admire so much for its diversity, tenacity and rigor. – Upper School Parents

Enclosed is our donation to the Brooklyn Friends Fund on behalf of our granddaughter. We are totally impressed with the education she is receiving. Your dedicated staff and educational system is of the highest quality. – Lower School Grandparent

We want to again thank you and the BFS Staff and faculty for making our daughter’s experience so wonderful. We truly and deeply appreciate BFS’s efforts for our family, both now and in the past when we were not so able to express thanks. As long as it is within our means we will continue to express our feelings by making these gifts. – Middle School Parents

I give in honor of BFS’s decision to hire Larry Weiss as head! – Former Faculty Member

Wonderful to hear the news about Larry’s appointment. Because of Larry, I majored in history in college. He was a significant influence in my pursuit of social justice and equity. – Alum, class of ‘79

	The 5 Things You Should NOT Do with Your Estate Plans (and the 5 You Should) - a special seminar
	The 5 Things You Should NOT Do with Your Estate Plans (and the 5 You Should): an estate planning seminar with BFS trustee and alum Richard Cutler, Esq. '62, will be held at BFS, 375 Pearl Street, Thursday, February 9, 8:30 a.m.

Giving at Brooklyn Friends School

Every independent school relies on the generosity of its constituents to safeguard and enrich the educational experience of its students. Our students benefit from talented and dedicated teachers, small classes, the latest technological resources, and exceptional offerings in the arts and athletics.

At Brooklyn Friends School, annual gifts to the Brooklyn Friends Fund from parents, grandparents, alumni/ae, faculty and friends provide the margin of excellence that characterizes a BFS education.

Gifts to our Capital Campaign (which was completed in 2007), Building the Community: The Campaign for Brooklyn Friends, helped to provide the funds necessary for the renovation and expansion of our facilities (library, science labs, meetinghouse/theater, rooftop playground, cafeteria, air-conditioned classrooms, upper school facility). By upgrading and enhancing these resources, we are able to provide even more thoughtful and robust educational programs for our children.

Planned Giving is another way for you to give back to Brooklyn Friends. A planned gift is a strategic charitable investment that can provide you with important tax benefits while greatly enhancing the School’s endowment thereby assuring a strong financial future for Brooklyn Friends.

Building on our endowment is a critical and strategic goal set out by the Brooklyn Friends Board of Trustees. Supporting our endowment helps to secure the future of Brooklyn Friends for our students. Leaving the principle untouched, the interest derived from an endowment can help to support, supplement and otherwise enhance the costs and programs of an independent school education.

T he 1867 Society, our planned giving society, recognizes the generosity of Brooklyn Friends School alumni, parents, grandparents and friends who have chosen to remember BFS in their estate plans through a will, trust or other planned gift. If you have already included Brooklyn Friends in your will or as part of another planned gift, we hope you will let us know so that we can recognize and thank you. Contact Karen Edelman, Director of Development at (718) 852-1029 x206.