St. Gabriel's Fund

List of 11 frequently asked questions.

• Q. What is the difference between a "diocesan" and an "independent" Catholic school?

  Diocesan or parish Schools are church-affiliated which means they receive financial support from a local church and/or a Diocese. As an independent Catholic school, St. Gabriel’s is financially independent of the Diocese of Austin. And, because we are not affiliated with a particular Catholic parish, we are not part of any church’s operating budget.
  
  

  Also, while parishes or churches must distribute their resources among several ministries because they have multiple priorities and obligations, St. Gabriel’s can focus solely on the educational and spiritual development of its students. This singular commitment is reflected in the extensive educational and spiritual programs and opportunities available to St. Gabriel’s students.
  
  

  Finally, though financially independent of a local church and the Catholic Diocese, St. Gabriel’s Catholic School operates under the auspices of the Bishop and receives accreditation from the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department (TCCED) which assure that we maintain a clear and strong Catholic identity. Also, St. Gabriel’s Catholic School is fully accredited by the Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS).

• Q. What is St. Gabriel’s Funding Model? Tuition + Donations = Cost of Education

  St. Gabriel’s is an independent Catholic School, therefore we are financially independent of the Diocese of Austin and operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Because we are not affiliated with a particular Catholic parish, we are not part of any parish operating budget. Just like most independent schools, annual tuition alone does not cover the actual cost of educating each student. Therefore, St. Gabriel’s follows a century–old financial model used by thousands of America’s best private schools. This model combines tuition and charitable donations to balance the school’s operating budget, and specifies that 80-90% of operating costs be covered by tuition and fees and 10-20% be covered by donations. St. Gabriel’s has embraced this historically successful model of tuition + donations for two reasons: It allows St. Gabriel’s to maintain a healthy enrollment by keeping tuition as low as possible and it enables families to receive a charitable tax deduction for a portion of the cost of their child’s education.

• Q. Why doesn't St. Gabriel's just charge enough tuition to cover the full operating costs?

  If tuition were raised to meet 100% of the costs, many families could not afford to send their children to St. Gabriel's. This could mean a drop in enrollment and diversity, resulting in a cutback of programs and steeper tuition increases in order to fund operations; all of which would affect each child's education. The goal, therefore, is to set tuition at 85-90% of operating expenses (in line with similar schools in the National Association of Independent Schools, and competitive locally), and enable families to receive a tax deduction for a portion of their child's education.

• Q. What is the St. Gabriel's Fund?

  It is the school’s first and most important fundraising effort. The St. Gabriel's Fund sustains excellence and advances every educational program at the school. St. Gabriel's seeks charitable gifts from parents, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni and friends of the school. Every gift is valued and honored. We welcome gifts directed to particular areas of interest and encourage supporters to consider unconditional gifts, which are used to support the mission of the school.

• Q. What do you expect from parents?

  Parents are asked to support the Angel Fund first and foremost because almost 100% of gifts directly support the school's educational programs and operating budget. Each year, the annual “gap” is determined for each student. We ask parents to do all they can to cover the gap for each child they have enrolled at St. Gabriel’s. Annual Giving is the most cost-effective way to raise money, and donors receive a tax deduction for the full amount of their gift. Parents are also asked to consider supporting additional fundraising activities, such as the Golf Tournament and the Gala.

• Q. Why is parent participation so important?

  As a community, we need everyone's support in order to ensure St. Gabriel's continues as a school of excellence. One important measurement that foundations use in evaluating an organization's worthiness for receiving a grant is the percentage of the internal community (the people being served) who support the organization. A high parent participation rate in fundraising indicates to prospective funders that we are building a school community that is both excited and focused on our goals.

• Q. Is giving to the St. Gabriel's Fund unique to our school?

  No. Independent schools have long relied upon the generosity of families to advance their institutions. Very few, if any, independent schools meet full operational costs with tuition alone.

• Q. How are donors recognized?

  Gifts received by St. Gabriel's during any given fiscal year (school year) are recognized in the school's annual report. Donors are listed and pictured by giving levels with families’ pictured beginning at $2500 cumulative giving for the school year. Cumulative gifts include Angel Fund, Gala and Golf Tournament. Families giving over $5000 cumulatively for the year are also invited to a special spring appreciation event.

• Q. How do I make a gift through United Way?

  Anyone can make a gift to St. Gabriel's through the United Way. In this way, both United Way and St. Gabriel's benefit, and the donor is recognized by both organizations. Donors simply "designate" St. Gabriel's (Agency # 5293) on United Way's gift form.

• Q. How can I make a gift of stock/appreciated securities?

  Making a gift of stock is easy! Contact Alicia Robertson at arobertson@sgs-austin.org for a stock donation form. This form provides the school's transfer and account information for the transaction, and alerts the school to be prepared to sell the stock. The school does not receive notification about stock gifts deposited into its accounts from its financial institution. The school relies on prompt communication from the donor.

• Q. Can I make a gift to the St. Gabriel's Fund in installments?

  Yes. Contributions and pledges can be made at any time and customized payment arrangements may be established. Gifts may be made by cash, check, credit card, stocks, securities, and estate gifts. Please contact Alicia Robertson at arobertson@sgs-austin.org for questions or information on giving options.