• GIVE FROM THE HEART

    GIVE WHAT YOU CAN

WSMS GIVES FUNDRAISING FAQ

WSMS fundraising has been consolidated into one campaign, WSMS Gives. WSMS Gives has two fundraising initiatives, (1) the Annual Fund and (2) the Auction.

The Annual Fund provides an opportunity for the WSMS community to come together to support the school and help fill the gap between revenues and operating expenses. The goal of the Annual Fund is 100% parent participation.

The Auction is usually an annual Gala. It is an opportunity for the WSMS community to celebrate together and help raise crucial funds for WSMS Gives. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in 2020 the Auction took place in April and we could not have a large Gala as in prior years. But nothing stops our WSMS parents and instead parents participated in a highly successful week-long “Magical Spring Event” that included an online auction and an in-person outdoor event. This year we anticipate that the Auction will be similar to last year’s event.

For examples of how these crucial unrestricted funds have been utilized in the past, please see the next FAQ tab “Are there any concrete examples of fundraising dollars being put to use?”

The goal of the Annual Fund is 100% participation by our parent community. Achieving as high a participation percentage as we possibly can builds a strong culture of giving in which everyone shares in the satisfaction of supporting the whole. It also sends a powerful and positive message to prospective families and potential donors that our mission is compelling and worthy of their support. Relying on just a few donors who give large dollar amounts, while the remaining families do not participate, is neither consistent with the spirit of the school nor is it a sustainable strategy.

The goal of the Auction is to raise funds for WSMS Gives by bringing the parent community together. No auction would be successful without the generous participation of our parent community. We aim to maximize parent participation whether it be through your time, talents or treasures.

No, only gifts to the Annual Fund count towards our goal of 100% participation.

  • More than $1.5 million in financial aid is awarded to WSMS families annually, so that between 20-25% of families have financial assistance.
  • Hiring Martha Haakmat, an expert consultant and educator, to a multi-year Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiative to engage WSMS parents, teachers, administrators and board members in the important work of advancing equity in early childhood education.
  • $10,000 of books purchased annually (ongoing).
  • Annual stipends to teachers who are working towards a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ongoing).
  • Installation of MERV rated air filters to all classrooms and common areas in 2020.
  • Gym conversion into two beautiful classrooms during the 2020-2021 school year.
  • The design and installation of a new traverse climbing wall in our gym in 2019.
  • Expanding our home to include beautiful renovated classroom space at 302 West 91st Street for our Twos Program in 2018.
  • Beginning a scholarship program for WSMS-TEP (West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program)
  • Enhancing parent education with the addition of a monthly speaker series, beginning in 2017.
  • Hiring an occupational therapist to work in classrooms with teachers, beginning in 2017*
  • Formation of the faculty Diversity Council in 2017, including the hiring of a diversity practitioner.
  • Powerful Interactions coaching for teachers with Judy Jablon, beginning in 2016*.
  • The comprehensive renovation of the gym in 2015.
  • Hiring an expert on Dual Language Learners in 2015, who is working with teachers to enhance their support of children whose family language is other than English*.
  • The Kindness Curriculum that was designed and launched by former WSMS teacher Cara Zelas in 2015*.
  • A series of workshops in partnership with the Network for Schools that Heal that teachers attended in 2014*.
  • Hiring a nutritionist who created healthy snack and meal options for WSMS children in 2013*.
  • New open-ended gym equipment installed in 2013.
  • The creation of our new Parents Room/Library in 2011.
  • The installation of new Snug Play equipment in our rooftop play space in 2011.
  • The creation of a faculty incentive program for excellence in teaching in 2011.
  • Hiring a music specialist working with teachers to expand their repertoires in 2010*.
  • The “green” renovation of our eight classrooms and our kitchen in 2009.

*As a result of the Annual Fund-supported Visiting Scholar Program that was launched in 2009

There is no minimum contribution that is required from anyone. In fact, the motto of WSMS Gives is Give from the Heart, Give What You Can. The warmth and generosity of the WSMS community is a defining characteristic of our school. We are profoundly grateful for the wellspring of support we have received from our current and alumni families, grandparents, friends, trustees, faculty, and staff. Whatever form this support takes — monetary donations, gifts in kind, contributions of time and talent — each gift, each donor, and each volunteer is vital in helping us to sustain and enhance the exceptional level of education that we offer our students.

All contributions to the Annual Fund are fully tax deductible.

Like all non-profit independent schools, we depend on a combination of tuition revenue, interest income on reserve funds, and charitable gifts from parents, alumni, and friends to support our ongoing operations and our priorities. We also benefit from revenue generated through our Teacher Education Program (TEP). None of these sources alone would be sufficient to deliver the quality of early childhood education that WSMS is known for, while also ensuring the longer-term stability of the school as an institution.

A WSMS parent put it well by saying, “The tuition makes the school as good as it has been, while fundraising helps the school to achieve something even greater; tuition is what we ‘have to pay,’ but the fundraising represents what we love to contribute.”

There are many ways you can make your contribution:

  • Credit Cards/ACH Bank Account: Please donate online at  wsmsnyc.org/givingform; WSMS utilizes Moonclerk to process credit card payments and Moonclerk & Plaid to process ACH payments via a bank account. Plaid acts as a verification system that Moonclerk uses to streamline the ACH payment process and almost all banks participate.
  • Personal Checks: Please make your check payable to “West Side Montessori School” and indicate on the envelope that it is a donation. Send your check by mail or drop it off during dismissal or arrival.
  • Pledges for Future Gifts: You may make a pledge for a future donation by emailing wsmsgives@wsmsnyc.org. Please note that all pledges must be completed by June 30 to be included in the Annual Report of Giving for the current year.
  • Gifts of Securities: Please click here for specific instructions and consult your tax advisor for information about potential tax advantages to you. Contact wsmsgives@wsmsnyc.org if you need assistance.
  • Corporate Matching Program: Many employers will match monetary contributions made by their employees to eligible non-profit organizations. WSMS is one of those organizations. In order to find out whether your employer has such a matching program in place, please visit matchinggifts.com/wsmsnyc.
  • All contributions are fully tax deductible.

We welcome contributions at any time of the year. However, for planning purposes, it is preferable that we receive funds as early in the school year as possible. It is also important to note that the fiscal year-end (as well as the school year-end) at WSMS is June 30th, not December 31st.

  • The design and installation of a new traverse climbing wall in our gym in 2019

  • Expanding our home to include beautiful renovated classroom space at 302 West 91st Street for our Twos Program in 2018

  • Providing guitar lessons for teachers to expand their repertoires in 2016

  • The comprehensive renovation of the gym in 2015

  • Hiring an expert on Dual Language Learners in 2015 who is working with teachers to enhance their support of children whose family language is other than English

  • The Kindness Curriculum that was designed and launched by former WSMS teacher Cara Zelas in 2015

  • A series of workshops in partnership with the Network for Schools that Heal that teachers attended in 2014

  • Hiring a nutritionist who created healthy snack and meal options for WSMS children in 2013

  • The creation of our new Parents Room/Library in 2011

  • The installation of new Snug Play equipment in our rooftop play space in 2011

  • The creation of a faculty incentive program for excellence in teaching in 2011

  • The “green” renovation of our eight classrooms and our kitchen in 2009

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