A couple days ago, I mailed an envelope to each current parent.  The package contained a letter from Board Member Paige Orloff, and a book, Gifts that Give Back.  Paige wrote the letter to encourage all parents to give back to BCD.  She is writing from experience. For Paige and many other current parents, volunteering and donating to BCD have enriched their experience as parents and their children’s educations here.

Here two offers to follow up on her letter.

1) I will be your volunteer matchmaker.  I recommend you visit the BCD Parent Volunteer Sign-up Form first, but if you have questions, please call me.  If you work and can’t imagine how to find time to volunteer or if you have a hankering to volunteer more or in a different way, please call me.  There are so many ways to give back: from baking, to doing errands, to writing articles for our magazine.  Many of these jobs can be structured to fit your schedule.

2) I will answer your questions about donations.  Private schools are nonprofits, and therefore have very different business models than private or governmental organizations.  The biggest difference is that we rely on donations and fees for services (tuition, bus payments, etc.) to keep running.  In fact, many of the best schools in the country derive more than 50 percent of their operating income from donations (endowment draw and Annual Fund donations ), and they are constantly funding building improvements from donations as well.  For some people, this is confusing.  Even members of private school boards don’t always get it (see the recent article in the New York Time “Is Private School Not Expensive Enough?”).  I would be happy to answer any of your questions about this.  I believe strongly in the ability of philanthropy to transform school communities, both through the improvements donations can make and the positive energy that generosity creates (this article explains the latter: “The Science Of Giving: Why Giving Feels So Good“).

There are so many ways to contribute to Berkshire Country Day School.  I would love to help you find your niche.