Giving

Annual Fund

THE FALL BLITZ IS HERE!

This year’s Annual Fund Blitz Campaign runs from October 17–28, bringing our community together in a focused effort to support what makes Calvary exceptional.

Our 2025 Blitz goal is $150,000, and all funds raised will support the three key pillars of the Annual Fund: Cavaliers, Campus, and Commitment.

Cavaliers – Investing in People
Cultivating excellence by nurturing students and equipping faculty for a life of impact.

Elevated spiritual development and student leadership opportunities
Cutting-edge professional development that empowers teachers with best-in-class strategies
Comprehensive emergency preparedness and advanced campus safety measures

Campus – Investing in Place

Creating learning environments that embody innovation, safety, and distinction.

State-of-the-art classroom technology and instructional tools
Innovative, modern furniture and refreshed spaces designed for collaboration
Ongoing facilities care and strategic improvements that sustain excellence

Commitment – Investing in Purpose

Ensuring a Calvary education remains transformative, sustainable, and mission-driven.

Competitive compensation and retention initiatives to champion outstanding educators
Continuous development of Christ-centered programs and curriculum
Investment in systems and tools that elevate operational excellence and faithful stewardship

Every dollar and every donor moves us closer to that goal. No gift is too small. Your participation matters most!

Calvary Day School Annual Fund

At Calvary Day School, tuition opens the door to a Calvary education, but it doesn’t cover everything that makes our school distinctive. Tuition and fees cover approximately 90% of the cost to educate each student. The remaining 10% comes from fundraising and the generous partnerships of our community.

Your gift to the Annual Fund bridges that gap and fuels the excellence, faith, and community that define the Calvary experience.

Each year, the Annual Fund directly supports the people, programs, and places that make Calvary exceptional. These gifts are unrestricted, allowing the school to respond to immediate needs and opportunities while sustaining long-term excellence.

Annual Fund FAQs

List of 5 items.

How are Annual Fund dollars spent?

Annual Fund gifts are vital to enhancing the Calvary Day School experience and have an immediate impact in the current school year. This year’s Annual Fund campaign, Cavaliers, Campus & Commitment, launching on October 28th, focuses on key initiatives such as Active Shooter Preparedness training, additional door locks, the installation of a pizza oven station, and social-emotional learning initiatives.

The Annual Fund plays a critical role in bridging the gap between tuition and the full cost of providing a Calvary education. While unrestricted gifts allow us to meet the most pressing needs, you may also designate your gift to support specific areas such as arts, athletics, or financial aid. Every contribution directly supports our mission to develop students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically.
I can't give very much. Does my donation matter?

Yes! Participation in the Annual Fund truly matters at every level. A $25 gift counts in participation the same as a $50,000 gift. Every family’s situation is unique. The only gift that is too small is no gift at all. Every dollar counts as a strong statement about the commitment you have to the School and this community. Your participation will make a difference.
Do all independent schools have an Annual Fund?

Yes. Our model is not unique. The formula of charging tuition and relying on philanthropy to meet the school’s budgeted expenses is consistent with our peer independent schools across the country and globe.
Does it matter when I give?

Yes. A gift or pledge made early in the school year is a great advantage because we know how much money will be available to support the budget. Because of this, we ask for donations or pledges to be made by December 31.
The annual fund year is July 1–June 30 each year. Your participation counts as soon as you make a pledge. The pledge may be paid in one payment or in multiple payments up until June 30.
Once you have made your annual fund gift or pledge, you will not receive another annual fund solicitation until the next academic year.
Why not increase tuition instead?

CDS trustees and administrators recognize the sacrifices families make to offer their children a high-quality education and strive to keep tuition costs as low as possible. If tuition were raised to meet all the School’s needs, each family would pay a considerable amount more per year. The tuition that would be necessary to fund our current level of education would restrict even further the number of families who could afford to attend. This would limit enrollment which, in turn, would mean a cutback in programs and the socio-economic diversity of our school community.
Unlike a for-profit business, we cannot cut costs through consolidation and streamlining. To employ these strategies at a mission-driven school like CDS would require reducing staff or combining classrooms, making us unable to provide the individual attention and quality of education that everyone wants and expects as integral components of the CDS experience. Finally, a gift to the annual fund is tax-deductible. Tuition is not.

2023-2024 Annual Fund

Thanks to your generosity, we raised $293,489, exceeding our $150,000 goal for our 2024 campaign, Cavaliers, Campus & Commitment. We were able to fulfill every initiative we set out to achieve:

Active Shooter Preparedness Training – Our Security Officer completed ALICE training, equipping him with the tools to protect and prepare our campus.

"We are committed to providing the safest possible environment for our students and staff by taking proactive steps in securing our Calvary Day community. ALICE Training empowers our staff to use proactive, option-based responses to protect themselves and those around them. Once complete, our staff will be equipped with the strategies needed to keep our students safe in any critical incident."
- Mr. Alex Modicue, Campus Safety & Security Officer
Additional Door Locks – New locks were installed across campus to strengthen classroom and building security.
Pizza Oven Station – A brand-new addition to our dining program is providing fun, fresh, and delicious options for our Cavaliers.
Social-Emotional Learning Initiatives – Expanded resources are helping students grow in resilience, empathy, and confidence.

Because of your generosity, these initiatives moved from vision to reality. Your support ensured that every dollar directly impacted the daily life and safety of our students.