Why Giving Matters: A Strategic Signal for Today’s Families
Today is Giving Tuesday, a significant day in the lives of nonprofits across the country. Admittedly, early in my career, I didn’t understand giving.
Raised in public schools, philanthropy was opaquely framed as charity: you give because others cannot. It felt abstract, optional, and reserved for families with significant resources. No one explained the systems behind why giving actually matters.
After years working inside independent schools and higher education institutions, and in close partnership with enrollment, finance, and advancement teams, I’ve come to understand something essential:
Giving is not an “extra.” It’s part of the operating model.
Independent schools live in a financial reality that can surprise families:
The true cost of educating each student is almost always higher than tuition.
Annual giving closes that gap.
Philanthropy is usually built directly into its operating budget as planned, reliable revenue stream rather than something supplemental.
This is why advancement teams focus on both dollars raised and participation rates. Participation is a critical metric that signals community alignment and institutional stability.
Participation shapes donor confidence and future investment.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of philanthropy is that every gift matters because every gift signals trust. Families often assume that major donors drive all impact. In reality:
Broad parent participation strengthens donor confidence.
High participation tells foundations, major donors, and boards that the community believes in the school’s direction.
Participation unlocks future gifts, because donors invest where communities invest in themselves.
In other words, giving is both financial support and a strategic signal.
Giving protects the programs families value most.
When parents see small classes, well-supported teachers, robust arts and athletics, financial aid, and mission-driven programming, those elements are sustained by:
unrestricted annual fund support,
consistent year-over-year giving,
donor retention and stewardship cycles that keep programs strong through volatile years.
Tuition provides access. Philanthropy provides depth, margin, and long-term strength.
Giving expands access and strengthens community health.
Schools that take affordability seriously rely on philanthropy to make financial assistance possible. These dollars don’t just change the life of a recipient; they change the fabric of the entire school.
A community with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences can exist only when giving supports access.
Giving builds continuity for future students.
Every program students benefit from today is the result of earlier families investing in a future they would never experience themselves.
Now, we are the ones holding that baton, and we ensure that the mission continues to advance.
Giving isn’t a transaction or charitable gesture. It is stewardship and a way of ensuring that:
the mission endures,
the student experience remains strong,
the institution stays resilient in an increasingly competitive and unpredictable environment.
My perspective
Independent schools are healthiest when enrollment and advancement operate in partnership, sharing a clear understanding of mission, finance, and community values.
In my work across both sides, I’ve seen how philanthropy fuels innovation, builds stability, and supports the very programs that help students flourish. I’ve also seen how families, through participation at any level, play a vital role in sustaining that promise.
As we head into this season of giving, I hope families feel empowered with a clearer understanding of why their participation matters, and why philanthropy is a cornerstone of strong, mission-driven schools.
Every gift tells a story about who we are as a community. And just as important who we hope to become.
