The Development Office thanks the entire Brooklyn Friends community
for your tremendous support of all of the development efforts
this past year. The Brooklyn Friends Fund raised $389,000
with 61% of our families participating. Our $2.8 million
capital campaign, Building
the Community, was
successfully completed, and the final phase of the renovations
(meetinghouse/theater renovation, lower school science lab, and
airconditioning for the floors 5, 6, and 7) completed in September,
2007. We
couldn’t have
done it without you!
—The Brooklyn Friends School Development
Office
Karen Edelman,
Director of Development
Susan Price,
Alumni Director
Rachel Craig,
Development Associate
In celebration of 140 years of Brooklyn
Friends and 100 years of the Upper School, 10% of every gift to
the Brooklyn Friends Fund this year will go towards our endowment.
 Make
an online secure credit card donation now.
Some of the funds from the Brooklyn
Friends Fund have gone
towards the following:
- Re-wiring the entire building at 375 Pearl Street for a more
updated and sophisticated technology network
- Addition of eight
(8) smart boards throughout the school including the library,
middle school, science labs and physics lab at 55 Willoughby.
- Color
laser printer for Lower School and PreSchool
- New tile throughout
the 6th floor
- Laying down a new roof (while the new playground
and playground surface came from the Capital Campaign funds,
the entire roof surface was also re-done which was not part of
the capital expense).
- Underwriting
the financial assistance program, making the school affordable
to a wider range of students and bringing social and economic
diversity to the community.
For more information, please contact Karen Edelman, Director
of Development, kedelman [at] brooklynfriends [dot] org
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Brooklyn Friends Fund?
Every year we ask our parents, alumni, faculty, grandparents and
friends to make voluntary donations to the school so that we
can fully fund our operating budget.
What is the BFS operating budget?
Currently the operating budget is $13.4 million. This is the money
that we use to run the day-to-day operations of the school. Included
in the operating budget are such diverse items as teacher salaries,
employee health benefits, utilities, property insurance, classroom
supplies, athletics and the arts.
Where does the money for the operating budget come from?
The operating budget is funded by tuition (91%), auxiliary income
(4%), the Brooklyn Friends Fund (4%) and other revenue (1%).
Why does tuition increase?
Over 71% of operating expenses are dedicated to the people who
serve our children—teachers, staff, administrators, etc.
To retain excellent teachers and staff, BFS must pay rates that
are competitive with other independent schools of our type. Additionally,
much of the operating budget contains fixed expenses, like insurance
and utility costs which go up at rates outside the control of
the school. Finally, the school must invest in professional development
for our teachers and remain current with educational technology
in order to offer the high quality programs we provide to our
students.
What is the difference between tuition and
the actual cost of my child’s education?
$1600 per child
What percentage of the BFS student body receives some
form of need-based financial aid?
25%
What percentage of the BFS annual operating budget is earmarked
for financial aid and what is that dollar amount?
13% and $1,868,500
Why is participation in the Brooklyn Friends Fund campaign so
important?
As in every other community endeavor, the more individuals who
support a project, the more successful it will be. Some of the
donors, corporations and foundations who consider the school for
donations look to see how well those people close to the school
support it. The fact that you give to the Brooklyn Friends Fund,
at any level, means that you believe in its purpose and you believe
in the program that BFS is offering your child.
Do teachers support The Brooklyn Friends Fund?
The answer is yes! Preschool teacher Maura Eden is this year’s
Brooklyn Friends Fund Faculty Chair.
In her letter to the faculty asking for their gifts, Maura said, “By
making a contribution to the Brooklyn Friends Fund, our parents,
prospective parents and other members of our community see our
actions as a show of support in BFS and for the commitment we have
to their children.”
Can I designate where my Brooklyn Friends Fund gift goes?
This year we have introduced “The Family of Funds,” allowing
donors to direct their gift, if they wish, to one of three areas: Faculty
salaries, financial aid, or educational programs.
What is the difference between a gift to the Brooklyn Friends
Fund, the Capital Campaign and PAT?
Funds raised for the Capital Campaign will go towards the renovation
of designated areas at 375 Pearl Street (link). The PAT, through
its many activities, funds campus projects that are NOT funded
by the operating budget. Recent examples include funds raised at
past Spring Benefits for the faculty laptop program and Smart Boards
and the Walkathon which raised funds benefiting Katrina families.
We volunteer our time on other parent committees … why
should we support the Brooklyn Friends Fund?
We are most grateful for the time our volunteers give to our school
and are exceptionally proud of the number of families that do participate.
Without their help we could not continue to provide the quality
educational programs that we do now. However, any financial gift
to the Brooklyn Friends Fund is also important and necessary to
maintaining our quality program.
Who approves the BFS budget?
The Finance Committee reviews the proposed budget in an arduous
process that begins in November of each year. That review includes
requesting the administration to project enrollment for each
grade for the coming year, a thorough examination of areas where
the school can save money, requests for increases in program
support, review of faculty salary parity figures, examinations
of new or increased income sources and the impact of increases
on fixed costs. Upon completion of that review, the budget is
recommended to the School Committee which approves it in its
January meeting. In addition to the initial review, the finance
committee examines monthly budget statements and must approve
amendments to the budget that might be proposed during the year.
Can donations be made to the Brooklyn Friends
Fund at anytime during the year? I am expecting a tax refund
and would like to use a portion of that as a donation. How flexible
can my payments be on a Brooklyn Friends Fund pledge?
Yes!—pledge payments aren't due until June 30, 2007. It
is helpful, however, to get in your pledge as soon as possible,
as it is money that we use for our current operating budget. Pledges
may be paid by cash, check, MasterCard, VISA, or through gifts
of stock. They can be made in person, through the mail or securely online.
Pledges can be billed monthly or quarterly, giving you the flexibility
to spread your payments out over the course of the year.
Are donors to the Brooklyn Friends Fund recognized in the Annual
Report?
Because we believe that gifts to Brooklyn Friends School should
be celebrated and honored, we recognize all giving (dollars, planned
and in-kind) in the Annual Report. Donors are listed in giving
categories as well as with their constituency group(s). However,
if a donor wishes to remain anonymous, we will absolutely honor
this request. |
brooklyn
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