FAQs
The Mary McDowell Friends Fund Frequently Asked Questions:
What is The Mary McDowell Friends Fund?
The Mary McDowell Friends Fund is the name of the school's annual fund. Every year we ask our parents, alumni, grandparents and friends to make voluntary donations to the school's annual fund so that we can fund our operating budget.
What is the "case" or appeal of the fund?
"Let Your Life Speak", which is a quote from George Fox, the founder of Quakerism.
What is the operating budget of the Mary McDowell Friends School?
Currently $14 million, the operating budget is the money that the school uses 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.
Why does tuition increase?
Over 2/3 of operating expenses are dedicated to the people who serve our children: teachers, reading and learning specialists, occupational therapists and related service providers, staff, maintenance people, administrators, etc. To retain excellent teachers and staff, Mary McDowell Friends School must pay rates that are competitive with the NYC independent schools. Additionally, much of the operating budget contains fixed expenses, like insurance and utility costs which increase outside the control of our school - and at astronomical rates since we are located in NYC.
Who are related service providers?
Speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers employed in all three divisions of the school.
What is the difference between tuition and the actual cost of my child's education?
Mary McDowell Friends School tuition this year is $45,960. The difference is about $2,600.
Why is participation important?
The more families who support our fund, the more successful it will be. In fact, some non-family donors, corporations and foundations who consider making gifts to the school look at participation statistics to see how well people close to the school support it. The fact that you give to The Mary McDowell Friends Fund, at any level, means that you believe in its purpose and you believe in the program that the MMFS is offering your child.
We volunteer in other capacities at the school - why should we support The Mary McDowell Friends Fund too?
We are most grateful for the time that our parents volunteer at the school. Without your help we could not continue to provide the quality educational program that we do now. However, any gift to The Mary McDowell Friends Fund is also important and necessary to maintaining our quality program.
Can donations be made to The Mary McDowell Friends Fund at any time during the year? How flexible can my payments be?
Yes! Gifts and pledge payments aren't due until June 30, 2012! Pledge payments can be made in installments, set up through the Development Office. Because gifts to The Mary McDowell Friends Fund are tax-deductible, your gift is a gift that keeps on giving! Pledges and payments may be made in the form of cash, credit cards (VISA, Mastercard or American Express), debit cards, or through gifts of stock.
Does the Mary McDowell Friends School have an endowment?
Yes. $250,000 is reserved for scholarship.
What is the Mary McDowell Friends School's annual deficit?
For the 2011-12 school year, MMFS must raise about $750,000 to balance the budget. That breaks down to a per student gap of $2,600.